Annual Fall Team Retreat

Freshman Ryan Pearson does a pro tennis player impression.

The women's team discusses the upcoming season.

The men's team talks about their goals.

The Annual Fall Team Retreat is a team building experience that focuses on creating team unity. Captains, players, and coaches participate in team building activities that help create team chemistry amongst new and returning players. Team policies and goal setting are also covered during the retreat. This year's retreat started in the Campus Center, then moved to Coach Luteran's house for dinner and a wrap up.

Team Does Fun Run at Woodcock Dam

With slick conditions on the tennis courts this past Saturday morning, the team strapped on their running shoes and completed a timed mile at nearby Woodcock Dam. Afterward, they enjoyed a nice breakfast at The Artist's Cup in downtown Meadville.

Scavenger Hunt at the Crawford County Fair

The team took a break from try outs on Saturday to participate in a scavenger hunt at the Crawford County Fair. Coach Luteran broke the team into 6 groups mixing freshman and newcomers with returning players. Each team was given the mission to find a list of items scattered throughout the fair within a 30 minute time limit. All members of the group that won received a free Allegheny Tennis prize. It was a great time as always at the fair!

Coach Luteran lays out the ground rules and starts the clock!

Women's Tennis Nets ITA All-Academic Honors three honorees

MEADVILLE, Pa. – The Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) recognized Allegheny College as one of its ITA All-Academic teams for Division III women’s tennis for the 2009-10 academic year. In addition to the overall team academic award, three Gators were named ITA Scholar-Athletes.

Seniors Margaret Hodgkiss-Lillyand Lauren Kristofco, and junior Janna Dickerson took home individual honors for the Gators. For Dickerson and Kristofco, this is their second consecutive nod as ITA Scholar-Athletes.

"I am very proud of our women's team for this achievement and especially Lauren, Margaret, and Janna for their Scholar-Athlete awards,” said head coach Jared Luteran. “With a school as academically challenging as Allegheny, it is always impressive when our student-athletes can show this kind of success in the classroom while playing a varsity sport like tennis with two seasons."

The ITA All-Academic team award is given to any ITA program that has a cumulative team grade point average of 3.20 or above (on a 4.00 scale). In order to make the ITA Scholar-Athlete team, a player must be a varsity letterwinner, have a grade point average of at least 3.50 (on a 4.00 scale), and have been enrolled at their present school for at least two semesters.

Recruiting at Girls' Midwest Open Championship

I just got back from Columbus, Indiana where I was recruiting at the Girls' 18 Midwest Open Championship. The picture above is taken from the Columbus visitor's website. Columbus is known for its architecture. Anyway, I saw some fantastic athletes and some really good matches. It was great to talk to so many parents and players and we hope to see you on campus soon for a visit!

~Coach Luteran