Hello from Crimson Tide Tennis!

A very special weekend ahead as every final homestand is with a celebration of your senior class. This time around we have Hayes Brewer and Ritchie Kruunenberg. Both outstanding student-athletes with different experiences at Alabama, one longer than the other, but overall, unique careers in college tennis, and I’m very proud for what they have done for our tennis program and university.

Hayes was my first recruit to commit to Alabama. I remember the night very clearly when he decided to make the Crimson Tide his new family despite having grown up in a house where War Eagle was a battle cry. Known amongst teammates as “The Fridge,” Hayes has consistently come to the courts with a hard-nosed mentality, always pushing himself and teammates, while keeping things lite and humorous as well. Outside of the courts Hayes loved the gym and would crush our strength workouts regularly. In the classroom, he has excelled as a business major, sporting a 3.9 cumulative GPA as a finance and economics double major. This past fall he had an intense interview schedule which ultimately produced an offer and acceptance with Patterson Real Estate Advisory Group. Not too shabby Fridge.

Ritchie has spent just one year in Tuscaloosa but it seems like longer. He arrived last summer after transferring from Morehead State where his tennis program was dropped. When he was on his visit last spring, it seemed like the perfect fit, and since that time, the lanky Dutchman has been exactly that. I don’t know of a more kind and grateful player that I’ve ever coached. He has spent countless hours outside of practice on the courts working on his game and making the most out of his final college season. Like Hayes, he too has been dominant in the classroom garnering a 3.8 cumulative GPA as a business management major. He will have an extra semester of studying in the fall before he gets his diploma, so he will continue to be around the courts and keep helping push the team.

So join us this weekend to celebrate our seniors and also great college tennis. We’ve been battling all year, and your support has been invaluable. We’ve got Gators, Gamecocks and Tigers coming to town so plenty to see and cheer about.

Thursday night is FREE Taco Mama Night, and we’ve got Gators on the menu too. Food will be served at 5:30 p.m. and the first serve at 6 p.m. We will welcome our Greek students at the match as well as members of the Tuscaloosa Tennis Association (aka TTA). Freshman Alexey Nesterov is our Featured Fathead Player of the Match, and he’ll be wrestling those Gators one point at a time. Alexey’s Q&A is available here.

Saturday will bring Gamecocks and Tigers. The Crimson Racket Club and Grill Master David Ford will serve up another FREE cookout for fans, while we all pay tribute to our seniors, Hayes and Ritchie. The Million Dollar Band will be in attendance and get the energy flowing while a bounce house will return to the courts for our energetic and young fans. Food will be served beginning at 12:30 p.m. while the first serve will be struck against the Gamecocks at 1 p.m. and Tigers at 6 p.m.

So plenty of fun and excitement on hand with free food to boot. Looking forward to seeing everyone at the courts and together celebrating a super final home weekend of Alabama Men’s Tennis.

Roll Tide,

George