Hall of Fame
Sam Fletcher was the catalyst that launched Azusa Pacific onto the national stage of NAIA tennis. He was Azusa Pacific’s first-ever four-time All-America first-teamer and the only person in NAIA history to receive the Ward-Ballinger Memorial Award, which goes to the Outstanding Player at the NAIA Tournament, three years. He led the Cougars to three straight NAIA championship match appearances (their first-ever NAIA Tourney berths), highlighted by the 2005 national crown, a 5-2 victory over the College of Santa Fe (APU was only the third California school ever to win the NAIA tennis crown and the first in 25 years). On the local level, he guided APU to four straight undefeated GSAC championships, with the Cougars going 32-0 during Fletcher’s time, and was a four-time All-GSAC selection. Individually, Fletcher won a school-record 205 matches (singles & doubles), and posted a career singles record of 104-7 (.937). He teamed with Adam Davidson to go 74-11 in double matches, for the best career winning percentage every by a Cougar duo. As a 2003 sophomore, Fletcher went 56-3 (.949) between singles and doubles for the best APU record ever and most wins in a single season … As a 2005 senior, was 28-1 in singles play. Azusa Pacific was ranked No. 1 in the NAIA for all but 3 weeks during Fletcher’s final three seasons. A native of Bomaderry, Australia, Fletcher returned home following graduation from Azusa Pacific.
