Paul Fitzgerald
Paul left Cork as Irish No.1 u/18 and has held his own in the college scene with a very good record in both singles and doubles.
The following is an article written by Paul for Cork Tennis blog to give you an insight into college tennis in the states.
Well it all started in a junior college in Tifton, Georgia and I was ranked 3 in the nation in junior college. I played the national fall tournament in my first year and won it, despite hitting a pole, hahah, and became number one in the nation. Its very strange, the spring season, because you dont play for yourself but you play for an actual team and when i was introduced to this it felt i was playing interpros every week but this time i was playing with the same team all year round which was like a family you know ?
My two years in ABAC I accomplished being number one player in the nation and bringing my team to third in the nation, then I moved on to armstrong atlantic who to this day are back to back national champions 2 years in a row Division II.
its very tough because he focuses on a lot of condtioning and running because Simon Eanrshaws belief is that we can all play tennis but if u have a good team that are fit then they will be hungry all year round with all the fitness we do, so it worked out because in my first year in the spring we won the national championship in the end and it was an amazing feeling to say we have the best division II team in the United States.
There is a huge change from junior level to college level and its all to do with blending in to your surrounding with your coach and your team mates , you always have to bring it 100percent at all times when you step on to the courts because you have other people on the team who want to take your position so its survival of the fittest both physically and mentally.
Overall its a great experience for who ever wants to keep up their tennis and keep getting better.
My two years in ABAC I accomplished being number one player in the nation and bringing my team to third in the nation, then I moved on to armstrong atlantic who to this day are back to back national champions 2 years in a row Division II.
its very tough because he focuses on a lot of condtioning and running because Simon Eanrshaws belief is that we can all play tennis but if u have a good team that are fit then they will be hungry all year round with all the fitness we do, so it worked out because in my first year in the spring we won the national championship in the end and it was an amazing feeling to say we have the best division II team in the United States.
There is a huge change from junior level to college level and its all to do with blending in to your surrounding with your coach and your team mates , you always have to bring it 100percent at all times when you step on to the courts because you have other people on the team who want to take your position so its survival of the fittest both physically and mentally.
Overall its a great experience for who ever wants to keep up their tennis and keep getting better.
