Watch Video of Special Tennis Graduation Ceremony

OXFORD, Miss.   Ole Miss seniors Jonas Berg and Bram ten Berge experienced a weekend they won’t soon forget.  After beating LSU 4-2 in the second round of the NCAA Championships in Baton Rouge to advance to the Sweet Sixteen, the pair received their diplomas in a special graduation ceremony Sunday morning at the Lyceum in front of their families, who made the trip from Europe.

University of Mississippi Chancellor Dr. Robert Khayat presented the pair their diplomas.  Also participating in the ceremony, was the team’s manager and head coach Billy Chadwick’s son, Lyon, who graduated from Law School.

“I am really proud of the team,” Chadwick said.  “It was a big challenge for us to go on the road to Baton Rouge and have to win to advance. But the team was focused and determined. They fought really hard against LSU and it was a proud moment for Ole Miss.

“It was extremely disappointing for Bram and Jonas not to be able to take part in the graduation ceremonies with their classmates, so it was an unbelievable gesture by the Chancellor to have a ceremony for these student-athletes.  It’s a moment that they’ll always remember,” Chadwick added.

Ten Berge graduated with honors in the Classics where he earned a 3.97 grade point average.   He is the Boyd McWhorter SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year, a member of Phi Beta Kappa, a four-time ITA Scholar-Athlete and a candidate for the NCAA Scholar-Athlete of the Year.  He will head to the University of Michigan in the fall on a full academic scholarship to obtain his masters and doctorate in Classics.

“Going down to LSU we knew that it was going to be an extremely tough match.  To come through there with me sitting out (in singles), the guys fought really hard and did great.   We were all in very high spirits coming back, and then for the school to organize something like this is unbelievable.  The Chancellor didn’t have to do this, which makes it an extremely high honor.  I love being here and I loved having everyone here.  It was a special gathering,” ten Berge said.

Berg graduated with a degree in Business.  He is a member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll as well as the Dean’s and UMAA Honor Rolls.

“It means a lot to beat LSU on the road and then have this graduation ceremony,” Berg said.  “Having the chance to graduate with my parents here and coach is amazing.”

The duo is ranked No. 1 in the nation in doubles, while Berg is No. 16 in singles.  The captains both earned All-SEC first team honors and led the Rebels to the SEC regular season championship going undefeated, the SEC Tournament Championship and their eighth straight SEC West title. 

Both players said it hasn’t quite hit them yet that their time at Ole Miss is nearing an end. That’s because there is more tennis to be played.

“It probably won’t hit me until I get to Michigan and I am not at Ole Miss anymore,” ten Berge said.    Berg said he won’t think about it until the last match at College Station.”

The Rebels’ next match will be against Texas A&M Thursday at 6 p.m.

The University of Mississippi Athletics

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