By Alex Graves, Reporter        

The sweat dripped from his face as Roanoke College celebrated another victory over the Bridgewater Eagles tennis team.  Brad Dewitt, a Bridgewater freshman, had just lost the game to decide the match.  He lost in two sets, 7-6 and 7-6.  This was a very close and tough game for Dewitt to lose, but he responded after this tough loss by putting in a lot of hard work.  He played tennis year-round, not just during tennis season.

                “We played tennis four hours a day,” Dewitt said.  This was on top of all the school that had to be done. 

“Freshman year I didn’t get the grades that I wanted, but then I started to manage my time better,” said Dewitt

                His sophomore year, Dewitt found himself again in a position to clinch a win for Bridgewater over Roanoke, something they had not done in 30 years.  This time Dewitt came up with the big win in two sets, 6-2 and 6-2.  Bridgewater won the match 5-4.  Dewitt said this was his greatest tennis memory.  The team finished third in the ODAC and never finished lower than that in his career.  Dewitt also finished his career with the most all time singles wins in Bridgewater history.

                Dewitt first started playing tennis when he was six years old.  He credits starting tennis to his dad, Coach C. Jay Dewitt.

                “It was one of Dad’s biggest sports,” comments Dewitt.

                Brad is continuing his tennis career as a Certified Teaching Tennis Professional.  He gives tennis lessons to young kids.

                “It is challenging, but it is not as much about skill level, but having fun,” said Dewitt. 

He has also taken on the role of assistant coach of the boys’ varsity basketball team at Waynesboro High School.  He joins his dad and coach Sidney “Popsicle” Diggs on the staff.  He says losing is the worst part of coaching.  He does enjoy interacting with the team and helping out anyway he can.  Dewitt said he tries to learn as much about coaching as he can from his dad and Popsicle.  At Bridgewater his major was Marketing and Business Administration, but Dewitt is contemplating getting a Master’s in education in order to become an athletic director or perhaps a teacher.  In 10 ten years, he said he sees himself as a teacher, coaching other sports along with basketball, especially football.

                When Dewitt graduated from Waynesboro High School four years ago, he said he did not plan on being back here.  But he is back to be a part of the school.  He helps out in the office and subs when teachers need him to.  He has become an important part of Waynesboro High School with everything he does in and around the school.

Aysha Adrees contributed to this article.