SMU Men's Tennis Lands Four ACC Academic Honors

SMU men’s tennis didn’t just make noise on the court this season. The Mustangs also flexed where it counts just as much: in the classroom.

Jerry Barton, Vikas Deo, Georgi Georgiev and Noah McDonald were named to the All-ACC Academic Team, giving SMU four more reasons to brag during its Atlantic Coast Conference era.

MORE: Jason Hart Leaves Kentucky For SMU In Major Staff Shakeup

The honor recognizes athletes who handled business academically while still showing up when the matches mattered.

To qualify, student-athletes must carry at least a 3.0 GPA both overall and across the most recent two semesters.

They also must compete in at least 50% of their team’s contests, meaning this isn’t just a “good grades from the bench” award. These guys were part of the grind.

Even better for SMU, this isn’t a one-time headline. Barton, Deo, Georgiev and McDonald all earned All-ACC Academic Team recognition for the second straight season, proving last year wasn’t a fluke.

That kind of consistency says plenty about the standard inside the Mustangs’ program.

Deo, Georgiev and McDonald added another layer to their resumes after previously earning College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honors in May.

So, yes, the academic trophy case is getting crowded.

For SMU men’s tennis, this is the kind of win that doesn’t always dominate the highlight reels but matters in building a serious college sports program.

MORE: SMU’s Jaron Pierre Jr. Is Headed Home To New Orleans

The Mustangs are stacking players who can compete, represent the school and carry the workload that comes with being a Division I student-athlete.

In a sport where discipline, focus and mental toughness decide matches, SMU’s four academic honorees showed those traits don’t disappear once they leave the court.

Join Our Roundtable Community For Free!

Share your takes, connect with our Roundtable writers, and talk sports with fellow fans. Download the free Roundtable App today and stay closer to the conversation.