OU's Tennis Venue Draws Awe

April 25, 2009

NORMAN, Okla. -- The University of Oklahoma will host the title matches of the Big 12 Men's and Women's Tennis Championships at the Headington Family Tennis Center Sunday at 11 a.m.

The competition will take place at one the conference's premier outdoor courts and in the shadow of one of the nation's top indoor facilities. The recently completed Gregg Wadley Tennis Pavilion has been the centerpiece of the tournament, drawing awe from many of the head coaches vying for Big 12 titles over the past few days.

"It's definitely one of the best facilities in the country," Nebraska women's head coach Scott Jacobsen said. "The indoor facility that backs up to the outdoor is state-of-the-art. There aren't a whole lot of comparable facilities that are as nice as the one here at the University of Oklahoma.

"It's a great place to be, tremendous environment and really a great place for our kids to finish their season at the Big 12 Conference tournament."

Texas men's head coach Michael Center said: "I think the facility is outstanding. The outdoor facility is really nice and the addition of this indoor facility is spectacular. We've got a great venue here."

Video Tour of Wadley Pavilion and Headington Center | Big 12 Championship Central

"It's been fantastic," Baylor men's head coach Matt Knoll said. "I'm really happy OU's made such an investment in our sport. These facilities are just world class. We're fortunate to have them leading the way in our conference."

"I think with the addition of the indoor, that's going to help all of us in the conference," said Texas A&M women's head coach Bobby Kleinecke. "Not a lot of us have indoor places on campus, especially right next to the (outdoor) courts."

"This improvement that Oklahoma has is off the charts," Missouri women's head coach Blake Starkey said. "This is probably one of my favorite facilities in the Big 12."

"(It's) amazing," said Texas Tech women's head coach Todd Petty. "You couldn't ask for a better venue."

Baylor women's head coach Joey Scrivano said: "(Oklahoma) hosted (the Big 12 Championships) in 2004 and did a great job with it then. They're continuing to do a great job. The indoor facility is impressive...it's not only good for Oklahoma, it's good for the Big 12."

OU coaches and staff members are reveling in the compliments.

"I think every one of the coaches said they think it is the best facility in the Big 12," OU women's head tennis coach David Mullins said. "That is a huge honor. It looks fantastic and all the credit is due to the work the OU staff put in."

"That is the bright spot of it all -- you get to showcase our first-class facility and get fans from all the schools to come in and see what we have. I'm glad to have hosted (the Big 12 Championships) and I'm looking forward to hosting again in 2013."

This weekend, the Gregg Wadley Tennis Pavilion has been used chiefly as a warm-up and locker room area. The 62,500 square-foot structure, which broke ground on November 2007, houses six air-conditioned courts with championship-caliber lighting and surfaces, and seats for 375 spectators.

The lead gift for the project was made possible by Gregg Wadley, founder of Datacom Sciences, who together with his wife, Dr. Susan E. Brackett, an OU alumna and formerly an instructor in the university's College of Dentistry.

Other major gifts included $1.5 million from Dallas businessman, OU alumni and former OU tennis letterwinner Tim Headington and $1 million from the Sarkeys Foundation. A number of other donors participated in the project, including several former student-athletes.

Headington also was the lead donor for the Sooners' outdoor facility, which opened in 2001.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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