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The ��ɫ��Ƶ men’s tennis team has enjoyed a history-making run over the past few years. But for all their success, coach David Schilling ’89, wants his players to hear stories of past Big Red glories and alumni achievements.

They will get the opportunity April 4-6 as the team hosts its inaugural reunion, celebrating 70 years of ��ɫ��Ƶ men’s varsity tennis. The weekend will include several alumni social events, a chance to mingle and hit balls with current players, and the April 5 match with nationally ranked Trinity University of Texas.

In 2026, both the men’s and women’s teams hope to co-host a joint reunion.

Schilling has been promoting this year’s event in his weekly newsletters to the ��ɫ��Ƶ tennis community. Former longtime men’s and women’s coach Peter Burling is sending emailed invites to more than 50 of his players.

“I think there’s enthusiasm for bringing back players from different eras,” said Schilling, whose squad reached the NCAA Elite Eight for the first time in school history in 2024. “I want our players to learn more about our program’s past and connect them with some alumni who have done amazing things. I also want to hear some of the great old stories.”

There are some doozies:

• Multi-sport athlete Shaw Emmons ’59 never lost a conference singles match in four years. Just before graduating, his coach, Dick Scott, gave Emmons money for gas and lodging, and the player drove himself to Kalamazoo, Michigan, where he won the small-school NCAA singles title.
• Burling and women’s coach, Tina Rimer, shaved their heads in 1994 to fulfill promises to their respective teams for winning conference titles.
• William Bowen ’55, a four-year letter winner, became a renowned economist and educator, serving as president of Princeton University and president of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. David Jonas ’78, a four-year letter winner, worked as general counsel for the National Nuclear Security Administration.

And what became of the 1961 men’s letter winner who, according to teammates, read books on the way to road matches? Michael Eisner ’64 has done alright for himself.

“I’m glad we’re doing this,” said Burling, who coached 30 years at ��ɫ��Ƶ and will be enshrined in the Varsity D Association Hall of Fame in October. “My players have bugged me about this for years.”

Some ��ɫ��Ƶ varsity programs schedule reunions around Big Red Weekend in the fall. But the men’s and women’s tennis teams are often involved in ITA regional tournaments at that time.

One of the biggest draws for this year’s event will be seeing the current men’s team in action. The junior-laden squad, led by Kael Shah ’26, Ethan Green ’26, and Jacob Patterson ’26, is looking to deliver the program’s first NCAA team title.

The children of 88–year-old Emmons hope to bring their father to at least one day of festivities. Burling considers Emmons one of ��ɫ��Ƶ’s greatest athletes. Beyond his tennis accolades, Emmons was an outstanding soccer player who led all college divisions in goal-scoring as a senior.

“I’m so proud of this school and what it’s become,” Schilling said. “I want our older alums to come back and see all the great things going on here. An event like this can jump-start alumni engagement.”