Brenau Tennis Welcomes 3 Newcomers

September 15, 2011

GAINESVILLE, Ga - The Brenau University tennis team welcomes three new additions to their program, two players and an assistant coach.

Maria Perdoma Medina enrolled this fall as a freshman, from Canary Island, Spain. As the youngest of four (with two brothers and a sister), she quickly learned the value of trust and dedication. She was drawn to tennis, at first it was an outlet, and then it became a passion.

Tennis gave her the opportunity to be a part of something, while also allowing her to excel individually. Medina immediately embraced the role of a student-athlete. She divided her time between studies, training and competition, family, and her love for Spanish music.

When asked about her feelings toward the university and the program, she exclaimed "I am here at Brenau University because I want to help this team win every title possible (both the SSAC Conference Champions and the NAIA National Champions)and I am sure we will succeed. I am very happy to be here and thrilled to have been given such a great opportunity.

Theresa Neumeyr will also be competing for the Golden Tigers, in her debut season as a collegiate tennis player. The German native played for a well-known tennis club, TC Augsburg Siebentisch, in the Landesliga tennis league.

Theresa acquired a ranking of 277 in Germany, as she defeated C. Zentai 6:4, 2:6, 6:3, and K. Waidner 4:6, 6:3, 6:3. After arriving to campus, she commented, "Brenau offers me the chance to advance my tennis game to the highest level, and I hope that I can help this team find success during my college years. Furthermore, I expect to perfect my English while studying here, as well as meet new and interesting people from around the world. I am certain that Brenau is the right place for me."

A new coach, by the name of John Davis, will be assisting Head Coach Andre Ferreira this year. John grew up in Gulfport, MS, where he played high school tennis and attended Mississippi State University on a partial tennis scholarship. He played four years at State, graduating in 1961 with a BS in Forest Resource Management.

Upon graduation, he entered the US Navy and was able to continue playing while stationed at the Naval Air Station, Memphis. John played dual matches for NAS Memphis and in the Sixth Naval District Tournaments in 1961 & 62 at the Naval Air Station, Pensacola.

After being discharged from the Navy, he began his forestry career in North Georgia and continued playing local tournaments and social tennis in Marietta, Rome, Athens and Gainesville. He continues to play tennis and he and his wife, Dudley, have been avid fans of the Brenau Golden Tigers for a number of years.