Burton, Poynter Honored as 2017 ITA Scholar-Athletes

2017 All-Academic Teams & Scholar Athletes - Division I Men

The Liberty Flames men's tennis program placed a pair of student-athletes, Chase Burton and Alex Poynter, on the list of 2017 Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Scholar-Athletes.

Burton and Poynter were both named on the list of 2017 Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Scholar-Athletes.

To qualify for the academic honor, a student-athlete must be a letterwinner with a 3.50 or higher GPA for the current academic year while having been enrolled at the school for two semesters. After Burton and Poynter were named ITA Scholar-Athletes, Liberty men's tennis has now had 11 players in program history tabbed to the ITA Scholar-Athlete team.

Burton, a mechanical engineering major, enjoyed a highly successful year in the classroom and on the court as a freshman. The Naples, Fla., native was named to the Big South Conference First Team All-Conference singles list. He was also selected to the VaSID All-State Men's Tennis singles second team, the first Flames freshman in program history to garner the distinction. The two-time Big South Freshman of the Week paced the squad in singles victories with 18 and finished tied for second in doubles triumphs (12).

Poynter, a business administration major, posted 10 doubles wins with partner Diego Castano during the year, the most of any Flames tandem. Poynter and Castano won the Black doubles flight at the N.C. State Invite during the fall campaign. The Houston, Texas, native also collected three singles victories as a sophomore.

Liberty's men's tennis program currently holds a 3.15 cumulative GPA, the highest among Liberty's NCAA Division I men's athletics programs. The team posted a 3.19 team GPA during the 2016-17 academic year, also highest among Flames men's teams.

In total, 720 teams and 3,908 student-athletes across all five divisions of college tennis were recognized. At the Division I level, 302 teams and 1,521 scholar-athletes were honored.