Save ASU Men's Tennis

ASU Men's Tennis was canceled on May 13th along with Wrestling and Men's Swimming. The Athletic department made the decision in response to economic realities experienced over a long period of time. In order to reinstate the men's tennis program we need to raise five million dollars to endow the program. With the endowment the men's tennis programs future will be secure. Men's tennis is the second oldest sport in Arizona State and is filled with a rich history. The 2008 team just completed a very successful season finishing 23rd in the nation. More important is the fact the sun devils would only be losing one player in the singles line up and the doubles line up would stay intact. With your help and donations we can bring men's tennis back to Arizona State University.

Summary of Recent Events

     This year proved to be promising for the Arizona State Men's tennis team with the loss of just one senior from the previous year, and an extremely strong recruiting class, the confidence of the team was sky high. They lived up to their high expectations by winning their first 11 matches which was the teams best start in over three decades. This also enabled them to jump from 47th place to 11th in the ITA college rankings.  With such a strong conference as the Pac-10, the Sun Devils finished the season with a 15-5 record, an impressive statistic. With the loss of only one player from the singles line-up, and all three doubles pairs returning, the excitement about the team for next year was already beginning to build.

     May 13th 2008, Lisa Love, athletics director of Arizona State University announced the discontinuation of three sports at ASU, men's tennis was one of these sports. The team met with the coaches after the university announced the cuts from the athletic department. When the team gathered together everyone knew what was happening and their were obvious signs of distress in everyone faces. Each and every team member had tears in their eyes and were speechless. There was a feeling of shock in the air, no one could believe their dreams were ending. It seemed as if the whole situation was one big nightmare that would go away when the team woke up. It wasn't.

     However, the men's tennis team is not ready to give up their hopes and dreams of winning a national championship as Sun Devils. This team is not just a team, they are a family and this family is not ready to give up! The members of this potentially great team are now appealing to the tennis community locally and nationally for support. The team has been given targets from Lisa Love (athletic director) that if achieved, will enable the men's tennis program to be reinstated. They need your support to enable them to continue to live their dreams together as a team.