April 14, 2015
Vanderbilt freshman Baker Newman has been named to the 2015 SEC Men’s Tennis Community Service Team as announced by the conference Tuesday afternoon.
A native of Miami, Fla., Newman traveled to Cost Rico this past Christmas break with 12 other Vanderbilt Student-Athletes working with Soles4Souls, a Nashville-based anti-poverty organization.
Newman, alongside his fellow Commodores, washed and sized the feet of impoverished children before giving them a brand new pair of shoes. The student-athletes spent lots of time with the members of the various Costa Rican villages at the seven Soles4Souls, playing with children and helping them decorate their new shoes with markers and stickers.
As postseason play begins, Newman boasts a 5-2 record in SEC play. The freshman clinched three matches Vanderbilt. Most notably Newman completed the 4-3 upset over Florida; 6-1, 7-6(3). Against Kentucky the freshman overpowered Kevin Lai in three; 2-6, 7-6(2), 7-6(3).
The Commodores compete in the SEC Tournament this weekend, with their journey beginning Thursday at 3:00 pm CT. Vandy will play the winner of Wednesday night’s Auburn/Arkansas match.
For updates and behind the scenes footage follow @VandyMensTennis on twitter.
About Soles4Souls
Based in Nashville and started in 2006, Soles4Souls is a global not-for-profit institution dedicated to fighting the devastating impact and perpetuation of poverty. The organization advances its anti-poverty mission by collecting new and used shoes and clothes from individuals, schools, faith-based institutions, civic organizations and corporate partners, then distributing those shoes and clothes both via direct donations to people in need and by provisioning qualified micro-enterprise programs designed to create jobs in poor and disadvantaged communities.
Since it began, Soles4Souls has distributed more than 22 million pairs of shoes in 127 countries. Soles4Souls is committed to the highest standards of operating and governance, and holds a four-star rating with Charity Navigator. Please visit www.soles4souls.org for more information.
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2015 SEC Men’s Community Service Team
Andrew Goodwin · Alabama
Branch Terrell · Arkansas
Lukas Ollert · Auburn
Eric Diaz · Georgia
Brett Johnson · Kentucky
Kyle Koch · South Carolina
Hunter Reese · Tennessee
Jeremy Efferding · Texas A&M
Baker Newman · Vanderbilt
