Bodavula, Duong & Harkins Named February Scholar-Athletes of the Month by Center for Enhanced Performance

WEST POINT, NY -  The Army West Point Athletics Association's Academic Support team has selected its scholar-athletes for the month of February, recognizing men's tennis senior Vishnu Bodavula, women's tennis junior Ylan Duong and wrestling senior Dalton Harkins.

Vishnu Bodavula '25 (men's tennis)
CDT Vishnu Bodavula is a senior and a top singles player on the Army West Point Men's Tennis Team.    Vishnu serves as one of the team's two co-captains this year, and he continues to serve as one of the team's emotional leaders, just as he has throughout his four years on the team. Moreover, Vishnu sets the example on and off the court, in all three pillars of the Academy—academic, military, and physical. In his role as captain this year he has helped to establish the cohesive and determined culture on the team, and he has served as a valuable mentor to our younger players.

In addition to Vishnu's athletic achievements and overall contributions to the team, his performance in the academic pillar has been quite remarkable. He is a Cyber Science major and will commission into the Cyber branch in May. He has been incredibly diligent throughout his academic career, and he's earned over a 3.0 GPA as he nears his graduation. In short, Vishnu has sought consistently to grow intellectually and professionally during his four years at USMA, and he will be a valuable addition to the Cyber branch.

CDT Bodavula likewise is an important military leader within his company. Vishnu's cumulative military score nears 3.0, which illustrates his consistently effective performance as a developing military leader. During his cadet career he has excelled in his assignments as a squad leader, section leader, and academic officer. Moreover, he served in a critical leadership role during West Point's Summer Leader Experience, in which high school juniors spend a week experiencing the life of a cadet. His efforts in SLE during the summer of 2023 were crucial to the Academy's admissions efforts.

In conclusion, Vishnu's performance across all pillars speak to his consistently excellent performance throughout his four years at the Academy. He has earned the genuine respect and trust of his peers, teammates, and coaches—and he is poised to leave a lasting impact on the Men's Tennis program.

Head Coach Randy Rowley adds, "I had the privilege of recruiting Vishnu Bodavula to play tennis and to be a student athlete at Army West Point. It was obvious from the very beginning of the recruiting process Vishnu had the potential to be a great officer, leading America's sons and daughters in the United States Army. Vishnu has been persistent on the court in terms of his play and leadership, and his evolution in both regards is something I have been fortunate enough to watch over the course of his four years here at USMA. As inspiring as he has been on the court, he has been a model cadet-athlete and an excellent student in the classroom."

Ylan Duong '26 (women's tennis)
Cadet Ylan Duong, Women's Tennis, Company B2, Class of 2026. CDT Duong has demonstrated a remarkable balance of academic excellence, athletic achievement, and leadership within the Corps. On the tennis court, Ylan has been a key contributor to her team's success.

She holds an impressive 11-5 overall singles record and 10-3 doubles record. In dual matches, she has posted a 4-1 record in both singles and doubles, competing at the highest levels as high as #1 in singles and #2 in doubles. Her dedication and work ethic make her a vital member of the team, and she is highly respected by her teammates.

Academically, Ylan excels in her rigorous Applied Statistics and Data Science major, maintaining a cumulative GPA of 3.653 and an outstanding term GPA of 4.087. Her commitment to academic success is evident in her ability to excel in a challenging field while balancing the demands of athletics and military responsibilities.

Beyond the classroom and the court, Ylan embodies excellence in leadership and physical fitness. She tabbed the IOCT, achieving 556 points on her most recent ACFT, and earned an A- in her military grade last semester. As a Platoon Sergeant (PSG) last semester and now serving as A-S 1 for her company, she has demonstrated outstanding leadership.

Ylan's work ethic, both on and off the court, is exemplary. She sets a high standard for those around her and consistently represents the Army values, is a positive and good teammate, and demonstrates excellence in all that she does. For these reasons, I strongly recommend Ylan for the Scholar-Athlete Award, as she is a true embodiment of what it means to be a scholar, an athlete, and a leader.

Dalton Harkins '25 (wrestling)
CDT Dalton R. Harkins is a member of the Class of 2025 in Company H4 and current starting 174-pound Cadet-Athlete for the Army West Point Wrestling Team.

Dalton is a 4-year starter and current Team Captain who has and will continue to make significant contributions on and off the mat as he embraces the opportunities to represent USMA in his final season. He is an Engineering Management major with four semesters on the Dean's List. Dalton excels in the Physical Program with his most recent Army Combat Fitness Test score of 586. As a leader, his confident but humble presence, remarkable consistency, and positive influence all contribute to the wrestling team's vision of "Chasing Greatness".

Moving up a weight from 165 lbs to 174 lbs this year, Dalton currently sits at 25^th in NCAA Coaches Rankings. Upon commissioning in May, he will be an Infantry Officer. Head Coach Kevin Ward says, "Dalton is a Team Captain because he represents the mentality and consistency in work ethic that we expect from our Cadet-athletes. He embodies the idea of Chasing Greatness in all aspects of his life and is a reliable example for every member of our team."

Army West Point Athletics

Bodavula, Duong & Harkins Named February Scholar-Athletes of the Month by Center for Enhanced Performance

Players Mentioned

Vishnu Bodavula

Ylan Duong

Dalton Harkins

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