In the finals it was all NESCAC as Middlebury’s players including Ari Beilin, shown serving here rallied to defeat Williams, 4-3.

Edited by H. Jay Burns and Doug Hubley

Eight teams from across the nation began the 2004 NCAA Division III Men’s Tennis Championships at Bates’ James G. Wallach Tennis Center. But in the finals it was all NESCAC as Middlebury’s players — including Ari Beilin, shown serving here — rallied to defeat Williams, 4-3.

The smoothly run competition netted kudos for tournament director and Bates tennis coach Paul Gastonguay ’89, while fellow All-America Bud Schultz ’81 keynoted the championship banquet. And Will Boe-Wiegaard ’06, All-America in 2003, competed in a first-round match in the individual championships.

“The exhilaration of playing in the national championship alone is amazing,” Boe-Wiegaard said. “Playing on my home courts and having fellow Batesies there to support me was indescribable.”