BOBBI SALCIDO | staff writer
The Azusa Pacific men’s and women’s tennis teams welcomed past players for the annual Tennis Alumni Game on Saturday, January 31.
Saturday’s matches were scheduled to be played on the new courts but due to unfavorable weather conditions earlier in the week, the courts were not finished in time for Saturday’s competition.
Instead, the contest was moved back to the team’s prior practice facilities at Citrus College.
“We had a couple of little sprinkles the other day that pushed the surfacing of the courts back a few days and that is why we couldn’t play the match over there today,” Bohren said.
This will be the first season when Azusa Pacific men’s and women’s tennis teams will compete at the newly built Munson and Bavougian Tennis Complex on West Campus.
“It’s fantastic for the whole APU community and the tennis program,” Head Coach Mark Bohren said. “Most importantly for us to be able to perform and play at a new level and allow for a better overall feel for the team.”
Players hope that with the new facilities located on campus, more students will be able to come and support the teams throughout the season.
“Hopefully we will get more fans,” sophomore international business major Daniel Moore said. “A lot of people didn’t even know we had a tennis team or didn’t want to come all the way out to Citrus, but if it’s on campus more people will come.”
The push for the new courts began in 1995 when former APU Trustee Ward Munson gave a significant gift that started the fund.
Two years ago, the family of Azusa Pacific alumnus and long time athletic supporter Varton Bavougian decided to leave his assets to the university after his death.
Combined, both donations created the motivation to continue fundraising for the new complex to be built.
The legacy and generous contributions of both men were told to all players and alumni by Executive Vice President of University Advancement David Bixby in his opening words Saturday morning.
Construction of the courts began in he summer of 2008.
“It is one of the top three university priorities in terms of capital building projects,” senior director of development Andrew Barton said.
An estimated $400,000 still needs to be raised through fundraising for project completion.
Following the doubles round robin tournament the teams participated in, players and alumni traveled over to west campus to see the new courts and pose for a few pictures.
“It’s a huge step for the athletic department and team. As far as recruitment, it steps up the level of the program...unfortunately, these courts came too late for my group, but we’re thrilled for the team,” 2005 alumnus Adam Davidson said.
The new courts also come at a time when the Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC) has changed its schedule format.
Each school will play each other twice, once home and once away, throughout the season instead of only meeting one time.
“It will give us more of a team feeling knowing that we have our own courts,” sophomore communication studies major Casey Wetzig said.
Despite not being able to play the alumni matches on the new courts, players and alumni were both grateful and enthusiastic about the arrival of the Tennis Complex.
“APU tennis is a big family, a lot of people come back from 40 years ago, that makes for a really good cohesive group,” Bohren said.
“Hopefully in the future we’ll have our matches out there,” Davidson said.
Players, coaches and alumni were treated to a lunch provided by the Office of Alumni Relations in the Hall of Champions following the court viewing.
“David Bixby, Coach Bohren and several others have done so much and gone out of their way to make this next year a great experience for us,” Wetzig said.
Both teams held their first practices at the new complex on Monday, February 2 and begin their season at UC San Diego Saturday, February 7.
A formal dedication of the Munson and Bavougian Tennis Complex will be held Tuesday, February 10 at 2:30 p.m.
