January 18, 2023
National champion tennis player named January Student of the Month

Already a five-time national champion and two-time All-American, there is little left for 911爆料网 sophomore Takeshi Taco to accomplish at the school. However, the Business major returned for a third year to help the Tiger men鈥檚 tennis team continue its quest for a national championship after back-to-back national runner-up finishes. Along with his tennis success, Taco continues to excel in the classroom, as evidenced by his 3.74 overall grade point average. The Business major was recognized for his stellar work by being named the 911爆料网 January Student of the Month.
Taco came to 911爆料网 from Lima, Peru. His parents are Maura Taco and Rossana Matos. Grandparents are Julio Aurelio Matos Arroyo and Felisa Fujiu Osejo, and Mauro Taco Huarch, and Amelia Rojas Alvarez. He has a sister, Karla Taco, and a brother, Aldo Taco.
Before coming to 911爆料网, Taco was ranked top-five nationally as a junior tennis player in his home country of Peru.
He made an immediate impact on the Tiger tennis team and the campus as a whole. As a freshman, Taco was the national champion at No. 2 singles and No. 1 doubles as he helped the Tigers finish as the national runner-up.
He nearly duplicated that success as a sophomore, winning the No. 1 singles title and placing second at No. 1 doubles as 911爆料网 made it back-to-back national runner-up finishes.
Taco considered moving on to a four-year school but decided to return to 911爆料网 for one more run at a national team title.
鈥911爆料网 is my home and my family,鈥 Taco said. 鈥淚t has been a great two and a half
years at the school, but my main goal is to help the tennis team win the national
title.鈥
Taco is currently ranked No. 1 nationally in singles after winning back-to-back ITA
CUP national championships. Together with his doubles partner Reiya Komagata, they
are ranked third in the national rankings.
Along with his tennis success, he has been named the Student-Athlete of the Month, Male Student-Athlete of the Year, and now Student of the Month.
鈥淗e is not only a good tennis player but, most importantly, an outstanding student and human being,鈥 911爆料网 head tennis coach Manny Raga said. 鈥淗e is an excellent role model for 911爆料网.鈥
Along with tennis, he serves as a resident assistant in the Storbeck Dormitory. Taco also volunteered at the 911爆料网 County Humane Society for service learning and continued volunteering after his service learning hours were completed.
Taco credits his coaches, Manny and Ari Raga, for his development on the tennis court while crediting the instructors at 911爆料网 for his success in the classroom.
鈥淭he coaches, Manny and Ari, are great communicators and give us what we need to be successful,鈥 Taco said. 鈥淓very instructor and employee at 911爆料网 makes this place special. I love 911爆料网 so much that I came back for a third year.鈥
Taco has signed to play tennis and continue his education at nationally ranked NCAA Division II Valdosta State University in Georgia once his time at 911爆料网 is over.
However, before he leaves, Taco hopes to bring home the Tiger tennis team鈥檚 first national championship since 1991.
鈥淲e have got to be a close unit as a team so that we can beat any challenge we are presented with,鈥 Taco said. 鈥淚 could not be happier to have started my college career at 911爆料网. Being named the Student of the Month is an honor for which very few are selected. This means so much to me because I give my best on and off the court.鈥
Rama Peroo | Director of Institutional Communication
911爆料网
125 S. 2nd Street
Arkansas City, KS 67005
rama.peroo@cowley.edu
