MIDDLETOWN — Christian Brothers Academy held a special ceremony on Sept. 24 for the official dedication of the new O’Shea-Martin Tennis Pavilion.
The new facility bears the name of former CBA tennis coaches John O’Shea and Brother Patrick Martin. O’Shea was in attendance for the event and had the honor of cutting the ceremonial ribbon, according to a press release from the school.
The O’Shea-Martin Tennis Pavilion was built at the site of the existing Sullivan tennis courts, which were redone during the construction process. The six courts now feature
a covered pavilion and a mid-court viewing platform, according to the press release.
CBA has won 25 state tennis championships, which is the second most in New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association history.
After Martin led the team to its first state championship in 1968, O’Shea served as head coach from 1971-79, winning six straight New Jersey titles during that span.
“It was only fitting to name the new pavilion in honor of Coach John O’Shea and in memory
of Brother Patrick Martin,” said tennis alumnus Mark Sullivan, who co-chaired the tennis
committee for the facility. “The enormity of their accomplishments is hard to overstate.
“Aside from the sheer number of team wins and state championships, they also molded their players into academy men. Their culture of winning set the expectations for all other CBA sports in the decades that followed,” Sullivan said.
O’Shea was joined by decades of CBA alumni, parents, former coaches and friends, along
with the current members of the Colts’ varsity tennis program.
In a special moment, Sullivan and current first singles player Jaden Vigneri played a ceremonial “first serve” to officially open the facility.
The O’Shea-Martin Tennis Pavilion is the first of five current construction projects to reach
completion.
The Keane turf field for soccer and lacrosse and the Sheehan track and field facility are in their final construction phases, while the Benilde Hall office building and the Brother Frank Byrne Dining Hall are taking shape, according to the press release.
CBA has also reimagined two of its grass fields into a new varsity rugby pitch, complete with goalposts and field lines.
In addition, the academy is in the early planning stages of the reconstruction of the Round Barn, which will be used for indoor track and field and other athletic programs, according to the press release.
All of these projects are part of the Forever CBA: Securing Our Mission capital campaign
that has raised more than $17 million to date.
Christian Brothers Academy is an independent, Catholic, college-preparatory school for young men. The school was founded in 1959, according to the press release.
