Grinnell College maintains a very competitive men's tennis program which is headed by Coach Andy Hamilton. The Pioneers have shown their dominance with five consecutive Midwest Conference titles starting 2004. In 2007 and 2008 Grinnell competed in the NCAA Division 3 regional tournament advancing as far as the regional semi-final. During Hamilton’s tenure the netmen have finished no lower than fourth place in the Midwest Conference and in 2001, 1999 and 1997 they finished second in the league. During the 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 campaigns Grinnell garnered rankings among the top 15 teams in the eight-state Midwest Region.

Pioneer individuals routinely take home titles in the league’s flighted tournament. The program also produced NCAA national tournament singles qualifiers, Felipe Bautista in 2002 and Dan LaFountaine in 2007.

With four indoor courts in the Pfitsch Fieldhouse of Grinnell's Physical Education Complex (PEC), the Pioneers are able to begin their rigorous schedule early in the winter. During the fall of 2010 the tennis teams are scheduled to move onto new indoor courts which are being constructed as part of Grinnell’s new physical education and athletic complex. Practice begins on February 1 and competition usually commences during the second weekend. Typically the Pioneers host two or three indoor triangular meets. The 10th Avenue outdoor facility was newly surfaced in 2007. Set up in blocks of two courts, the facility provides tremendous viewing areas for fans and coaches.

A demanding schedule has become the norm for Grinnell's program. Typically the netmen play at least 10 matches against either regionally-ranked or scholarship schools. It is common for the Pioneers to play 25-30 dual meets during the season with most matches occurring on the weekend. A highlight of the season is the annual spring-break training trip. During Hamilton's tenure the Pioneers have traveled to Orlando, Florida where they play four to six matches during the week. Sometimes the team has been able to steal away for a day to watch professional tennis at the Ericcson Open. The Midwest Conference tournament is held during the first weekend of May at the Nielsen Tennis Center, a fine facility on the University of Wisconsin at Madison campus.

Our institutional ethos is that excellence should be apparent across the entire campus, not only in the classroom but also on the playing fields or in the concert halls. I have modeled our tennis program around Grinnell's philosophy, attempting to augment my players' education with a competitive athletic experience. Furthermore, as a sign of excellence my team wants to compete for the Midwest Conference title every season and hopefully achieve a regional ranking.

The squad is comprised of some players who were ranked in their respective states or sections before entering college. Most are athletes who had competitive playing experiences in high school and are committed to playing year round to improving both physically and mentally. Our squad is very diverse with players coming from different states and a few foreign countries. The players take great pride in their ability to bond together despite their many differences. I am truly amazed at the camaraderie which has been built over the years, and I am pleased with our program.

There is no one playing style which I advocate but I do want my players always challenging themselves and learning new shots. While about half of the players are baseliners and the other half are all-court players, we are constantly working on closing out the court in an effort to win points. Whatever playing style a player brings, we want to improve it by making the players smarter in their style and by eliminating mistakes. Physically our players push themselves to become stronger and better conditioned throughout their careers.

If you are a recruit with an interest to play competitive collegiate tennis and really gain from the entire experience, it behooves you to consider Grinnell College. We have established a solid program which could become even stronger during the next few years. Take some time to investigate our institution and please consider contacting me - Coach Andy Hamilton.