By: Jess Larkin ~Copy Editor~

One of Xavier’s newest projects was showcased this September as the university revealed its renovated tennis courts.

The tennis courts, which are located north of Cintas Center, were recently renovated and now feature a blue surface.

The tennis courts were originally added to Xavier’s campus after the construction of Cintas Center in the fall of 2000. There are six total courts and they are maintained and scheduled by the Recreational Sports Department.

According to Eric Toth, the men’s tennis coach, the courts were in desperate need of a renovation. Because the courts are used as a varsity facility and are commonly used by students and the community, they began showing palpable wear and tear.

The new renovation also opened the doors for the opportunity to name the new courts after former head coach Jim Brockhoff, a Xavier Athletic Hall of Fame inductee, who passed away after dedicating 45 years to the men’s tennis program and 34 years as the head coach of the women’s program. Brockhoff passed away in May 2013, just before his 79th birthday.

Coach Toth said that courts were far from finished and there was still much to be done, like adding permanent seating and windscreens, to properly honor the former coach.

Since their construction in 2000, the courts have never been renovated, but have been resurfaced. The courts were built where a creek once ran, causing a lot of water to flood the courts whenever there was heavy rain. The new courts, however, are raised eight inches above the ground to fix this issue.

The program received fundraising help for the estimated $400,000 renovation with about $300,000 raised through pledges from the generosity of friends of Xavier tennis.
“Without the generosity of the fundraising program, this wouldn’t be possible,” Toth said.
The new courts are now open and available for use, but more renovations are expected in the future.