PELLA— The Central College men's and women's tennis team had four student-athletes earn a spot on the College Sports Communicator Division III Academic All-District men's and women's tennis teams announced Tuesday afternoon.
           
On the women's team Madi Whalen (junior, Kansas City, Mo., Park Hill HS), Emma Murphy (sophomore, Liberty Mo.) and Lauren Gano (sophomore, Johnston) were recognized. AJ Wilkins (senior, Grinnell) was the lone member of the men's team to earn a spot.
           
To be eligible for consideration, a student-athlete must have played in 70% of matches with a team score and achieve a 3.50 or better cumulative grade point average. This is the third year for tennis as its own Academic All-District category after previously being part of the at-large category.
           
Whalen is an environmental & sustainability and biology double major with a 3.73 GPA. She was 1-23 in singles playing at No. 1 in the lineup. In doubles she was 14-9 playing in all three spots in the lineup.
           
Murphy is an elementary education major and carries a 3.91 GPA. She was 8-13 in singles matches this year. She was 3-21 in doubles matches, playing most of the matches with Gano in the No. 1 doubles spot.
           
Gano is a kinesiology major with a 3.85 GPA. She was 10-13 in her singles matches this season playing Nos. 2-5 in the lineup. She had the same doubles record as Murphy.
           
On the men's side Wilkins is a biology major with a 3.54 GPA. He was 12-12 in singles matches this year including a 6-2 record in conference matches. In doubles matches he was 10-13 playing most of his matches at No. 1 doubles with Ayden Fletcher as his partner.
           
Both teams earned the No. 3 seed in the American Rivers Conference tournament. The women lost to Loras College to open the tournament while the men defeated Loras before losing to Coe College in the semifinals.