VESTAL, N.Y. – Binghamton University announced on Friday that its newly purchased tennis complex on Mill Street will be renamed the Lane - Starke Tennis Center. Formerly the Binghamton Tennis Center, the Lane - Starke Tennis Center honors valuable and longstanding contributors Michael Lane '89 and Michael Starke.
Lane, and his wife, Lisa '91, have been generous contributors to the tennis programs. Michael was a four-year standout on BU tennis teams that captured back-to-back State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) titles and won at a 78 percent clip during his tenure. The couple's previous gifts funded upgrades to the on-campus outdoor tennis complex and also allowed for the purchase of new technological and equipment advances for the tennis programs. Lane serves on the Binghamton University Foundation Board of Directors, has been a guest lecturer in the School of Management, a networking panelist on campus and has been a key contributor to tennis scholarship initiatives.
"With the purchase of the Binghamton Tennis Center, I felt it was important to evolve the naming to the Lane-Starke Tennis Center to honor Michael Starke's contributions to the University and the Community," Lane said. "I was a member of Starke's first team at Binghamton University and we have remained friends ever since. I'm honored and proud to have both our names associated with a facility that will raise the bar for College and Community tennis in Upstate New York."
Starke is a Hall of Fame member who coached the BU tennis program for 20 years. He produced 10 All-Americans and his teams claimed five conference titles, advanced to the NCAAs seven times and won at a 67 percent clip. Starke, who won 246 matches, held the niche of being a conference Coach of the Year at all three NCAA levels. He previously owned and operated the Binghamton Tennis Center for decades, when it served as the indoor home for the BU men's and women's tennis teams.
In June, the University announced its purchase of the property at 3801 Mill Street in Binghamton. In addition to the six indoor courts, upgrades and expansion to the outdoor courts will add NCAA caliber courts for warm weather practice and competition. The facility renovations will give the Bearcats an even stronger and central home complex for year-round play.
The new year-round home for Binghamton tennis is located less than five miles from campus and presents a picturesque setting overlooking much of the Southern Tier.
NOTE
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