Awards
January 2008
USRSA Members' Choice Awards
Our exclusive rankings, based on responses by USRSA members, will help you pick the right strings for your shop. What string is best for your customer? It's a tricky question to answer, since there are so many different strings out...
Top of the List: RSI/ASBA Distinguished Facility-of-the-Year Awards
When it comes to excellence in court construction, it's hard to find better examples than those entered in the RSI/American Sports Builders Association Facility-of-the-Year Awards contest. Each year, based on entries submitted by an ASBA member — whether a contractor,...
November 2007
2007 Person of the Year: George Napier
For George Napier, it's all about the team. When he talks about the recent success of Prince Sports, you rarely hear him use the word "I." In fact, Napier, the CEO of the Bordentown, N.J., company, often seems uncomfortable when...
2007 Private facility of the year: Meadow Creek Tennis and Fitness
When Adam and Debra Kahn took over Meadow Creek Tennis & Fitness Club three years ago, they were already well known in the Lakewood, Colo., tennis community as players, team captains and, in Adam's case, a USPTA-certified pro. As the...
2007 Stringer of the year: Tim Strawn
When it comes to getting a racquet strung, "People can go many places," says Dave Malinowski, Wilson Racquet Sports' territory manager for the mid-Atlantic region. "But once Tim gets his hands on someone's racquet for the first time, they won't...
2007 Builder/contractor of the year: Sportsline
Talk to customers and suppliers about Rob Werner, the founder and president of Sportsline Inc., and certain phrases keep coming up — things like "professionalism," "attention to detail" and "takes pride in his work." "Rob is amazing," says Tina Tharp,...
2007 Sales rep of the year: Hunter Hines
Return phone calls. Fill out orders. Answer your emails. Smile. Repeat often. This simple list adequately describes the job requirements of a successful sales rep, right? Well, not exactly. "It's not hard to be a good rep," says Greg Mason,...
2007 Chain retailer/mass merchant of the year: The Sports Authority
Skiing to scooters. Paintball to basketball. In today's highly competitive (and overly saturated) sporting-goods market, a tennis player could be forgiven for feeling a little lost in the shuffle. But don't tell that to the execs at The Sports Authority,...
2007 Pro/specialty retailer of the year: Michael Lynne's Tennis
Michael Lynne and his wife, Mimzy, moved back to Minnesota in 1990 after spending several years in Arizona, where he had a small tennis shop for five years. When the Lynnes returned to Minneapolis, Michael scoped out places for another...
2007 Junior development champion of the year: Craig Jones
Craig Jones' commitment to growing the game is evident by his long list of awards, distinctions and volunteerism. A popular speaker and accomplished USTA High Performance coach, he has also become one of the country's foremost advocates of the USTA's...
2007 Grassroots champion of the year: Dan Vonk
Dan Vonk has no problem being the local "tennis guy" — so long as it means he's helping bring more players to the courts in Camden County, Ga. When Vonk began as coach of the Camden County High School boys'...
2007 Municipal facility of the year: Arthur Ashe Youth Tennis and Education
Arthur Ashe Youth Tennis and Education, as current head Tina Tharp says, is "not just about hitting tennis balls. We are here to develop young men and young women." With public and private funding, AAYTE annually serves more than 11,000...
2007 Wheelchair tennis champion of the year: Jason Harnett
For nearly a decade, Jason Harnett has been a mentor for wheelchair tennis players both on and off the court. Each year, Harnett, a USTA national coach, spends six to eight weeks training and traveling with the country's elite wheelchair...
2007 Public park of the year: Fort Lauderdale Park and Rec
Named in honor of Chris Evert's father, who was tennis director for 49 years, the Jimmy Evert Tennis Center is the centerpiece of the City of Fort Lauderdale Parks and Recreation Department. However, the center is just one of nine...
2007 Community tennis association of the year: Grants Pass CTA
For the Grants Pass Community Tennis Association in Grants Pass, Ore., tennis is more than a sport. The CTA, now in its 17th year, has made junior player development a priority, with programs now serving 70 children, some of whom...
2007 PTR member of the year: Luke Jensen
Passion, expertise, and enthusiasm in promoting the PTR are just a few of the qualities that PTR executives say make Luke Jensen a very special member. Jensen joined the PTR two years ago, and since that time, he has actively...
2007 USPTA member of the year: Mike Van Zutphen
With 30 years of experience in instructional tennis program management, USPTA Master Pro Mike Van Zutphen of Mesa, Ariz., has a résumé that fills four pages. Among his qualification highlights, however, one stands out: "I know which ladies take cream...
2007 High school coach of the year: Marian DeWane
For Marian DeWane, more is certainly merrier. In Boise, Idaho, DeWane has led the Centennial High School team for two decades, and the program adopted the no-cut concept at its inception. Each year, DeWane and her assistants, both paid and...
2007 USTA Section of the Year: Florida
The USTA Florida Section has taken to heart USTA President Jane Brown Grimes' call to "bring tennis to where the kids are." The section's goal is to introduce tennis to both the physical education curriculum and after-school programming in at...
June 2007
Champions of Tennis 2007
Help us recognize the people who are making a difference in the business of tennis.
Inside Track
Two indoor court winners provide local players with year-round tennis.
2007 Facility Awards Application Available
Applications for the USTA's 2007 Facility Awards are now available. The program, now in its 26th year, is administered by the USTA Technical Committee and promotes excellence in tennis facilities. Last year, nine facilities were honored. Awards are given...
