Thanks to a generous contribution from Dalton L. “Mac” McMicheal Jr., and his wife Susan, the future looks bright for Guilford’s tennis teams. Tennis players will not only have pristine new courts, but they will be spoiled with access to storage facilities and restrooms.”Nothing beats having a half-million dollar complex to play on,” said junior Megan Fair, “but having a bathroom is really exciting.”

Since his hiring at Guilford last winter, Coach Eddie Luck has lived up to his last name. In addition to the new courts, the men’s team succeeded a winning record last spring, and a trip to the Old Dominican Athletic Conference’s (ODAC) semi-finals.

Luck is now hoping that their history of winning will attract more fans. The new facilities will benefit spectators by providing a wide range of seating and elevation, which captures every angle of every court. “It is always good when parents, roommates and friends can be close to the match they want to watch,” Luck said.

The new courts are located behind the softball field off of New Garden Road. The remoteness of the new location does raise some concern.

“By the old courts being so close to Ragan-Brown (Field House), we would get feeder fans,” Fair said. She worries that the move will decrease the little amount of fans that the tennis teams have.

Fair also stated that tennis is a mental sport that requires intense personal concentration. She is thus concerned that the roadside courts might offer distractions.

When asked about the new location, Eddie Luck was optimistic, “What we lack in location will be made up for by a ‘short jaunt’ to a facility with storage, water access and an aesthetically pleasing new court.”

The ultimate concern is the readiness of the courts. Junior Hillary Routon is pleased at the prospect of playing on the new courts, but she is disappointed by the delay. According to Guilford’s athletics Web site, the courts should have been ready for use by the fall season.

Alec Chase, a junior on the men’s team is thrilled about the new facility. “Last year the courts were so bad that we almost couldn’t play on them,” Chase said. “Once Guilford got the money for new courts they started working as fast as possible to get them built.”

Randy Doss, vice president for enrollment services, said, “Our former courts were cracked and posed an injury risk. Mr. McMichaels’ charitable gift will help Guilford students in many ways”

Coach Luck trusts the new facility will be a great recruiting tool so that the Guilford tennis program can grow and compete at all levels.