NORMAL, Ill. – Each year, deserving Illinois State men's tennis student-athletes are chosen as recipients for prestigious endowed scholarships at Illinois State, and this year two outstanding Redbirds were selected for these honors by ISU head men's tennis coach Mark Klysner.
The 2020-21 winners of the two endowed scholarships dedicated to men's tennis included senior Pol Botifoll Rius and junior Diego Emilio Moura Herrera. Each reflect the standards set forth by those who created the endowments, and each truly represent what it means to be a Redbird men's tennis student-athlete.
Botifoll Rius received the Benoni Green Endowed Scholarship which was established in 1998. It 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.
"I couldn't be happier for Pol to be recognized for this award," Klysner said. "He has been a tremendous player for us throughout the years, but what has impressed me even more is how he has excelled in the classroom. He's always been a strong student, but has gotten better each year."
Herrera was awarded with the Jim Whitman Tennis Endowed Scholarship, which was established in 2014 from gifts made in honor of Jim Whitman to benefit a men's tennis student-athlete. Jim was a former Illinois State men's tennis player and coach who received All-Conference accolades all four years as a player at Illinois State from 1963-67 and coached from 1972-1986. As a player Jim was honored as MVP twice and won three conference singles titles. He was inducted to the Illinois State Athletics Percy Family Hall of Fame in 1981.
"This is another well-deserved award for Diego, as I've seen a big improvement from him on the court and his game has matured over the last couple of years," Klysner stated. "I'm expecting big things from him on court in the coming years. Diego has also just been such a terrific student to go with his tennis."
These endowed scholarships are two of 31 available to Illinois State student-athletes that are funded by private donors. For more information about establishing or contributing an endowed scholarship, please call the Weisbecker Scholarship Fund office at (309) 438-3803. To read about each current endowment in more detail, visit the WSF website at www.weisbeckerscholarshipfund.com.
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