Yes, I was not in Tifton last week. But, no, I did not spend it trying to live out my fantasy of being in a western, which you may think if you read the headline to this column.

Instead I was in Plano, Texas, a suburb of Dallas, to watch the ABAC Stallions tennis team get a little national redemption.

For the first time since — well, no one really knew when — the Stallions went to the NJCAA National Men’s Tennis Tournament not considered one of the best junior college tennis teams in these United States of America.

ABAC was ranked eighth going into the event, and some may have even considered that a high mark. Sure, ABAC had done well in the regular season, but by typical Stallion standards, the regular season seemed to be a small letdown.

The Stallions left as a determined bunch May 9 from the Red Hill Tennis Center. Just a mere 17 hours later, the Stallions were a tired bunch when they pulled into the Big “D” on their chartered bus.

But, after getting a chance to get their feet under them, the Stallions were ready to roll.

However, Mother Nature then struck.

After finding out Sunday evening that every player had received a bye into the second round, the Stallions did not play Monday, the tournament’s opening day. Anxious and ready to go Tuesday, the Stallions were then denied another chance to get started, because of rain.

Finally, ABAC began to play Wednesday.

Rain delayed some of the play on that first day, but the Stallions finally began to get going and ABAC began to look impressive.

Sophomore Paul Fitzgerald set the tone.

His first match was delayed by rain, but Fitzgerald came out strong and garnered an impressive win, 6-2, 6-0, over an opponent from Vincennes (Ind.) University.

And no, before I go any farther, I don’t know how a junior college can be called an university.

With all of the delays, Fitzgerald had to come right back later and face another foe, and again he emerged with an impressive win, 6-1, 6-0.

But, while Fitzgerald was rolling that first day, he was not involved in the two big matches Wednesday.