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President Bush Congratulates Pepperdine's 2006 Men's Tennis NCAA Champions at White House Ceremony 

Ten members of Pepperdine's 2006 NCAA Division I National Championship-winning tennis team were honored at a White House Ceremony on Monday, June 18. On "Champions' Day" President Bush commended 32 NCAA Championship-winning teams from 21 university or college campuses from 14 different states. Also in attendance were Henry Paulson, secretary of the treasury, and members of the United States Congress and Senate. 

In his speech, President Bush specially recognized the Pepperdine team for conducting a youth tennis clinic in Washington, D.C. on Sunday, June 17. He said, "You can win on the athletic field, and you can win in the classroom, but you can also contribute to our country by helping somebody in need, by using your championship status to help heal a broken heart or to help somebody live a better life. And so to the champs, I'm glad you're here."

Led by coach Adam Steinberg, Pepperdine captured its first-ever men's tennis national championship after defeating Georgia, 4-2, on May 24, 2006, at Stanford's Taube Tennis Center. Pepperdine (36-2) won after reaching the finals for the first time since 1986. The Waves' previous best finishes at the NCAA Tournament came in 1982 and 1986 when they finished as runners-up.