Bridget Merrick, Class of 1994

Family and friends at a very early age remember seeing Bridget “hanging around” the Hamburg courts looking for a match, someone to hit with, or just hitting off the school walls for hours at a time That love, enthusiasm, dedication, commitment and competitive spirit to the game of tennis has followed Bridget through her middle school, high school and college years and into her adult life. Bridget began her tennis career at Hamburg in 1988 as a 7th grader. By 8th grade she was playing third singles. The following year she advanced to Hamburg High School’s first singles and established herself very quickly as one the premier high school first singles players in WNY for the next four years. Fond high school memories included playing matches in 30 degree weather, traveling to away matches and singing songs the entire time and winning the sectional championship in 1992. Bridget notes a special thanks to Coach Marty Snyder who made tennis fun for everyone. Bridget, an excellent student with a 92% average, upon graduation attended the University of Richmond on a full tennis scholarship where she played second singles and first doubles. In 2005 she became the tennis pro at the River Bend Club in Great Falls, Virginia. Coach Snyder: “Bridget is one of the best tennis players to come out of WNY High School tennis. She also had one of the best work-ethics and attitudes toward tennis and life in general, a quality person.”