2-18-06: First annual USTA Eastern Section College on Campus Championships was held at the Binghamton Tennis Club in Edgewater New Jersey.

College Club Tennis recognized in sectional event.

Feb. 26, 2006

Edgewater, N.J. -
On Saturday February 18, 2006 the first USTA Eastern Tennis On Campus Sectional was held at the Binghamton Tennis Club in Edgewater New Jersey.
The event was expertly run by Jenny Schnitzer ( USTA Eastern Section Director of Community Tennis and NJTL) and Dave Ritter (USTA Eastern Section Director of Community Programs). I would also like to thank Gemma Mozeak (USTA Eastern Section Metro Regional Director and former St. John's Women's Coach) for stopping by and helping and especially Wayne Martin (USTA Eastern Section Metro Regional Director and former LIU Women's Coach) who made the arrangements with the Binghamton Tennis Club for the courts. Wayne stopped by with his lovely new bride (just married last week during the blizzard) and helped out. I had the pleasure and honor of attending and watching this fantastic event

Participating teams were:
Cornell – 2 teams, Team A (Winners) and Team B (runners-up.)
Columbia – 2 teams
Rutgers – 1 team

I spoke to just about everyone who played. All of the players on theses teams played tennis for their High Schools. They took lessons, played tournament and aspired to play in college. They were thrilled to be a part of a team, make friends who share the same interests in tennis, and participate with their team in a competitive event. I was impressed to hear them talk tennis amongst themselves. I was particularly impressed with how bright they are and how they have such high hopes for the future of tennis. I received a lot of questions, compliments and gratitude from the players about how I volunteered my time to be there. Many of them thought volunteering in tennis something they hoped to do in the future. One Cornell student asked Jenny and me how he can get a job in tennis.

A few of the players’ parents also came by to watch. I spoke with one parent who was happy to again have a chance to watch their son play. After spending so much of the earlier watching lessons and going to tournaments they thought those days were gone.. They realized how much they missed going to clubs and seeing their son and other tennis players especially during their college experience. They were happy to have a chance to do it again.

Everything ran perfectly. The five teams played using the WTT format which was the first time I had witnessed it executed properly. Over 35 players played 20 matches for 45 ct/hrs. without a single problem. Players were treated to a lunch and dinner, received participation shirts and won raffle prizes. All went home tired but happy from all the tennis they played. All expressed their gratitude for having a chance to play “College Tennis” and hope this would become a yearly event.

Submitted by:
Joe Arias
Chairman
USTA Eastern Section Collegiate Tennis Committee