FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Gary Holden, Sports Info. Director
(540) 365-4306

April 3, 2004


Men's Tennis Wins Bud Skeens Memorial Tournament
Panthers Improve to 15-2 With Win Over Hampden-Sydney April 2nd
 
Ferrum, Va. -- The Ferrum College men's tennis team had an impressive weekend, defeating Hampden-Sydney College 4-3 on April 2nd, then winning the Bud Skeens Memorial Tournament April 3rd.

Ferrum placed first with 47 team points and four titles.  Bridgewater College was second with 23 points, followed by Hampden-Sydney College with 19 points, and Maryville College with 11 points and one title.

          April 2: Ferrum 4, Hampden-Sydney 3
          April 3: Bud Skeens Memorial Tournament
 
The Bud Skeens Memorial Tournament is held each year in honor of Col. Earl "Bud" Skeens, who led Ferrum to a 345-41 record in 27 seasons at the helm of the Panther tennis program.  Skeens earned 14 Coach of the Year honors in the Cavalier-Tarheel Conference, and helped the Panthers win 77 consecutive matches from 1967-73.  Skeens passed in the fall of 2002 after a brief battle with cancer.
 
This year's Skeens Memorial Tournament included Bridgewater College, Ferrum College, Hampden-Sydney College, and Maryville College.  The tournament format paired all #1 and #2 singles players into the "A" draw, #3 and #4 singles players in the "B" draw, and #5 and #6 singles players in the "C" draw.  The doubles "A" draw included all #1 doubles teams and two #2 doubles teams (Ferrum & Hampden-Sydney).  The doubles "B" draw included the remaining two #2 doubles teams (Maryville, Bridgewater) and all #3 doubles teams.
 
Sophomore Gabe Zakkak (Midland, Va./Liberty) and freshman Walter Basten (Lynchburg, Va./New  Vistas) won the doubles "A" draw.  The duo won two matches to claim the title.  Zakkak also won the singles "A" draw, winning three singles matches en route to the title.
 
Sophomores Paul Matthews (Richmond, Va./JR Tucker) and Matt Brantley (Norlina, N.C./Warren County) shared the singles "B" title, defeating two opponents each to reach the final.  Sophomore Erich Trier (Middleburg, Va./Loudoun Valley) and freshman Wilson Paine (Maryville, Va./Maryville) shared the singles "C" draw title, also winning twice each to reach the finals.

The win over Hampden-Sydney on April 2nd was Ferrum's first-ever men's tennis victory over the Tigers.  Matthews, Brantley, Trier, and Paine each won at #3-6 singles for the Panthers.  The win was Ferrum's 11th consecutive victory.  The Panthers are now 15-2 overall and 4-1 in the USA South Athletic Conference.

Ferrum returns to action Wednesday, April 7, with a match against USA South front-runner Methodist College at 3 p.m. in Fayetteville, North Carolina.  The Panthers close out regular season action with a home match on Tuesday, April 13, against non-conference opponent Randolph-Macon College at 4 p.m.  The USA South Tournament will be held April 17-18 in Newport News, Virginia.  For more information, please contact the Ferrum College Sports Information Office at (540) 365-4306.
 
 
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