Jay Aldridge culminated an outstanding four-year career as co-captain of the 1979 NAIA National Championship men’s tennis team.

It was the first national championship for Barton in any sport and Coach Tom Parham has long pointed to the contributions of Aldridge as vital to the success of the program during his four years on the team.

Aldridge, a business administration major who returned to Cambridge, Md., and the Bay Country Racquet Club upon graduation, earned honorable mention All-America in 1979 by reaching the quarterfinals in doubles with Dan Attlerud. He won his flight championship in the Carolinas Conference every year in singles and three times in doubles, thereby making the all-conference team four times, and he also made All-District every year.

Barton’s team competed in the national tournament all four years by virtue of winning the NAIA District 29 (1976-77) or District 26 (1978-79) every season, and also won four consecutive Carolinas Conference titles.

His singles records, in order beginning with his freshman year, were 16-4, 26-4, 25-6 and 25-5 for a total of 92-19.

Aldridge held the position of director of tennis and instructor until 1988, at which time he was named manager and head pro.

A native of Shreveport, La., he is the son of Jay and Phyllis Lorraine Aldridge.