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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Simon Junk Dubbed Men’s Tennis’ SEC Co-Scholar Athlete of the Year
5/18/2020 | Men's Tennis
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The Southeastern Conference (SEC), despite the halted 2020 spring season due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, announced Monday its annual tennis Scholar Athletes of the Year, as voted on by the league's 13 head coaches. Taking home the title is Ole Miss Men's Tennis sophomore Simon Junk.
Junk shares the honor of Co-Scholar Athlete of the Year with Alabama's Edison Ortiz, the Tide's No. 1 singles player and ranked No. 74 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's final individual rankings.
"Simon is a tireless worker who will always give it his all, whether it is on the court or in the classroom," head coach Toby Hansson said. "This recognition speaks volumes for what this young man has already accomplished and what is yet to come. He is one of the most focused players I have coached, and no one is more deserving of this award."
Junk started the 2020 spring on fire, winning his first nine consecutive contests. The Marpingen, Germany, native went 9-3 on the shortened season, and played the hero during multiple matches this season for the Rebels, earning his first career clinch as Ole Miss upset then No. 12 Illinois in the ITA Kickoff, rallying to a thrilling three-set tiebreak (6-7(5), 6-1, 7-6(4)). His win helped catapult the Rebels to a Top 15 ITA ranking, their first appearance in the Top 15 since 2015.
Junk led the squad in 2019 with 18 wins and stepped up during the Rebels' 2019 NCAA First Round, playing No. 4 against then-No. 20 Oklahoma State.
He boasts an impressive 3.93 GPA as an accountancy major with a minor in economics. He is an ITA Scholar Athlete, a member of the SEC and Chancellor's Honor Roll, and an avid volunteer around the Oxford/Lafayette communities.
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For more information on Ole Miss Men's Tennis, follow the Rebels on Twitter @OleMissMTennis, on Facebook at OleMissMTennis and on Instagram at OleMissMTennis, follow Coach Hansson on Twitter at @TennisToby.
Junk shares the honor of Co-Scholar Athlete of the Year with Alabama's Edison Ortiz, the Tide's No. 1 singles player and ranked No. 74 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's final individual rankings.
"Simon is a tireless worker who will always give it his all, whether it is on the court or in the classroom," head coach Toby Hansson said. "This recognition speaks volumes for what this young man has already accomplished and what is yet to come. He is one of the most focused players I have coached, and no one is more deserving of this award."
Junk started the 2020 spring on fire, winning his first nine consecutive contests. The Marpingen, Germany, native went 9-3 on the shortened season, and played the hero during multiple matches this season for the Rebels, earning his first career clinch as Ole Miss upset then No. 12 Illinois in the ITA Kickoff, rallying to a thrilling three-set tiebreak (6-7(5), 6-1, 7-6(4)). His win helped catapult the Rebels to a Top 15 ITA ranking, their first appearance in the Top 15 since 2015.
Junk led the squad in 2019 with 18 wins and stepped up during the Rebels' 2019 NCAA First Round, playing No. 4 against then-No. 20 Oklahoma State.
He boasts an impressive 3.93 GPA as an accountancy major with a minor in economics. He is an ITA Scholar Athlete, a member of the SEC and Chancellor's Honor Roll, and an avid volunteer around the Oxford/Lafayette communities.
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For more information on Ole Miss Men's Tennis, follow the Rebels on Twitter @OleMissMTennis, on Facebook at OleMissMTennis and on Instagram at OleMissMTennis, follow Coach Hansson on Twitter at @TennisToby.
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