Story Links
BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Bucknell’s Amar Tahirovic and Navy’s Emma Gu were named the 2026 Patriot League Men’s and Women’s Tennis Scholar-Athletes of the Year, respectively, the League office announced on Friday.
Tahirovic earned the honor for the second consecutive season and was one of two Bucknell student-athletes named to the 2026 Patriot League Men’s Tennis Academic All-Patriot League Team. Navy also placed two student-athletes on the team, while Army West Point and Holy Cross each had one selection.
Five institutions were represented on the 2026 Patriot League Women’s Tennis Academic All-Patriot League Team, with Navy leading the way with two selections. Boston University, Bucknell, Holy Cross and Loyola Maryland each had one representative.
On the men’s side, Tahirovic became a three-time Academic All-Patriot League selection, while Bucknell senior Adam Stavrakas, Navy junior Aniketh Ayinala and Army West Point junior Alan Ton each earned their second career honors.
All six members of the women’s Academic All-Patriot League Team earned the honor for the first time in their careers.
The selection process was conducted by the League’s men’s tennis sports information directors, who could not vote for their student-athletes.
The Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year winner for each sport comprises the pool of nominees for the Patriot League Male and Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards given out over the summer. One male and one female are selected for the honors.
2026 Patriot League Men’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Amar Tahirovic, Bucknell, Sr., Stuttgart, Germany/ Stuttgart
*Tahirovic is a four-time First Team All-Patriot League selection and two-time Patriot League Player of the Year, becoming just the fourth multi-year Player of the Year in League history.
*He finished the 2025-26 season with a 30-7 singles record and a 24-7 doubles mark, while helping earn 2026 Doubles Team of the Year honors alongside Brendan McDonald.
*Tahirovic ends his career as Bucknell’s careerleader in singles wins (113) and combined singles and doubles victories (205).
*He is a business analytics major in Bucknell’s Freeman College of Management, 2025 Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year and a three-year team captain.
2026 Patriot League Women’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Emma Gu, Navy, So., West Lafayette, Ind./Harrison
*Gu earned First Team All-Patriot League honors after posting a 25-12 singles record, including a 5-1 mark in League play at No. 1 singles.
*The sophomore recorded the ninth-most single-season singles wins in program history.
*Gu maintained a perfect 4.00 cumulative GPA while earning Patriot League Academic Honor Roll recognition, ITA Scholar-Athlete honors and three selections each to the Superintendent’s and Commandant’s Lists.
*She ranked No. 1 in Military, Academic and Overall Order of Merit for three consecutive semesters among Navy’s 1,138-member sophomore class while compiling a 46-18 career singles record.
Men’s Tennis Scholar Athlete of the Year – Amar Tahirovic, Bucknell
Women’s Tennis Scholar Athlete of the Year – Emma Gu, Navy
Patriot League Men’s Tennis Academic All-League Team
Alan Ton, Army West Point
Adam Stavrakas, Bucknell
Amar Tahirovic, Bucknell
Matt Carlson, Holy Cross
Aniketh Ayinala, Navy
Tommy Kim, Navy
Patriot League Women’s Tennis Academic All-League Team
Gabriella Mikaul, Boston University
Abby Platt, Bucknell
Ashley Zilora, Holy Cross
Mia Matriccino, Loyola Maryland
Emma Gu, Navy
Grace Li, Navy
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its fourth decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athletes can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The Patriot League’s athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes who are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.