CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi men's and women's tennis teams will get their 2025-26 campaigns underway this weekend when they host the Jake Frederick Memorial Islander Open at the Thomas J. Henry Tennis Center.
The tournament will run all day on Friday, Saturday and Sunday with action beginning at 9 a.m. each day. On Friday, there will be an opening ceremony honoring Jake Frederick at 8:45 a.m. before play kicks off.
Jake Frederick was an Islanders Tennis player who joined the team in 2002 and later became an F-18 Marine pilot. Jake was beloved in the Corpus Christi community as he and his brother, Joel, played tennis for the Islanders and went on to become Marine pilots! Sadly, in 2016, Jake gave his life for his country during a flight over the Pacific Ocean.
Competing in the tournament alongside the Islanders will be Houston (W), UTSA (W), UTRGV, ACU (M), UIW, Texas A&M-Kingsville (W), Lubbock Christian (M), Lamar, and UTA (M).
The official tournament page with the weekend draws can be found
here.
"Jake Frederick was one of the finest young men that I have ever met. His positive attitude and humility were his greatest attributes. Jake had the ability to make everyone around him better. Now we who are still living, have the fragrance of memories of remembering and honoring a great young hero who made the ultimate sacrifice so that each one of us can still live in freedom!" Steve Denton, Head Coach Texas A&M-College Station, Jake's Coach at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
"Jake Frederick was a guy everyone loved and wanted to be around. He was loyal, courageous and generous to all. Jake was also one of the most determined people I have ever met. He wanted to fly planes and ultimately became a captain and FA 18 Hornet pilot in the US Marines. He was an incredible husband to Kiley, father to Colt and would have been to Mayley as well. He was loved by his friends and missed each and every day. He truly was an inspiration and model to us all!" said Michael Center, Head Coach University of Texas, Jake's Coach at Texas.
"Jake Frederick and the Frederick family made a lasting impact and touched so many lives in the Corpus Christi community, the Marine Corps and every stop along the way! Everyone who knew Jake knew what he stood for - Faith, family, kindness and character. He was the best Father, husband, teammate and friend you could ask for. Every time I hear – as iron sharpens iron, one man sharpens another, I think of Jake Frederick. I have a young son and I want him to grow and the kind of character man Jake Frederick was," said
Steve Moore, Head Coach Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Jake's Coach at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
A&M-Corpus Christi Tennis
- 17 NCAA Tournaments
- 37 SLC Championships
- 4 Top-40 National Rankings
- 3.0 GPA 45 Straight Semesters
- Islanders have received a No. 3 seed at the NCAA Tournament three times
- Women's tennis has cracked the ITA top-75 national rankings three times
- Men's tennis has cracked the ITA national rankings 10 consecutive years
- Ranked nationally in NCAA DI as high as No. 35 for the men and No. 60 for the women
#ShakasUp
