May 25, 2005

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Santa Clara men's tennis player Ben Hidalgo was honored as a recipient of the Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar Award, earning first-team honors. He was one of 26 total recipients from men's tennis and was among eight players to be recognized on the first team.

Primarily a doubles player on the men's tennis team, Hidalgo compiled an overall doubles record of 11-9 in the 2004-05 season, including an 8-5 mark with partner Bobby Rasmussen. Among the duo's triumphs this season were victories against pairs from UC Santa Barbara, Loyola Marymount, Pacific and Nevada. These performances on the court helped Santa Clara to a third-place finish in the West Coast Conference. Off of the tennis court, Hidalgo maintained a 3.62 cumulative grade-point average while working toward an MBA in Marketing.

"I'm very happy for Ben's achievements in both athletics and academics," said Santa Clara men's tennis head coach George Husack. "His commitment and contribution to our program has been invaluable. He has spent countless hours on the courts and in the classroom studying. Ben has been a great leader, mentor and role model for his teammates both on and off the court."

The Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Award is sponsored and given annually by Black Issues in Higher Education to minority student-athletes in all NCAA-sanctioned sports who excel both academically and athletically. To be included, students have to compete in an intercollegiate sport; maintain a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.2; and be active on their campuses or in their communities.

Former Bronco men's tennis recipients include current assistant coach Erich Chen in 2002 and '03, and Michael Duong in 2002.