Villanova Univeristy Athletics

One of the early standouts for the Villanova men’s tennis program was Sol Berman, a Philadelphia native who helped lead the growth of the program during his collegiate career. Berman graduated in 1932 and was inducted to the Varsity Club Hall of Fame in 1980.
 
The tennis team was coached by Rev. E.A. Mauch, O.S.A. during Berman’s collegiate years and he was the team captain as a senior in 1932. Berman was the Wildcats top singles player from his sophomore through senior seasons and it was noted in the 1932 yearbook that Berman had won the annual college tournament in three consecutive years. He also played in the top doubles position in the Wildcats lineup with Paul Forve early in his career.
 
Berman attended Central High School in Philadelphia before coming to Villanova for college. While playing on the varsity tennis squad he also coached the freshman team for three years. Berman impacted numerous areas of campus and was the sports editor for the Villanova in addition to writing feature stories for the sports section of the newspaper. He played basketball for Epsilon Phi Theta and his campus activities included Belle Air Yearbook, the Inter-Fraternity Ball, the Junior Work Committee, the Frosh Hop Committee and the Boxing Bouts Committee.
 
The 1932 edition of Belle Air Yearbook included the following profile of Berman as part of that year’s graduating class:
 
“Sol is the lad who had the Arts men on their toes keeping abreast with his humor. Here we have the Nemesis of the sarcastic wise cracker and the Bill Tilden to those who would aspire to tennis laurels. There’s going to be a bright spot missing from the campus next year without the presence of Sol and his flying flivver. Keep your contagious smile and potent personality and Mrs. Berman will have little to worry about concerning the future of her son.”