Gregg Follows Unusual Path to OU

Lee Gregg | Senior | Men's Tennis

NORMAN, Okla. -- Senior Lee Gregg signed with the Oklahoma Christian University men's tennis team as a freshman thinking that he would spend all four years with the Eagles. Little did he know that three years later, he would be closing out his senior year...as a Sooner.

Midway through his freshman year, Gregg found himself listening to his coach say that the OCU tennis program would be cut and that all of the players would have to find another school or else end their collegiate tennis careers.

“It was really a surprise,” said Gregg. “But Coach (Kris) Miller said he would help us find other schools to play at and help us find scholarships.”

Lee Gregg Bio | Men's Tennis | Tennis Schedule

Despite the disappointing news, Gregg said he never worried about finding another program. His strong faith, he says, kept him focused and optimistic.

“My faith was what really got me through it,” he said. “I just knew that I didn't have to worry about anything and that God would help me through it.”

Although many players on the team were trying to find other schools to transfer to, the team had one final goal: to go out with a bang. Gregg said that the players' drive to prove themselves, along with the talent on the squad, was what got them to the national championships.

“We started off the season at around 20th place in the rankings and ended up in second place right before the championships,” said Gregg. “We knew we had the players to do it, so we made it our goal to go all the way.”

And that's what they did. OCU faced Azusa Pacific in the final round of the NAIA National Championships, with Gregg playing a deciding role in the team's success. At No. 3 doubles, Gregg posted an 8-3 win and followed with a 6-1, 6-0 win in singles. His two victories helped put OCU up 5-1 to clinch the NAIA title.

“It was definitely a great experience,” said Gregg. “I had played in the state finals in high school, but it was nothing like this.”

Teammate Ondrej Fukala said that Gregg's competitiveness, as well as his character, helped the team immensely in the championships.

“Lee struggled in the first few rounds of singles, but he was competitive and really came back when we needed him in the finals,” said Fukala. “And the entire time, he was extremely supportive of the rest of the team.”

As if a national championship weren't sweet enough, Gregg found out shortly after that he had been offered a scholarship to play at Oklahoma. He, along with Fukala, would begin in August. And Coach Miller would become the new assistant coach at OU.

“Coach Lockwood called me at the end of May to tell me that he was offering me a scholarship,” said Gregg. “With Ondrej and Coach coming as well, it made the transition a lot easier.”

Even Fukala noticed how much Gregg adapted to the change right away.

“He and the rest of his family are big OU fans, so for him, this was his dream,” said Fukala. “It was a big transition coming from an NAIA school to a Division I school, but he handled it well because he loved OU so much.”

So despite the twist and turns of his collegiate career and the uncertainties surrounding his future, Gregg says he could not be happier with the way his life has ended up.

“Oklahoma was always where I wanted to go,” he said. “My teammates are amazing, and I love it here.”

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