DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Four Bethune-Cookman University Tennis Student-Athletes have been recognized by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) as Scholar-Athlete award winners for 2015.

Paolo “Greg” Almeida, Gilbert Rotich, Gaby Chincilla and Chinatsu Kajiwara each had a grade point average of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale during the 2014-15 academic year, were varsity letter winners and have been enrolled at least two semesters.

“It is an absolute honor to receive four ITA Scholar-Athlete awards,” said B-CU Head Coach Tim Pleasant. “I believe it puts an exclamation point of the culture that I have been trying to create here at B-CU. Not only are we champions on the court, but more importantly, we are now champions off the court as well. This accomplishment is what I am most proud of this year.”

Both seniors, Chinchilla and Kajiwara led the Lady Wildcats to their first Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship since 2001.

On the court, Chinchilla was a First-Team All-MEAC selection in 2015 and a second team selection in 2013 and 2014. Kajiwara garnered a berth on the All-MEAC second team, becoming the first Lady Wildcat to be named All-Conference in all four of her seasons at Bethune-Cookman.

Almeida, a sophomore in 2015, and Rotich, a senior, helped the Wildcat men advance to the MEAC tournament championship match for the first time in program history as well as compile the men’s first winning season since 2009.

Along with Walid Gtari, Almeida (Sao Paulo, Brazil ) led the Wildcats with 13 singles victories. Rotich was a four-year letterman.