June 28, 2007

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. - Wake Forest men's tennis standout and recent graduate Todd Paul was one of eight collegiate players that will represent the United States at the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, July 13-29. The Pan American Games is the world's second largest multi-sport event following the Olympic Games.

The tennis competition will be held on the clay courts of the Marapendi Club.

Joining Paul on the U.S. team is Stephen Bass of Notre Dame, Travis Helgeson of Georgia and Luke Shields of Boise State. The team will be coached by USTA National Coach Kent Kinnear.

The women's team is comprised of NCAA champion Audra Cohen of Miami, Megan Falcon of LSU, Natalie Frazier of Georgia and Kristi Miller of Georgia Tech and will be coached by North Carolina head coach Brian Kalbas.

Paul, who was ranked No. 1 in the country during the season, ended the year at No. 14. The ITA Senior Player of the Year for the Mideast Region served as a practice partner for the U.S. Davis Cup team's quarterfinal against Spain. He capped his Wake Forest career as the school's all-time leader in singles victories and was the first player in school history to earn All-Atlantic Coast Conference four straight seasons. Paul was a four-year letter winner at Fairfield Prep in Connecticut and was coached by Brian Barker, who currently coaches James Blake.

The Stamford, Conn. native advanced to the round of 16 at the 2004 USTA Boys' 18s National Championships before falling to eventual champion Scoville Jenkins. Paul is ranked No. 975 in the world and reached the final of the USTA Futures in Godfrey, Ill., last July. Since the inception of the Pan American Games in 1951, the United States has won 20 gold medals in the tennis competition and 41 medals in total.

Paul is one of four Demon Deacons to represent the U.S. at the Pan Am Games. Last week, US Field Hockey named midfielder Michelle Kasold and Wake Forest graduates Lauren Crandall and Kelly Doton to the 16-member team.