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 JUNE 30, 2008

ABAC President David Bridges (left) and ABAC Athletics Director Alan Kramer (right) were on hand for the signing ceremony for Paul Fitzgerald.  The Irish tennis star will play for the Pirates of Armstrong Atlantic next season.

ABAC Tennis Player Signs with National Champs

TIFTON—Paul Fitzgerald, a two-time All-America selection at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, has signed with NCAA Division II national champion Armstrong Atlantic State University to continue his college tennis career.

Fitzgerald, a native of Cork, Ireland, played at either the number one or number two singles’ spot for the Stallions of Coach Alan Kramer for the past two years.   He advanced to the national tournament semifinals as a freshman at number two and earned a berth in the national championship match at number one as a sophomore.

“He has been an absolute pleasure to work with,” Kramer said.  “He really has a hockey player mentality on the tennis court.”

As an example, Kramer cited the ITA national tournament during Fitzgerald’s freshman year when he ran face first into a light pole during a semifinal match.  He hit the pole so hard that he left two teeth implanted in the pole.

After a visit to the hospital, Fitzgerald came back and won the ITA national championship the next day.

“I was packing the van to go home and trying to make a dentist’s appointment for Paul, and he’s out there getting ready to play,” Kramer said.  “That tells you what kind of competitor he is.”

Fitzgerald was selected as the ITA National Rookie of the Year in 2007 and was named the ITA National Player of the Year in 2008.  He led the Stallions to a sixth place finish in the national tournament as a freshman and to a third place finish this season.

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