News        from ABAC

Michael D. Chason Director of Public Relations ABAC 30 -- 2802 Moore Highway Tifton, GA 31793-2601 Phone 229-391-5055 Fax 229-391-5056 mchason@abac.edu

IMMEDIATE JULY 6, 2005

WOMEN’S TENNIS GETS NEW LIFE AT ABAC

TIFTON - Women’s tennis is alive and well at Abraham Baldwin College. Athletics’ Director Alan Kramer had previously announced that women’s soccer would replace women’s tennis beginning with the 2006 fall semester. That plan has now changed.

“I’m very pleased to tell you that with our continuing increases in enrollment, we have found a way to keep women’s tennis,” Kramer said.

Kramer said the increased number of students means more athletic fee funds and a slightly larger budget for ABAC intercollegiate sports.

“It just makes sense to keep a very popular sport that we have been quite successful at,” Kramer said. “I know we have some parents and friends of tennis that are very excited.”

ABAC will still add men’s golf this fall and women’s soccer in the fall of 2006. That will give the college eight sports including men’s basketball, baseball, tennis, and golf as well as women’s soccer, basketball, tennis, and softball.

“I believe with eight teams we will have as many sports as any two-year college in the state,” Kramer said.

Kramer will coach both the women’s and men’s tennis teams. Prior to becoming the men’s coach at ABAC, he led the Fillies to seven consecutive state titles and a second place finish in the national tournament in 1999. He was named the ITA/Wilson Coach of the Year in the nation in 1998.

Since taking over the Stallions in 2001, Kramer has guided the team to three state titles and two second place finishes in the national tournament.

Under the direction of Coach Alton Hudgins, the Fillies won the state tournament this year and finished in a tie for 10^th in the nation. Hudgins will take over as the intramural director this fall. A parttime assistant coach to work with both tennis teams will be added to the staff.

###