Vikings gear up for spring break
Men, women to compete in Florida invitational

By Brian Boyenga

Mirror Staff Writer
March 13, 2008

Spring break excitement is building for the Augustana men’s and women’s tennis teams as they prepare for a week of competition in Florida.

Both teams will play five matches each against a variety of schools from across the country. All the matches are in Orlando, except for one women’s match at the University of Tampa.

The women carry a 3-4 record at this point in the season. “They are a team full of hard- working, academically excellent girls,” said coach Justin Mootz, who leads the women in his third season of coaching.

This is the team’s first year to receive viable scholarship funds, which Mootz believes has helped their efforts to recruit new players.

“The team is a small group, so we get to know each other really well,” said sophomore Alison Broadwell. She and her teammates are excited to face new teams that they have not played before.

Unlike the women, the men’s team receives no scholarship funding for recruitment due to Title-IX regulations. Currently standing at 1-2, the men’s team holds the record for more North Central Conference (NCC) titles than any sport at Augustana.

Coach Mark Kurtz hopes the move to a new athletic conference will increase support for Augustana’s tennis program from the administration. Kurtz, in his fourth year of coaching, said tennis is known as the “sport of a lifetime” in which players of all ages and abilities can enjoy.

“We are mostly about having a good time, but we are also competitive,” said junior Nathan Strenge. “We work hard but also have a lot of fun.”

The men and women are anxious to spend a week outdoors playing in the Florida sunshine.

Home tennis meets are held at Sioux Empire Fitness in Sioux Falls, and both teams invite fans to show their support at matches on the schedule after spring break on Saturday, March 29 against the Universiy of Minnesota - Morris.