Aivaras Balžekas

Aivaras Balžekas
Country (sports) Lithuania
Born(1982-04-08)April 8, 1982
Šiauliai, Lithuanian SSR, Soviet Union
DiedOctober 10, 2005(2005-10-10) (aged 23)
Delray Beach, Florida, U.S.
Height1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
PlaysRight-handed
CollegeLynn University
Prize money$5,328
Singles
Career record0–0
Highest rankingNo. 926 (July 8, 2002)
Doubles
Career record0–0
Highest rankingNo. 939 (October 15, 2001)

Aivaras Balžekas (April 8, 1982 – October 10, 2005) was a Lithuanian professional tennis player and a member of Lynn University's tennis team.

Balzekas was a member of the Lithuania Davis Cup team and earned a career-high ATP singles ranking of world no. 926 in 2002. He played for one season at Lynn in Boca Raton, Florida,[1] and had earned several honors and titles, including finishing the 2005 season ranked 11th in American college tennis. This continued a successful career that began at Auburn University–Montgomery, where he was a member of the 2004 NAIA national championship team.[2]

Balzekas died at a Florida hospital where he was taken after being struck by a motorist. The collision occurred on October 8, 2005. At the time he was helping a friend push a disabled vehicle along the side of a road.[1] A Boca Raton man named David Walsh was sentenced to a year and one day in prison for the death of Balzekas. He pleaded guilty to driving drunk and killing Balzekas.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b "Top Lithuanian Player Dies After Crash". Moscow-Pullman Daily News. October 11, 2005. Retrieved December 24, 2010.
  2. ^ "Lynn Mourns Loss of Balzekas". www.ncaa.com. October 11, 2005. Archived from the original on August 8, 2016. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
  3. ^ "Boca man pleads guilty in fatal crash". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. March 16, 2008. Archived from the original on July 22, 2015. Retrieved December 24, 2010.


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