Dallas – The Conference USA announced its men's tennis All-Academic Team on Thursday, Francisco Rocha of Middle Tennessee was named to the squad, he has now earned the academic honors in consecutive seasons.

"Credit to Francisco, he's always giving his best in everything he applies himself to, his academics, his tennis, being a role model in the community," Head Coach Jimmy Borendame said. "Congratulations to Francisco, another honor in a long list of accolades during his time with Middle Tennessee." Borendame said.

Rocha accumulated a 4.0 GPA this year while pushing for a degree in Business Administration. He has earned a spot on the C-USA All-Academic Team in back-to-back seasons (2021 & 2022). In his four-year career as a Blue Raider, Francisco has been named the 2021 MTSU President's Award Winner, a 2020 ITA Scholar-Athlete, given a 2019 C-USA Academic Medal, and named to the 2019 & 2022 C-USA Comissioner's Honor Roll.

In athletic achievements, Rocha sports a 17-2 record in singles and as of April 14, he is ranked No. 80 in the country by the ITA, second in the C-USA behind teammate Slump. In doubles play, Francisco is 12-6 and retained the highest-rated doubles pairing in the conference at No. 54 with Brostrom Poulsen.

Francisco earned 2021 Conference USA Player of the Year after qualifying for the NCAA Singles Championship and ending the season with a record of 13-6 and a final ranking of No. 59 by the ITA. Rocha is a five-time C-USA Athlete of the Week during his career and was named to the All-C-USA First Time Singles in 2021.

Nominees must have a 3.2 cumulative grade point average and have participated in 75 percent of the teams' scheduled matches. Candidates should be a sophomore class standing, but redshirt freshmen are eligible if they have completed enough credits. The All-Academic Team was voted on by Academic Advisors across the eight C-USA member schools who sponsor men's tennis.

2022 Men's Tennis All-Academic Team
Kevin Hempfner, Florida Atlantic
Finn Stodder, Florida Atlantic
Francisco Rocha, Middle Tennessee
AJ Valenty, Rice
Michal Lusocsky, UAB
Javier Gonzalez, UTSA

Dor Saar, Middle Tennessee
Courtney Whitson, Middle Tennessee
Rita Pleskevich, Florida Atlantic
Aaliyah Dunham, Marshall
Ariel Colon, FIU