June 23, 2003

Alex Palladino (Grand Rapids, Mich.) defeated John Black (Wyoming, Mich.), 6-2, 6-1, to win the first ever Grand Valley Championships. Palladino received $200 for his first place finish and Black collected $100.

The Lakers hosted the Championships featuring tennis players from around West Michigan to raise money for thier program.

Palladino is currently the Director of Tennis at Champions Health and Fitness in Rockford, Mich. He played #1 singles and #1 doubles at Kalamazoo College and was a two-time NCAA singles and doubles champion. He has won the Midwest Regional Championships six times and has been ranked in the Top 24 Nationally as a junior tennis player.

Black is currently the men's and women's tennis coach at Grand Valley. He finished his collegeiate career at the College of New Jersey where he was selected First Team All-Conference both years. He finished with a career record of 67-7. Black has been ranked in the Top 5 in Men's Open Singles in the Middle States Section of the USTA and in the Top 10 in New Jersey as a junior tennis player.