This release was updated on July 15, 2021 to reflect the Division III National Award.
TEMPE, Ariz. - Announced on Wednesday by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA),
Jordan Besh of the University of the South women's tennis program has been named the ITA Arthur Ashe Jr. Leadership and Sportsmanship Award for the Atlantic South region.
On Thursday, Besh was selected out of the four regions as the Division III recpient of the ITA Arthur Ashe Jr. Leadership and Sportsmanship Award.
This prestigious award, which dates back to 1982, is presented to men's and women's student-athletes who have exhibited outstanding sportsmanship and leadership, as well as scholastic, extracurricular and tennis achievements in ways that embody the legacy of tennis icon and humanitarian Arthur Ashe Jr.
This summer, she is currently working at Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga as a Patient Care Technician for stroke and COVID-19 patients. She has volunteered as a Home Health aide with the Bayada Home Health Clinic in Charlotte, NC and worked as a volunteer EMT with Cabarrus Health Alliance COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic, as well as shadowing the emergency medical services team in Cabarrus County.
Besh, a rising senior from Charlotte, N.C., recorded a 6-5 singles record during the 2021 season. However in doubles play, she posted the second-highest wins on the team with an 8-2 mark.
During her freshman campaign in 2019, the All-SAA Honorable Mention selection posted a 10-2 record in singles, including a perfect 9-0 mark against Division III competitors. In doubles, she tallied a 12-2 overall record, including a perfect 5-0 mark at the No. 1 position.
Entering her senior season, the 2019 SAA All-Sportsmanship representative has a career 16-7 singles record and a 17-4 doubles record.
"Sportsmanship means many things, but what I get to see in Jordan is someone who puts the larger picture above her own individual needs. The game of tennis, the entirety of our team, the members of her family and local community all come before her own personal interests through her leadership and actions," said head coach
Conchie Shackelford.
Besh is the first women's tennis player from the University of the South to achieve this award on a national level. Additionally, she is the fifth student-athlete to earn the Sportsmanship Award in the Atlantic South region, joining Mary Missbach C'00 (1999), Jordan Casey C'09 (2009), Bronte Goodhue C'15 (2014) and Lindsey Liles C'16 (2015).
Double majoring in Biochemistry and Neuroscience, she is a three-time member of the SAA Academic Honor Roll, a two-time ITA Scholar-Athlete and has been on the University of the South's Dean's List each semester.
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