Columbia, S.C. – Three South Carolina men’s tennis athletes were named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team on Tuesday. Graduates Jake Beasley and Raphael Lambling along with junior Connor Thomson represented the Gamecocks on the All-District Team.
The CSC All-District Team recognizes the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the court and in the classroom. All-District honorees advance to the CSC Academic All-America ballot. First, second, and third-team All-America honorees will be announced on May 31.
Thomson, a psychology major, racked up a singles record of 32-6 this season with an 19-4 mark in dual play. He went 11-3 against ranked opponents this season including five wins in the top-25 and three in the top-10. He has climbed throughout the rankings this season, including hitting a new career-high of No. 5.
In doubles, Thomson is 26-6 with an 18-4 mark in dual play. He went 11-3 against ranked opponents in doubles with 11 wins in the top-50 including six in the top-25 and three in the top-10, as well as a win over the nation’s No. 2 pair. Thomson is ranked No. 1 in the nation in doubles alongside partner Toby Samuel and the duo has held that position for 11 consecutive weeks. They are the first pair in program history to be ranked No. 1 in the nation and were also the first pair in program history to win an ITA All-American Doubles Tournament title in the fall.
Thomson clinched the doubles point for the team nine times this season and clinched a team-high six matches in singles. He opened the dual season as the SEC Player of the Week and was named to the All-SEC First Team at the conclusion of the season. Thomson also entered the century club this season, achieving his 100th career singles victory.
Beasley, who is pursuing a master of exercise science, put up a singles record of 19-13 this season with 11 wins in dual play. He went on an eight-match singles win streak through the SEC-Big 12 Challenge, Miami Spring Invite, and into the beginning of the dual season.
In doubles, Beasley has an overall record of 28-11 with 16 wins in dual play. He has been a staple of the doubles lineup this season, playing in all 27 of South Carolina’s matches, primarily at the No. 2 position where he is 15-8. He ranked as high as No. 22 in the nation this season alongside partner James Story.
Beasley clinched six doubles points for South Carolina this season and three SEC dual matches in singles,…