Grinnell College Athletics Hall of Fame
Nathaniel L. R. Fox ’09 was a key figure for Grinnell tennis on the national stage as well as establishing a run of Midwest Conference dominance. He and current Hall of Fame Dan LaFountaine ’09 became the first Grinnell doubles team to qualify for the NCAA Division III National Tournament, and then became the Pioneers’ first-ever All-Americans. On the conference level, Grinnell was MWC team champion all four of Fox’s years and he helped lead the way with singles crowns each year. He was a consistent standout performer, but what set him apart from his competition was his constant commitment to making himself and everyone around him better. For this, he was well-respected by his teammates and coaches who elected him team captain and team MVP twice. Fox had already established himself as one of the league’s best as an underclassman, but he broke out onto the national stage during his senior year. That season, he finished as a quarterfinalist in the NCAA National Tournament, earned a doubles team ranking of 11th in the nation, and was named an ITA All-American. By the end of that year, Fox ranked among the top 10 in every possible Grinnell College men’s tennis record category including being the all-time leader in career doubles wins with 97. Outside of athletics, Fox was a psychology major with a concentration in neuroscience and had an impressive academic track record. He was a three-time Academic All-Conference honoree and an ITA Academic All-American. More recently, he graduated from medical school at the University of New Mexico and is currently a pediatric emergency medicine resident physician at the University of Arizona but returns to Grinnell whenever possible for reunion weekends. Even after graduation, Fox has continued to make a positive impact on the men’s tennis program as a team chaperone for two spring break trips
