May 21, 2003

Clifton Park resident Sugam Langer has formally confirmed that she will attend Siena College as a member of the class of 2007. A graduate of Albany Academy for Girls, Langer is credited with starting the 3-year old tennis program at the Academy while in the 9th grade.

Langer has made tennis an important part of her life since arriving in the Capital District from her native Kashmir as a 6-year-old. It was her love for books and learning that led her to Albany's 15 Love tennis program. In order to improve her English comprehension, when she first arrived in the area, Langer spent many days at the Albany Public Library reading books. Sugam fell in love with tennis and quickly rose through the 15 Love program to become a member of their Excellence Team. For the last two years, she has been a 15 Love instructor, helping younger members enjoy all that tennis has to offer.

Sugam, who qualified for the New York State High School Championships in doubles as a junior and a senior, was disappointed to find out the Albany Academy for Girls no longer had an interscholastic tennis program when she enrolled at the school. "I couldn't see going through my high school career without playing tennis," she said. "So I started a club team in 9th grade and along with a teammate gathered signatures on a petition asking the administration to reinstate tennis as an interscholastic sport."

Her efforts were a success and the following year tennis was again a full-fledged sport. Langer, assumed the #1 singles position that year and completed the season undefeated. She went on to hold the #1 position throughout her high school career losing only 4 matches over in her three-year career.

"The addition of Sugam to our program this fall will help us to continue the progress the team has made this past year," Jeff Bloomberg, the Saints Head Coach commented. "She's a top flight player and an outstanding young woman to boot. We're looking forward to her contributing in both singles and doubles."