Grinnell College Athletics

Juan C. Pérez Borja ’11 is one of the most decorated athletes in Grinnell College history. Primarily a tennis player for the Pioneers, Pérez Borja holds the school record in match wins with more than 200. Over his storied career, he was an All-American, three-time NCAA National qualifier, a 12-time Midwest Conference Champion, and three-year captain. He earned the Morgan Taylor ’26 and G. Lester Duke ’25 awards for outstanding performances for an individual sport. But his talents on the court were not the only way he contributed. He dedicated himself to playing with teammates of all different skill levels, striving to create meaningful relationships with every member of the squad, and excelling academically as well. He was a three-time Academic All-Conference selection and was named an Academic Scholar-Athlete; his teammates continue to rave about his leadership and friendliness to this day. In fact, his nomination to the Hall of Fame was cosigned by every varsity teammate with whom he played. Following his time at Grinnell, he returned and competed in tennis open tournaments in his home country of Ecuador, taking two singles titles along with 10 doubles. Off the tennis court, following his graduation with a degree in economics and global development studies, he started his own organization in 2013, Enseña Ecuador (Teach for Ecuador). His mission is to transform the education system in Ecuador, working from the ground level to ensure that every child in Ecuador has the opportunity to obtain a high quality education, regardless of his or her socioeconomic or cultural background.