May 14, 2012
STANFORD, Calif.- Senior Ryan Thacher was recognized with a pair of Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Regional award awards on Monday afternoon, representing Stanford's selections in the Northwest Region.
Thacher was named the regional recipient of the Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship award and Rafael Osuna Sportsmanship award. The senior now advances to the national ballot, with those award winners being announced next week.
The ITA/Arthur Ashe Leadership and Sportsmanship Award recognizes outstanding individuals in all divisions at the regional and national level. In August, the national winners are honored during a special ceremony hosted by the USTA during Arthur Ashe Kids' Day inside Ashe Stadium. The award dates back to 1982, and is distributed to players who have exhibited outstanding sportsmanship and leadership as well as scholastic, extracurricular and tennis achievements.
The ITA/Rafael Osuna Sportsmanship Award is the ITA's longest-running award and goes to a Division I men's player who displays sportsmanship, character, excellent academics and has had outstanding tennis playing accomplishments. The award was established in 1969 in memory of Rafael Osuna, who was killed in a plane accident at the age of 30. Osuna is one of the all-time great collegiate tennis players, winning three NCAA doubles titles (1961-63) and the '62 NCAA singles title as part of USC teams many consider to be the greatest of all-time.
A History major with a 3.91 GPA, Thacher is also a two-time Pac-10 All-Academic First Team selection and a Pac-12 Toyo Tires Scholar-Athlete nominee. A three-time All-American in doubles and four-time all-conference honoree, Thacher joins fellow senior Bradley Klahn as co-captains of this year's team. Thacher displayed his leadership early on this season, playing at the No. 1 spot of the lineup for the first time in his career when Klahn was sidelined due to injury. Off the court, Thacher is actively involved with community service efforts for the EPATT (East Palo Alto Tennis and Tutoring) program.