Spring Break
With a love for men's tennis, Match Mates cheer on top Dogs
KATIE McWANE For The Red & Black
Issue date: 3/28/07 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
The name Match Mates triggers images of Internet dating sites and finding a soul mate. However, this particular organization has nothing to do with finding a romantic match.
Match Mates is the newest addition to the student promotions groups behind the University's athletic teams. Falling into the same category as Deck Dawgs, Hoop Girls and Diamond Darlings, Match Mates supports the No. 1 Georgia men's tennis team.
The Match Mates' purpose is to serve as the official hosts and ambassadors to the tennis team.
The group promotes the team through various efforts, including handing out flyers, visiting businesses in the Athens area, talking up the team to friends and other organizations, decorating the stadium, tending to locker room decorations and attending home matches.
Ricky Gonzalez, a senior from Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, and member of the men's tennis team, has noticed a change in attendance at their home matches.
"The Match Mates are great," Gonzalez said. "The attendance in our home matches definitely goes up by having the Match Mates there for us. We all get together on many occasions to socialize and have a good time with them."
Meghan Devine and Mary Catherine Ellis, both juniors from Alpharetta, and Sarah Dougherty, a senior from Griffin, founded the group in 2005.
The idea for the group came while brainstorming at one of their regular meetings.
"Match Mates came about in a Panhellenic meeting," Devine said. "The girls thought it would be a good idea to start a promotional group, along the same lines as Diamond Darlings, to help support, promote, and raise attendance for our UGA tennis program."
Ellis asked Devine to help get the program started. The two girls then met with men's tennis head coach Manuel Diaz and the assistant director of athletic promotions to begin the process of forming the organization, Devine said.
While many other sports have had the support of similar organizations for some time, the 2006 season was the first season the men's tennis had such support. The group had a successful first season at the University with more than 75 applicants. Of these applicants, 28 members were selected.
Girls must fill out an application, get a recommendation letter and go through an interview process to join Match Mates.
Ellis is enthusiastic about the group's early success.
"I was so excited when Match Mates became so successful within the first year," she said. "I have enjoyed meeting new women and supporting the men's tennis team thus far. I am looking forward to the next spring season with the guys."
Ellis also said the organization is looking to expand into supporting women's tennis at the University in the future.
Match Mates is the newest addition to the student promotions groups behind the University's athletic teams. Falling into the same category as Deck Dawgs, Hoop Girls and Diamond Darlings, Match Mates supports the No. 1 Georgia men's tennis team.
The Match Mates' purpose is to serve as the official hosts and ambassadors to the tennis team.
The group promotes the team through various efforts, including handing out flyers, visiting businesses in the Athens area, talking up the team to friends and other organizations, decorating the stadium, tending to locker room decorations and attending home matches.
Ricky Gonzalez, a senior from Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, and member of the men's tennis team, has noticed a change in attendance at their home matches.
"The Match Mates are great," Gonzalez said. "The attendance in our home matches definitely goes up by having the Match Mates there for us. We all get together on many occasions to socialize and have a good time with them."
Meghan Devine and Mary Catherine Ellis, both juniors from Alpharetta, and Sarah Dougherty, a senior from Griffin, founded the group in 2005.
The idea for the group came while brainstorming at one of their regular meetings.
"Match Mates came about in a Panhellenic meeting," Devine said. "The girls thought it would be a good idea to start a promotional group, along the same lines as Diamond Darlings, to help support, promote, and raise attendance for our UGA tennis program."
Ellis asked Devine to help get the program started. The two girls then met with men's tennis head coach Manuel Diaz and the assistant director of athletic promotions to begin the process of forming the organization, Devine said.
While many other sports have had the support of similar organizations for some time, the 2006 season was the first season the men's tennis had such support. The group had a successful first season at the University with more than 75 applicants. Of these applicants, 28 members were selected.
Girls must fill out an application, get a recommendation letter and go through an interview process to join Match Mates.
Ellis is enthusiastic about the group's early success.
"I was so excited when Match Mates became so successful within the first year," she said. "I have enjoyed meeting new women and supporting the men's tennis team thus far. I am looking forward to the next spring season with the guys."
Ellis also said the organization is looking to expand into supporting women's tennis at the University in the future.
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