In the fall of 1997, hailing from three different states, the four set foot on Grounds for the first time.
Now, three and a half years later and only weeks before graduation, men's tennis seniors Brian Vahaly, Huntley Montgomery, Tommy Croker and Brian Hunter are taking their final steps at Virginia. But this time, they walk together.
"We've become really close," Hunter said. "I'm just amazed at how fast it's gone by. It's all been one great experience, especially with the three other guys."
In their four years as Cavaliers, they have experienced and done everything together. As one of the nation's top three recruiting classes in 1997-98, they saw Virginia reach its first final in the ACC tournament and receive its first bid to the NCAA tournament. They watched coach Dick Stockton replace Thomas Johnston, who resigned after their first year. They played in three consecutive NCAA tournaments. They traveled together hundreds of times and helped Virginia compile a 62-35 record.
They weren't familiar with each other when they arrived, but the story is much different now. Montgomery and Hunter both came from Chapel Hill (N.C.) High, Vahaly entered from Atlanta, and Croker from Alexandria, Va. But as freshmen they lived in the same hall, and they have matured together through endless hours on and off the tennis courts.
Even now, the four remain a very tight-knit group. Montgomery and Croker still live together and are both brothers in Phi Delta Alpha fraternity. Even when a match is over, you will see the four chatting and hanging out together.
"We're best friends," Vahaly said. "We all came in together and have learned a lot from each other. It's like we grew up together."
But after bonding through their college years, the four will walk down the Lawn in May and go their separate ways. Vahaly, the most illustrious player on the Virginia men's tennis team, will sign with an agent and begin his professional tennis career after graduating from the Commerce School. In his four years, Vahaly became Virginia's all-time winningest player and its first All-American. He will finish this season with a top 15 ranking in singles.
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"Tennis is something I've always wanted to do, and now I can give myself a good shot," Vahaly said. "It's exciting, because I've been working so long to get to this point."
Montgomery, an All-American candidate this season, hopes to follow his dreams in tennis as well. He and Vahaly comprise the No. 1 college doubles team in the nation. After receiving his degree in government, Montgomery will train and play tournaments in Canada, where he hopes to get sponsored and turn pro.
While Vahaly and Montgomery become professional athletes, Hunter and Croker will depart from tennis and move on to other careers. With hopes to attend law school in the future, Hunter plans to enroll in the McIntire Business Institute program and intern for Democratic Louisiana Sen. John Breaux in Washington, D.C., for the summer. Croker, who will graduate with a degree in economics, will spend the summer vacationing in Europe before returning home to look for a job.
Even though the four will separate after this year, the ties they have formed will by no means weaken.
"We'll keep in touch," Montgomery said. "I'm not going to leave without making sure I'll see those guys again"
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