GREG BARNETT
Sports Assistant
Being NCAA national champions has its rewards, one of which is the opportunity to visit the White House and meet President Bush. During the weekend of June 16, the Waves, along with 31 other national championship teams, traveled to Washington D.C. for a memorable trip to the White House.
The men’s tennis team defeated the University of Georgia in the spring of 2006 to win the NCAA Division 1 men’s tennis national championship. The Waves handed the Bulldogs their first loss of the season with a 4-2 victory in a hard fought championship match. Andre Begemann clinched the title with his victory in the 4th singles match.
Among the activities at the White House was a tour of a portion of the White House, a meet and greet with the President and a reception on the back lawn of the White House. The President met individually with every team in separate rooms. Although 32 teams seem like a lot for a single day, Head Coach Adam Steinberg said they made it very personal. He said Bush sat down with the team, shared stories with the Waves and shook every team member’s hand.
“I didn’t realize the impact that visiting the White House would have,” Steinberg said. “It made me think, ‘Wow, we really did something special.’”
Meeting the president was not the only highlight of the weekend. The Waves also organized a tennis clinic for children in downtown Washingon for inner-city children. All the team members and coaches participated in the clinic. The players and coaches taught the kids the basics of the game, hit balls with them and shared their secrets on how they won the national championship.
“The clinic was one of the most rewarding experiences I have had in coaching,” Steinberg said. “They [the players] really appreciated the time we took out to spend with them and were so excited to hit some tennis balls with us.”
As for the upcoming season, Coach Steinberg has high expectations for this year’s squad. He thinks the team has gelled well since last season and the incoming freshman are going to be contributors to this season’s team. “Last year was sort of a rebuilding year,” Steinberg said. “But this year I think we’ll be playing for a national championship again.”
08-27-2007
