FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BATES TO BREAK GROUND ON NEW TENNIS COURTS

LEWISTON, Maine -- Bates College will break ground on a new eight-court tennis facility that should help the Bobcat men's and women's tennis programs remain among the strongest in New England.

Ground will be broken on the facility this month. To be named in honor of James Wallach (Class of 1964), who died last year shortly after starting his term as a trustee of the College, the facility was made possible by a donation of from the Wallach family and friends. Wallach, the former CEO of Central National-Gottesman, Inc., was captain of the tennis team as a senior at Bates, reaching the finals of the State of Maine championships that year.

The eight Plexi-Cushion hard court surface courts will be fully lighted for night and tournament play. They will include bleacher seating for spectators, as well as an observation deck for coaches. The courts will be situated on Russell Street next to Underhill Ice Arena in the location previously occupied by the Bobcats' field hockey and softball fields. Construction will be handled by Maine Tennis and Track of Gray and is slated to be finished in the spring of 2000. Bates' current courts, located next to Garcelon Field, will be accessible until construction on the new facility is completed.