The will to fight back is part of the Illinois State University tennis tradition and, throughout the 2004 season, sophomore Djordje Uskokovic showed that he was not only a battler, but a leader for his team as well. Because of that leadership, Uskokovic has been awarded the 2004 Benoni Green Endowed Scholarship for mens tennis.
His coach, Greg Kennett, is proud of the progress Uskokovic, a native of Belgrade, Yugoslavia, made during the year.
He stepped up and became a leader on the court, said Kennett. He not only started believing in his game, but also got some other guys to believe in their game. He also stepped up off the court, working hard to improve himself.
Established in 1998, the Benoni Green Endowed Scholarship was funded by friends of the star Redbird tennis player. Green competed at Illinois State prior to World War II and his scholarship was presented for the first time in 1999.
Ascending to the No. 1 singles spot after a career-ending injury to teammate Ben Cappuccitti, Uskokovic was honored as a member of the Missouri Valley Conference All-Select Team.
Kennett believes Uskokovic could continue to be a high-impact player.
Hes a very special young man, said Kennett. The way he carries himself is very impressive. He keeps his head up, always tries hard, always works hard in practice to improve his game. He is one of those student-athletes who is a dream to have on your team.
First awarded in 1999, the Benoni Green Endowed Scholarship is one of 12 endowed scholarships available to Illinois State student-athletes funded by private donors. Six of them are already fully-funded, including the Benoni Green Endowed Scholarship.
For information about supporting Illinois State University endowments for student-athletes, call The Redbird Club office at (309) 438-3803.
