Edinboro Announces Return of Men's and Women's Tennis
Story Courtesy of Edinboro Sports Information
Edinboro, Pa. – A once renowned sports program is returning to Edinboro University. Edinboro University President Dr. Jeremy D. Brown has announced that tennis, once one of the top programs in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference and the NAIA, will be reinstated beginning in 2010-11.
“The nation's economic troubles have significantly impacted higher education. As a result, many institutions are eliminating athletic programmes,” said President Brown. “Through the support of our generous alumni, we are able to bring tennis back to Edinboro University.”
The men’s and women’s tennis programs were dropped at Edinboro following the 2003 season. Budget cuts necessitated the move at that time, which included the dropping of baseball, as well. The decision did not sit well with a loyal group of tennis alumni, and that group pledged to raise the necessary funds to return the sport to Edinboro. Since then, tennis alumni and friends have raised $1.1 million, allowing for the return of a sport which captured PSAC men’s championships in 1964, 1974 and 1978, along with a women’s crown in 1978.
“The tennis program enjoyed a rich tradition at Edinboro at one time,” related Director of Athletics Bruce Baumgartner. “The addition of men’s and women’s tennis helps diversify our offerings for prospective student athletes. We look forward to fielding a team that will be competitive in the PSAC and the region.”
Edinboro men’s tennis ranked among the top programs in NAIA District 18 back in the 1970’s, and included trips to the NAIA National Championships in 1970, 1972 and ’74. Former men’s tennis players Arnold Bradshaw, Fred Casoli, Jim Flynn, Joe Iacovetta, Delbert Lemmon, Dennis Ranalli, Ted Robinson, and Jerome Simon were inducted as members of the Edinboro Athletic Hall of Fame. The women’s team is represented by Kim Wright and Mary Ann Chilcott.
The search for a coach of the two new programs has already begun, and Edinboro expects to name that individual in the near future. The addition of men’s and women’s tennis gives Edinboro ten varsity women’s sports and seven varsity men’s sports.
The addition of both men's and women's tennis will now give the PSAC seven schools that sponsor men's tennis and 13 schools that sponsor women's tennis beginning in the 2010-11 academic year.