LEWISTON, Maine -- Bud Schultz '81 came to Bates College in 1977 as a basketball recruit who "happened to play tennis." Forty-eight years later, he'll be inducted into the ITA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame, as announced Tuesday by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association. 

The Men's Hall of Fame Class of 2025 induction ceremony will be hosted at Gustavus Adolphus College preceding the ITA Division III Men's National Team Indoor Championships on February 20, 2025.

"I am truly honored to represent Bates," Schultz said on this week's episode of the Bates Bobcast. "It's just been wonderful to reflect back and think of the people at Bates that inspired me, especially my former coach George Wigton, and my memories of him." 

Schultz played four years of basketball and tennis for Wigton during his time as a Bobcat. Playing both sports proved to be a huge benefit. 

"Basketball made me a better athlete and in a lot of ways it wiped the slate clean in terms of what I was doing with tennis so I could come back to it again with a real enthusiasm after having not played for five months," Schultz said. "Within a month of playing tennis again, I always felt like I came back better than when I had left."

Schultz's consistent improvement culminated in 1981 when he reached the finals of the NCAA Division III singles tournament. Bates went 8-1 as a team that season but at the time NESCAC schools were not allowed to compete as teams at the NCAA Championships. Schultz and teammate Bert Cole '84 qualified as a doubles team and as singles players. Schultz finished as the national runner-up in singles, becoming the first All-American in Bates men's tennis history.

Schultz and Cole did so well as a duo that the Bobcats finished in third place overall, despite technically not sending a team to nationals. It was the third time Schultz had competed at the NCAA Championships, and he gives Wigton all the credit for advocating for him so he could play on the biggest stage.

"Coach Wigton was the most supportive coach you could have possibly imagined in terms of giving me more opportunities," Schultz said. "He was a huge supporter of me playing in postseason events. And quite honestly, when the athletic department didn't have the budget to send me to the NCAAs as an individual, he put his foot down and said, 'No, you've got to send him.'"

At the time, if a player qualified for the singles final of the NCAA Division III Championships, they then got to compete in the NCAA Division I singles tournament. Schultz lost to a player from UCLA in straight sets. A few years later, he would beat the same player on the professional circuit.

"He talked to me after I won and told me that I looked familiar," Schultz said. "I reminded him of our match in college....he couldn't believe it!"

Schultz went to graduate school for a year at Boston University before embarking on his professional tennis career. In seven years of pro tennis, Schultz played in all four Grand Slam tournaments — he reached the third round of the U.S. Open and Australian Open — and reached as high as No. 40 in the world in singles. He reached one ATP Tour final and two in doubles.

"Everyone geared their year towards playing those Grand Slam events," Schultz said. "Wimbledon was like the World Series or playing the Masters if you're a golfer. It was the Mecca of all tournaments. So that was really the ultimate highlight. And then the US Open was always so much fun because I had my friends and family who were still in and around New England. I had a bunch of friends that were working in New York City at the time, so I always had a lot of support and in the evenings we could go out and have a little fun too."

Along the way, Schultz took a young soon-to-be Bates tennis All-American named Paul Gastonguay '89 under his wing.

"Bud's legacy as a top collegiate athlete and his incredible success on the tour inspired me to try to follow in his footsteps," Gastonguay said. "During my sophomore year at Bates, Bud came back to campus to visit with coach Wigton while he was rehabbing from an injury. So I had the amazing opportunity to train with the Bates legend and top-40 ATP professional for the week. As always, Bud was very generous with his experience and knowledge and he taught me a few things that I carried with me for the rest of my career."

"I was familiar with Paul and sort of watched his career and when he graduated, he was looking to go out and play professionally," Schultz said. "He approached me to help him and I said I'd be happy to. So I was coaching him a little bit and he was going out and playing." 

Gastonguay competed professionally in International Tennis Federation Satellite, Challenger and ATP Tour events, where he achieved world rankings in singles and doubles. Through Schultz, Gastonguay connected with Ivan Lendl, the former number one player in the world, and became his practice partner. In 1996, Gastonguay returned to Lewiston to become the head coach at Bates, replacing Wigton, the man who had guided Schultz and Gastonguay to so much success. 

Gastonguay is currently the longest tenured head coach at Bates, having coached a litany of All-Americans at his alma mater. He appreciates how Schultz has supported the program through the years.

"Bud Schultz is a Bobcat through and through," Gastonguay said. "He came back to campus to be our keynote speaker when we hosted the 2004 NCAA Championships and we are so grateful for what he's meant to Bates tennis over the years. I want to congratulate Bud on his induction into the ITA Hall of Fame. Thank you for your inspiration!"

As he gears up to become the first Bates player to enter the ITA Hall of Fame, Schultz looks back fondly at his time as a Bobcat.

"The whole experience at Bates was about learning -- and being open-minded about learning -- and not being afraid to be uncomfortable," Schultz said. "You either get comfortable with being uncomfortable or you stop doing it. And it just got to the point where I almost craved it. It was the whole Bates education, with both the professors and your friends challenging and encouraging you."