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Two new facilities, two ACC titles. Any connections?
Well, besides being damn good at their respective sports, they have been practicing and playing at new multi-million-dollar facilities just off campus. And it looks like the money spent has been well worth it.
National Coach of the Year Brian Kalbas’ women finished their first full season sharing the Chewning Tennis Center with Sam Paul’s men.
It is a spectacular complex, with elevated seating for spectators behind both baselines of the hard courts, each with a digital panel keeping track of the ongoing match and the big scoreboard on the east end tallying of all the matches. It is a home worthy of the juggernaut Kalbas has built over his 21 years at the helm and the competitive men’s team Paul always puts out there.
In tennis, the 22-3 Tar Heels defeated No. 4 Virginia behind Elizabeth Scotty battling back from losing the opening set 6-0 and Reilly Tran winning in straight sets to clinch the title after three doubles victories.
The men’s golf team of Coach Andrew DiBitetto also shares a brand-new practice range with Aimee Neff’s competitive women at the Finley Golf Club, where the old holes 10 and 11 have been turned into long and short-range areas adjacent to the covered practice tees. In the process, Finley has been converted to 34-36 par 70 course long enough to challenge the scholarship golfers and is a fun layout for weekend players and hackers alike.
Peter Fountain, Austin Greaser and David Ford all won their respective matches to defeat Florida State for the ACC golf title at the Charlotte Country Club. It is the first conference championship for DiBitetto in his seven seasons. All five Tar Heels in the lineup earned points in the 3-1 championship match against the Seminoles and the 3-2 semifinals over Wake Forest the day before.
“It’s always about the guys, I’m really happy for them,” DiBitetto said. “They’re amazing young people who put some much into it. The ACC is loaded with some of the best players and teams in the country.”
Both the women netters and the men golfers move on to their NCAA championships, with the pairings for both teams coming out next week.
It is no coincidence that these two terrific Carolina programs used their new home courts and course to recruit great players and construct the best teams behind generous gifts from loyal Rams Club alumni and fan members.
That’s the common denominator between support and success.
Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications/Jeffrey A. Camarati
Art Chansky is a veteran journalist who has written ten books, including best-sellers “Game Changers,” “Blue Bloods,” and “The Dean’s List.” He has contributed to WCHL for decades, having made his first appearance as a student in 1971. His “Sports Notebook” commentary airs daily on the 97.9 The Hill WCHL and his “Art’s Angle” opinion column runs weekly on Chapelboro.
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Art Chansky is a veteran journalist who has written ten books, including best-sellers “Game Changers,” “Blue Bloods,” and “The Dean’s List.” He has contributed to WCHL for decades, having made his first appearance as a student in 1971. His “Sports Notebook” commentary airs daily on the 97.9 The Hill WCHL and his “Art’s Angle” opinion column runs weekly on Chapelboro.
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