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Gator’s National Tennis Championship Celebrated on 34th Street
Wall
UFCC
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Led by
enthusiastic James Bates, who was a
co-captain of the Gator football team’s 1996 national championship
squad, the Florida women’s tennis team was honored on the 34th
Street
Wall in Gainesville.
The local tradition includes painting part of the half-mile-long Wall
after events big and small, done for individuals, groups or teams.
UF soccer head coach Becky Burleigh was the initiator of painting the
34th Street Wall to salute the 2011 tennis team, but her flight was
delayed and she wasn’t able to participate – with the
exception of the
‘Big Heads’ of head coach Roland Thornqvist and associate
head coach
Dave Balogh she had made for regular-season matches.
Bates led the group that included two of his daughters, Nan Thornqvist
–
the wife of coach Thornqvist – both of coach’s daughters,
as well as
others in the Gainesville community.
Sophomore Allie Will (Boca Raton, Fla.) was in town for a few hours for
an appointment and was called to drive past the 34th Street Wall to see
a ‘surprise.’
Shortly afterwards, coach Thornqvist received a call at home from his
wife Nan, who was among those painting the tribute on the Wall and asked
him to pick up one of their daughters and they could meet there.
• WATCH the painting of the Wall and the surprise of Allie
and Coach
Thornqvist when they see it!
http://www.gatorvision.tv/mediaPortal/player.dbml?id=774264&db_oem_id=6500
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