Allegheny College Athletics

The 1981 men’s tennis team ended its season as one of, if not the, greatest tennis team in school history. The squad ended the year with a 17-2 record, with its only losses coming to Edinboro University and Grove City. At the conference championships that season, the Gators won 26 of 27 matches, winning five of the six singles championships and all three of the doubles events. Head coach “Pinky” Bates earned the Presidents Athletic Conference Coach of the Year that season, as the team was regular season and tournament champions. The PAC Championship was the last event for the squad, as the following year the NCAA instituted a national tournament.

John Mercer '84, the #1 singles player, ended the year with a 12-3 singles record and 13-2 doubles record. Steve Kaufman '81 finished the year 13-1 at #2 singles and 13-1 at #1 doubles, while Ed Pritchard '81 (#3 singles), finished the year 11-4 overall and 11-4 at #2 doubles. Mark Phillips '84 was 12-1 on the year, 11-1 at #4 singles. He teamed with Pritchard to go 10-2 at #2 doubles, while sporting a 10-3 overall doubles record. Bill Ashbaugh '84 was 10-2 at #5 singles and 11-4 overall, while going 13-2 in doubles. Greg Finnerty '83 was 12-2, predominately at #6 singles, where he was 10-1, teaming with Ashbaugh to go 12-1 at #3 doubles. Doug Sedlak '83, the alternate for matches, was 4-0 at #6 singles. Other members of the squad included Jim Casselberry '81, Barry Enterline '81, Tom Koenig '82 and Joe Hallos, Jr. '83.