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

April 12, 2005


Gartrell, James Earn USA South Honors
Both Players Register 6-0 Marks Last Week

FERRUM, VA – Two Ferrum College men's tennis players have earned Player of the Week honors in the USA South Athletic Conference for their part in last week's action.

Junior David Gartrell (Hamilton, Va./Loudoun Valley) has been named Men's Tennis Player of the Week, while junior Thomas James (Lawrenceville, Ga./Collins Hill) has been named Men's Tennis Rookie of the Week.  For James, it is his second Rookie of the Week award, while Gartrell is a first-time honoree as Player of the Week.

Both players helped Ferrum go 2-1 last week, with a pair of 6-1 USA South wins over Greensboro College April 9 and Shenandoah University April 10, both at home.  The lone setback was a 4-3 non-conference loss to Lynchburg College on the road April 5.

Gartrell went 3-0 in singles last week and 3-0 in doubles.  He beat Lynchburg's Bill Cioffi (6-0, 6-1) and  Greensboro's Ben Roberts (6-3, 6-4) at #5 singles, then defeated Shenandoah's Doug Nilson (6-1, 6-1) at #4 singles.  Also nominated for Player of the Week were Steven Inge of Christopher Newport University; Keith Criscoe of Methodist College, and P.G. Grane of Greensboro.

James is a junior academically but holds sophomore athletic eligibility.  He is in his first season of collegiate tennis.  James also went 3-0 in singles and 3-0 in doubles last week.  He beat Lynchburg's Julian Powell (6-0, 6-1) and Greensboro's Francois Theriault (6-0, 6-3) at #6 singles, then defeated Shenandoah's Chris Overstreet (6-2, 6-1) at #5 singles.  Also nominated for the award was John Mook of Christopher Newport.

Gartrell and James also played doubles together last week, beating Lynchburg's Powell & Cioffi (8-3) and Greensboro's Theriault & Ben Roberts (8-2).  The pair then defeated Shenandoah's Nilson & Alex Bhaskarla (8-4) at #2 doubles.

Ferrum closed out regular season action last week with a 7-6 overall record, finishing fourth in the USA South with a 3-3 mark against league teams.  The Panthers will be back in action Saturday and Sunday, April 15-16, at the USA South Tennis Tournament at Huntington Park in Newport News, Virginia.  For more information, please contact the Ferrum College Sports Information Office at (540) 365-4306.
 

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