Campus News

September 26, 2011

Campaign Emory

Tennis grandstand dedicated during Homecoming

Tennis grandstand dedicated during Homecoming
The new grandstand will provide seating for 200 spectators at the Woodruff P.E. Center courts.

By Terri McIntosh

Members of Emory's tennis community gathered during Homecoming Weekend on Sept. 25 to dedicate the new grandstand at the outdoor courts on campus. The grandstand, which will provide seating for 200 spectators at the Woodruff P.E. Center courts, is the result of three years of fundraising.

"It was September 2008 when we met the Miller-Ward House to begin fundraising for this new stadium," said Tim Downes, director of the Department of Athletics and Recreation. "We went into this wanting to raise money, but we came out with a lot of great relationships. … These relationships have everything to do with the excellence of Emory tennis."

Attending the ceremony were current and former coaches and players and their families. Former coaches Don Schroer and Linda Lipson cut the ribbon.

Zahra Dawson, a senior on the women's team, talked about the significance of the new grandstand to Emory tennis. An applied mathematics major with a 3.84 grade point average, Dawson helped lead the Eagles to a third-place finish at the NCAA Division III Championships in 2011, finishing the year with a singles record of 28-9, giving her the most singles victories by an Eagle during the year and tying her for the third-most singles victories in a single season in Emory history.

"The tennis program at Emory is full of history, with many milestones of its own as well as records that no other program has matched," she said. "Emory has been home to the NCAA's most decorated tennis player and has won the highest number of consecutive UAA Conference championships, to name a few achievements... Having the opportunity to be a member of such an accomplished program is an honor."

"There is no doubt that this stadium is going to give Emory tennis the biggest presence it has ever had on campus, and I can't wait to see what the spring semester and future years have in store," Dawson said.

Adding to the value

Roy Martino '72C-'76M, Emory's top doubles player in the 1970s, the first of 70 NCAA postgraduate scholars, and a member of the Emory Sports Hall of Fame, talked about the value of supporting tennis at Emory.

"All of us here should be very proud of the things going on with Emory tennis," he said. "Having this great stadium is terrific and certainly something that everybody can continue to contribute to. It's always a good idea to give your money to the tennis stadium."

Fundraising efforts continue to complete the new tennis facility. A professional-style pavilion and champagne tables overlooking the courts will push the seating capacity to nearly 250 and create a venue that will be unmatched in Division III. Alumni and friends also can contribute to the purchase of a scoreboard and seating for the new grandstand.

In addition to expanding Emory's ability to host conference and NCAA championships, this showcase facility will help Emory attract members of the regional, national and international tennis community.

To make a gift to the tennis project, visit Emory's secure, online giving form, or contact Andrew Christopherson, director of development, at andrew.christopherson@emory.edu, or Angie Duprey, assistant athletic director.

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