COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- Former Golden Eagle tennis standout and
current fifth-year student assistant coach Borja Zarco (center in
photo) was recently presented with the 2009 Johnny Donnelly
Scholarship.
Borja is in his first season as a student assistant coach after
having one of the most successful careers in the history of the
program. During his senior season, he became the first Golden Eagle
to participate in the NCAA Singles Championship in Tulsa, Okla. He
earned his after going 27-5 during the season including wins over
several ranked opponents. He himself earned a national ranking,
also the first for a Golden Eagle. He capped off the season being
named the OVC Player of the Year as well as first-team All-OVC
honors.
During his career, Zarco earned All-OVC honors three times
including two years as a member of the first-team his junior and
senior seasons. During his final three seasons, he helped the
Golden Eagles to a 26-1 record in the conference, including two
outright championships and one co-championship. After winning the
2007 OVC tournament, Tech played at Texas in the first round of the
NCAA championship.
Now on the bench, Zarco helps head coach Dan Silverstein at the
indoor tennis center, conducting tennis clinics in addition to the
on-court instruction he provides to both Golden Eagle tennis
programs.
Johnny Donnelly was the first fan and the youngest person to be
inducted into the Tennessee Tech Sports Hall of Fame. The Award is
given is Johny's memory by his parents, John and Marti Connelly
either side of Zarco). On the court for the presentation with the
Donnellys was Tom Sergio (right), one of the major donors to he
Scholarship Endowment, and TTU Director of Athletics Mark Wilson
(left). Steve Copeland is another major donor to the endowment, but
was unable to attend the presentation.