University of Delaware Athletics
University of Delaware Tennis Teams Host Special Olympics Tennis Clinic
5/4/2012 12:12:00 PM | Women's Tennis
Over 20 athletes from six different programs, along with a handful of coaches, took part in the instruction. The outing came at a perfect time for the Special Olympics athletes, who are at the midway point of their training sessions for the Summer Games tennis competition, which will be held on the same courts June 8 and 9.
“This year, we had a perfect ratio of Special Olympics athletes to Blue Hens, so the one-on-one interaction was fun,” said head coach Laura Travis. “Winning and losing took a back seat and the sheer joy of being on the court and trying your best was celebrated.”
The evening was capped off with a pizza party, won by the tennis players for being the top fundraising team during the 2011 Pigskin Pass, held annually each fall to benefit Special Olympics Delaware.
“The opportunity to learn from some of the best tennis players in the state is invaluable,” said Mark Wise, director of training for SODE. “Add to that the fact they get to have a preview of what it's like to play on the same courts where they'll compete, and you just can't stress enough how important tonight was for them.”
The Delaware men finished off the season with an 8-9 overall record and a 2-4 Colonial Athletic Association mark. The Blue Hens defeated Drexel in the first round of the CAA tournament before VCU knocked them off in the quarterfinals.
The Blue Hen women completed the season boasting an 11-6 record and 4-2 conference mark. The Hens swept Hofstra in the first
