July 1, 2015 The 2015-16 academic year begins in 54 days and UICFlames.com counts down the Top 25 Flames over the summer months (June 8-July 31). Each sport will be featured over eight weeks as we preview the upcoming year in UIC Athletics. DONATE TO SPARK SPARK'S FACEBOOK PAGE In this installment of 'Top 25 Flames for 2015-16', we will look at men's tennis player
Mitch Granger. Last season, the talented senior won eight matches in singles play and five doubles contests.
Granger paired with Christopher Cole to lead the team with four victories in conference play. The Grayslake, Ill. native seeks to lead the Flames deep into the 2016 Horizon League Championship. UIC defeated Youngstown State in the first round of the 2015 tournament.
Granger has received high praise from around the city for founding the student-athlete service program called SPARK (Students Performing Acts of Random Kindness). SPARK's sole mission is to feed the homeless population of Chicago using money donated through friends, family and supporters of the cause.
As of July 2015, SPARK has fed over 600 people and clothed over 200. Granger and fellow UIC athletes have been featured on multiple news outlets including AOL, WGN, Fox News and WCIU. SPARK is currently accepting donations through GoFundMe.com which has seen a dramatic increase in contributions since Granger's mission has gone public.
"In order to change someone's life, you don't have to be brilliant, perfect, beautiful. You just have to care," Granger said. "Although we are a newly formed organization, I am very excited with what we have been able to accomplish so far. We have a great group of students committed to making a difference and I think the potential for this group is sky high."
TOP 25 FLAMES June 8 - Jake Dahlberg June 10 - Stephenee Yancy June 12 - Thomas Villamil June 15 - Elaine Heflin June 17 - Tai Odiase June 19 - Ruvanna Campbell June 22 - Michael Crepeau June 24 - Brianna Hines June 26 - Kei Ishimaru June 29 - Kelly Fritz
