It’s time to put those empty courts to use
The tennis courts on campus have always stood out to me. Whenever I walk by, I am surprised to see no one is playing on them. If CSUDH started a tennis team, it would definitely bolster the prowess of the Toros Athletics program.
As it stands now, there are only three sports at Dominguez Hills boasting both men’s and women’s teams: basketball, soccer, and baseball and softball. A tennis team would make a great addition to the program and raise the profile of Toros Athletics in Southern California.
Southern California is a recruiting hotspot, but Point Loma Nazarene and Azusa Pacific are the only universities in the region with both men’s and women’s tennis teams competing in Division II. There’s a lot of athletic talent in this area that would surely bring pride (and championships) to CSUDH.
The tennis team would also help to elevate and expand the Toros sports brand and potentially boost enrollment at Dominguez Hills. The more people come to know and learn about CSUDH, the greater the awareness of the university’s sports brands and academic mission – that means increased revenue and higher status.
“I would be excited if the university added a tennis team, it will increase attendance, awareness, and visibility of Dominguez Hills,” said Toros Athletics Director Eric McCurdy.
A Toros tennis squad would definitely turn heads at Dominguez Hills…but that’s if the university were able to take the steps necessary to actually make it happen.
Although the size of the tennis courts at Dominguez Hills meet NCAA regulations, they are in need of renovations. There are cracks in the concrete and the university would need to repair them before any team could compete.
“We are in the preliminary stages of pricing costs since the campus has some courts in serious need of repair,” said CSUDH Vice President and CFO Deborah Wallace. “We are still not sure if these will be replaced or repaired until the surveys are completed.”
University and Toros Athletics administrators would also have to give consideration to the conference a potential team would be a part of. The Toros compete in the CCAA, but only two colleges in the conference – CSULA and CSU-Stanislaus – boast teams, both of which are women’s squads. Those colleges aligned with the PacWest conference, and it may be wise for CSUDH to do the same for both men and women.
Although the tennis courts would be wondrous for a tennis team, it would also be resourceful for recreational use. There are many people who play tennis and would love to hop on some nice new courts. Everyday students can go on the courts during open hours and participate for fun or to stay healthy.
The university would also have to consider the conference the team would be a part of. The Toros compete in the CCAA, but only two schools in that conference – CSULA and CSU-Stanislaus – have teams, both which are women’s. Those teams compete instead in the Pacific West Conference, which could be the ideal spot for a potential Toros team.
Toros Athletics help to make Dominguez Hills what it is, but there are opportunities out there for the university to attract even more students and sports fans. Adding a tennis team would not only make CSUDH more competitive from an athletic standpoint, but also raise the school’s academic profile. In other words: Toros tennis would definitely serve up some aces.