TIFTON —
The Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Stallions departed for Plano, Texas Friday afternoon to compete in the NJCAA National Tennis Tournament this coming week. The tournament will be held at Collin County Community College.
ABAC will enter the tournament ranked seventh nationally, but the rankings feature three teams tied for fourth, and a Georgia Perimeter team ranked third that the Stallions defeated for the Region XVII title at the start of may.
Stallion head coach Alan Kramer spent last week with the ABAC Fillies at their national tournament in Tyler, Texas, where they finished 11th.
He stayed in the Dallas area and assistant coach Dale White accompanied the Stallions from Tifton to Plano.
Kramer seemed to have cautious optimism about the this week’s nationals.
“It should be an interesting week, and I am expecting some drama,” said Kramer.
While Kramer and White were with the Fillies, the Stallions worked out in Tifton with the legendary Norman “Red” Hill.
It’s not often that a head coach can rely on the person his tennis center is named after to pitch in and help with the current program, and Kramer is very thankful for Hill’s work.
“Coach Hill has been a tremendous help running two-a-days with the Stallions this past week,” said Kramer. “One thing we know for sure with him working with them this week is that the Stallions will be sharp and ready to play.”
After seeding and the national banquet this weekend, the tournament will begin Monday. Kramer is hoping for good things from his players.
“I don’t know what the tournament draws will look like, but I don’t think many teams want these guys in their quarter of the draw,” said Kramer.
Competing for the Stallions at the tournament will be Danilo Faria, Taylor Hardy, Hernan Hatem, Trutz Hensson, Tim Kuekelhaus, Oliver Snaider and Richard Symnaski.
Snaider enters the tournament ranked third nationally in singles, while Hatem is ranked ninth. Snaider and Faria will enter the fifth-ranked doubles team.
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The ABAC Stallions tennis team poses with the 2012 Region XVII championship plaque. Contributed Photo
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