This story first appeared on Oglethorpe.edu.
More than 40 alumni, friends and family members gathered on October 11 at the Downing Howell Courts to celebrate the next generation of Oglethorpe Tennis.
Over Honeydeuce cocktails and sandwiches, alumni challenged current team members on the courts and caught up on the teams' upcoming spring season.
Men and women's tennis alumni reconnected and shared memories over foundational figures including Paul Danielson, Peter Howell and Dunn Neugebauer.
Paul Danielson became Oglethorpe's head coach prior to the 2019-20 season and quickly led the Stormy Petrels to their first-ever appearance at the NCAA Championships in 2021. That same year, he guided the team to the Southern Athletic Association (SAA) title and was named the SAA Coach of the Year.
Peter Howell coached at Oglethorpe for more than 20 years and remains a prominent figure in the Atlanta tennis community. He has been inducted into the OU Athletic Hall of Fame, the Georgia Tennis Hall of Fame, the USPTA-Southern Division Hall of Fame, and the Georgia Professional Tennis Hall of Fame.
Dunn Neugebauer coached at Oglethorpe during the 1990s, having served as both head tennis coach and sports information director.
Reflecting on his return to the courts, Neugebauer shared, "It was the present beauty of October weather, mixed with alum young and old. Before you left, you had to do this one more time—walk up the stairs, stand where you can view all six courts—4, 5, and 6 to your left, 1, 2, and 3 down below," he stated. "Before walking down, though, two things stood out and there were only two. Tennis, like sports, is perhaps the greatest education in people's psychology. But the second, and the one that remains your favorite is just this: Never underestimate memories that can bring tears to your eyes."
One of the day's most memorable moments came when alumni Andrew Shahan '00 and John Breton '97 generously pledged a combined $2,000 in matching gifts to support the Tennis Programs Fund. Their generosity sparked excitement throughout the crowd and inspired an impromptu call to action among friends, family and fellow alumni in attendance to rally behind Oglethorpe Tennis.
The matching gifts served as both a celebration of Coach Taylor Stewart's arrival and a meaningful investment in the student-athletes who proudly represent the Stormy Petrels on the court. Each contribution made toward the match strengthens the experience of Oglethorpe's tennis student-athletes—today and for generations to come.
Hannah Dattilo '20 shared, "This year's Black and Gold Alumni Match is one of the most successful I've ever been a part of. It was so special to catch up with my coaches and play with my teammates. This event was deeply meaningful to me, and I greatly look forward to attending again in the future."
With the legacy of the past motivating him, Coach Taylor Stewart is poised to build on that strong foundation by advancing Oglethorpe Tennis and continuing to strengthen its close-knit alumni community.
