Perhaps William and Mary’s most special home men’s tennis match this season is set for Sunday, March 23.
As part of a 10 a.m. clash against Colonial Athletic Association rival James Madison, W&M is conducting an event called “Tribe For Teddy, Defeat Menkes.”
Expected to appear at this community awareness event at McCormack-Nagelsen Tennis Center are some of the best-known people in Tribe circles: athletic director Terry Driscoll, associate athletic director Peel Hawthorne, and longtime football and basketball play-by-play voice Jay Colley. W&M President Taylor Reveley reportedly might appear, too.
W&M plans to serve coffee and Danish pastries and to give out T-shirts that say “Once A Part Of The Tribe, Always A Part Of The Tribe,” to the first 100 guests.
The match will begin with doubles — which, if you follow college tennis, you know can be the most exciting part because of its fast pace and energy.
In between the doubles and singles matches, longtime W&M coach Peter Daub will discuss the effects and symptoms of Menkes, a disorder that affects copper levels in the body, sometimes causing severe developmental delays. The disease affects Teddy Fish, the first-born son of former Tribe tennis standout Alex Fish.
As a Tribe player, Alex Fish perhaps will be remembered best for being part of the team that ended VCU’s nine-year championship streak in the CAA tournament.
In 2005, the Massachusetts native and future Irish Davis Cupper Colin O’Brien won 9-8 (16-14) in a memorable No. 3 doubles match, providing momentum for the Tribe to beat the Rams 4-2 in the title match at Huntington Park in Newport News to advance to the NCAA tournament.
Alex; his parents; his wife, Mary; and Teddy are expected to be in the audience. W&M Director of Special Events Chris Braig said, “We are hoping to bring awareness to the community about this terrible disease and show Alex and his family that he has our community support.”
