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UMW's motto: Tennis, anyone?
The university set to unveil its new $4.5 million indoor tennis facility today. The new facility's director calls the indoor courts 'top notch.'
Date published: 9/23/2005
By TAFT COGHILL JR. When Don Paitrick was the No. 1 player on the Carroll College (Wis.) tennis team, he and his teammates didn't have much of an option for practice time. They were forced to use the courts at a local country club from midnight to 3 a.m. because it wasn't available throughout the day. "If we had 8 a.m. classes, we weren't making it," Paitrick said. Court time won't be a problem for University of Mary Washington tennis players. A brand-new $4.5 million indoor tennis facility is set to open tomorrow. The two-story, 3,000-square-foot building sits on Hanover Street in Fredericksburg. Mary Washington athletic director Ed Hegmann said $2 million of the facility's cost was funded with private donations, including $1 million from Josiah P. Rowe III, publisher of The Free Lance-Star. Hegmann said Rowe's contribution was matched by Pepsi-Cola, and the rest was paid by student fees. "This was the vision of Ed Hegmann and Mr. Rowe," said Paitrick, who was hired to be the director of tennis at the center. "And they were right on target. They knew exactly what they wanted, and it was executed very well." Paitrick said UMW players should be thankful for the facility because they could be in a situation like he faced at Carroll. Like UMW, Carroll was always in the running for an NCAA tournament berth. "I think that should make them appreciate what they have a little better," Paitrick said. Paitrick, 54, has taught tennis lessons all over the country for more than 30 years. His last extended stop was as the tennis director in Eugene, Ore., at the Eugene Swim and Tennis Club. Paitrick has visited several Division I tennis facilities, but said that Division III UMW's is comparable to, if not better than most. "A lot of Division I schools would kill for this facility," Paitrick said. "It's top-notch." The UMW tennis center features six courts, with a water station in between each. The courts are painted blue and gray. Spectators can watch the action from the second floor. The courts have extra padding so that it isn't hard on player's legs. The facility is open to the general public, and individuals can buy a membership for $360. A family membership is $480. Mary Washington students, who aren't members of the team, pay $4 per hour to play on the courts.
Read more stories about Fredericksburg Date published: 9/23/2005
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