Hope senior John Pelton if Kirkwood, Mo. (Midland, Mich. HS) achieves NCAA All-America recognition by advancing to the round of 16 at the NCAA Division III tennis singles tournament in Claremont, Calif.

Pelton opened with a first round victory over James Muliawan of Carnegie-Mellon, Pa. 6-2, 6-4, but lost in three sets in the second round to second-seeded Larry Wang of host Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, 5-7, 6-2, 6-3. Pelton was unseeded in the 32-player tournament.

This season Pelton compiled a 21-2 record and ends his Hope career with a 43-5 mark. He was voted the most valuable player in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) as both a junior and senior.

He has also been honored for his sportsmanship receiving the Stowe Sportsmanship Award from the MIAA and the Arthur Ashe, Jr. Leadership and Sportsmanship Award for the Central Region.