Net News - April 17
4/17/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Happy Tax Filing Weekend,
Hope you all have had a smooth process of putting together paperwork, statements and figures for your accountant. What seems to be so far away in January, the tax deadline ultimately brings us some reward in the form of a refund, or an amount due, where we painfully have to write a check and take a hit in our bank account. Well, this weekend of tennis, much like April 15, has snuck up on us so quickly. One minute we are kicking off the year and the next we are competing in our final regular season match. And much like getting money back from our state or federal government, the reward for this weekend is to celebrate, honor and give thanks to our lone senior, Becker O'Shaughnessey.
We met over the summer just prior to our 'freshman year'. He was the only newcomer during my first season and immediately made an impact to the program. He was usually the first to arrive at the courts and the last to leave while always sticking to a simple, yet thorough routine. Becker went about business in his own way, never registering a complaint nor questioning the coaching, instruction or plans that laid before him. He led by example from day one and it didn't take long to realize that we had a unique individual on the roster.
There has been a long list of accomplishments on and off the court for Becker which include being named to the All-SEC Freshman Team, receiving All-SEC accolades, qualifying for the NCAA Championships with his team and as an individual, leading the team in singles and doubles victories, earning All-America honors, being named an ITA Scholar Athlete, making the SEC Academic Honor Roll and simply being a freak of a student-athlete. He takes great pride in his family and being from Macon, Georgia, loving the outdoors, hunting every possible thing that could be hunted, having incredible speed which greatly contributes to his ultimate frisbee skills and proclaiming to have the ability to eat anyone under the table. Becker has been a joy to coach, be around and watch grow into an invaluable contributor to Alabama tennis.
So as we head into the last hurrah of the SEC regular season, I invite all of you to join us today at 1 p.m. as we host Vanderbilt. A tough squad from Nashville, the Commodores are coming off a big win in Starkville and looking to add another here in Tuscaloosa. We are fully prepared to meet them head on and battle with them all afternoon, point by point, game by game, set by set and match by match. It's going to be a good one with a pre-match cookout beginning at 12:30 p.m. courtesy of the Crimson Racket Club and a bounce house on-site for our younger and youthful fans. We all look forward to seeing you and watching the beginning of the home stretch for Becker.
Roll Tide,
George
