PISCATAWAY, N.J. — Tara Chilton and assistant coach Hailey Barrett have both garnered regional and national praise from the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) with the announcement of the end of the year awards. Chilton earned the prestigious Arthur Ashe Award while Barrett was named the Northeast Region Assistant Coach of the Year.
The Arthur Ashe 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.
Chilton, who came to Rutgers in the fall of 2023 at the start of her junior season, has made a long-lasting impact on the Scarlet Knights. During her time On The Banks Chilton has excelled in all areas including in tennis, academics and volunteering in her community.
Chilton has stayed at the top of the lineup during her time in Piscataway, playing exclusively on courts No. 1 and No. 2 in both singles and doubles. She finished her senior campaign with five singles and nine doubles wins, leaving Rutgers with 15 singles victories and 17 in doubles play. In the spring of 2024, she helped RU secure victories against Army, St. John’s, Seton Hall and NJIT among other decisions.
She served as the Editor of the Little Investment Bankers of Rutgers while also being an active member of RU’s Accounting Association. An ITA Scholar-Athlete, Dean’s List member and College Sports Communicators Academic All-District selection, Chilton graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting this past May and will go onto pursue her dreams of being an attorney.
The Reno, Nevada product has also been active in the community, volunteering at Saturdays in Motion, participating each year in Read Across America while also being a dedicated member of Athletes in Action.
“The Arthur Ashe Award is a prestigious ITA Award and Tara is a perfect recipient,” head coach Hilary Ritchie said. “Tara always strives for excellence. In her two years at Rutgers, she made a big impact on our team, the business school and the student-athlete community overall.”
The ITA Assistant Coach of the Year honors an assistant coach who has exhibited outstanding leadership in ways…
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