MILLIGAN COLLEGE, TN (May 10, 2007) --- The 2007 Milligan College men’s tennis team was rewarded with the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Men’s Tennis Champion of Character award this week. The award was voted on the conference coaches and awarded to the team that best exemplify sportsmanship on and off the court.

“I'm proud of my team for winning the team Champions of Character award,” said Milligan head coach Ron Worrell. “In our first team meeting last fall we talked about the positive aspects that athletes can have on and off the court.”

To go along with the team award, senior Ryan Reynolds (Johnson City, Tenn.) won the conference’s Sportsman of the Year award and fellow senior Tom Jones (Johnson City, Tenn.) also was named to the AAC All-Sportsmanship Team. Freshmen Charles Williams (Perth, Australia), Bryan Upshaw (Kingsport, Tenn.), Johnathon Ryan (Wangaratta, Australia) and Michael Bell (Franklin, Tenn.) along with seniors Travis Fields (Maryville, Tenn.) and Stuart Makinson (Franklin, N.C.) also were members of the varsity squad.

“It nice that my peers have witnessed the fairness, respect for the sport and respect for their opponents the Milligan players exhibited during their matches,” commented Worrell.