USTA Honors Junior Tennis's Seena Hamilton
The USTA honored the Easter Bowl and its founder and tournament director, Seena Hamilton, for the tournament's longevity and success at the opening reception for the 2007 event on April 15. Hamilton has been the tournament director since 1968....
USPTA Accepting Nominations for Awards
The USPTA is accepting nominations for its 2007 National Awards Program. Each year the USPTA seeks inspiring stories of USPTA Professionals who go above and beyond the call of duty to provide their students with the highest level of...
Tennis Resorts Online Travel Website Names Top 100 Resorts and Camps
Tennis Resorts Online has come out with its annual top tennis resorts and camps, based on evaluations submitted by vacationers. "The best sources of information about a tennis resort or camp experience are the players who go there on...
Deadline for ASBA Award Entries July 1
The deadline for submitting entries for the American Sports Builders Association awards program is July 1. This year the applications are available only online to ASBA members. There is a $100 fee for each entry. In other ASBA news,...
May 2007
Minnesota Couple Wins Hall of Fame Award
Steven K. Champlin and his wife, Marjorie E. Champlin, of Wayzata, Minn., have been named the recipients of the 2006 Samuel Hardy Award, an International Tennis Hall of Fame honor that is given annually to a USTA volunteer in...
November 2006
2006 USTA Section of the Year: Texas
No one will ever claim that USTA Texas is the Little Section That Could. They're the third largest of the 17 sections and enjoy a climate that's mostly tennis-friendly all year. That's not to say the section faces no...
2006 Grassroots champion of the year: Beverly Bourguet
Success doesn't always come easily, but Beverly Bourguet of Albuquerque, N.M., has proven that persistence, dedication, and passion are key. Bourguet's launch of a National Junior Tennis League program in one of Albuquerque's neighborhoods, and her continued efforts to...
2006 Public park of the year: Billie Jean King National Tennis Center
How would you like to play your softball championship at Yankee Stadium, or a pickup basketball game in Madison Square Garden? Well that, says Bill Mountford, is exactly what it's like when you play tennis at the USTA Billie...
2006 USPTA member of the year: Brett Hobden
During his 30-year teaching career, USPTA member Brett Hobden of Naples, Fla., has worked with Andre Agassi, Tommy Haas, Iva Majoli, Meredith McGrath, and Anne Miller. Now as director of tennis for the Greater Naples YMCA and CEO of...
2006 Wheelchair tennis champion of the year: Bruce Karr
Bruce Karr, a wheelchair athlete himself, has dedicated more than two decades to helping others get just what they need to compete at their highest level. To do this nationally, he established the National Wheelchair Sports Fund (www.nwsf.org) in...
2006 Junior development champion of the year: Bwana Chakar Simba
In a legendary town, Bwana Chakar Simba is a Los Angeles tennis program legend. For the past 13 years, "Chakar," as he is known in the tennis community, has been at the Rogers Park facility, introducing youngsters to the...
2006 Municipal facility of the year: Cary Tennis Park
According to Money magazine, Cary, N.C., is among the top five places to live in the U.S. In this Research Triangle city of 106,000 people, the economy is strong, arts and culture are thriving, and great schools and beautiful...
2006 High school coach of the year: David Steinbach
Quality plus quantity equals success. That's the equation by which David Steinbach of Brookfield, Wis., has led his high school tennis teams for 25 years. And the results have been impressive in more ways than one. As a pioneer...
2006 Stringer of the year: Grant Morgan
Grant Morgan says his introduction to tennis "was about as low-end as you can get." He started by playing what he calls "apartment-complex tennis" with friends. From there, though, Morgan took lessons and became a fairly decent player. When...
2006 Person of the year: Kirk Anderson
On the one hand, had Kirk Anderson not taught at a park and rec tennis program one summer before college and been paid for his efforts, there's a good chance his life could have turned out vastly different from...
2006 Private facility of the year: Midtown Tennis Center
Home to 37 tennis professionals, 18 tennis courts, three platform tennis courts, an extensive pro shop, a nursery, café, fitness center, and Pilates studio, the Midtown Tennis Club was the first of the 13 Tennis Corporation of America clubs...
2006 Community Tennis Association of the year: Montgomery County
When it comes to developing tennis at the grassroots level for all players, you want to copy the best. And in terms of community tennis, the best is the Montgomery County Tennis Association in Silver Spring, Md. The MCTA...
2006 Sales rep of the year: Jim Willwerth
It wasn't so long ago when a sales representative's job typically involved selling a company's products to a store whose customers had limited alternative methods of buying those goods. Exceptional customer service included returning phone calls and following up...
2006 Builder/contractor of the year: Courtsmiths
It seems that when it comes to court builders, the best ones frequently have a strong family presence in the business. And so it is with RSI's 2006 Builder/Contractor of the Year winner — the Courtsmiths of Toledo, Ohio....
2006 PTR member of the year: Ajay Pant
If there's one characteristic that Ajay Pant believes is vital for a tennis teaching pro to have, it's consistency in word and action. In his own career, this PTR master pro's focus has not only been on continually helping...
2006 Pro/specialty retailer of the year: Swetka's Tennis Shop
Most specialty shops stand out for one or two things. Maybe it's the wide selection of products available. Or it could be the knowledgeable and helpful staff. Or possibly frequent sales, which keep customers coming back. But when you...
2006 Chain retailer/mass merchant of the year: PGA Tour Superstores
When the first PGA Tour Superstore opened, in Roswell, Ga., just outside of Atlanta in March 2005, CFO Jorge Cora was disappointed. Never mind that the place offered a huge selection of tennis gear — racquets, shoes, and accessories...
July 2006
Champions of Tennis 2006
Help us recognize the people who are making a difference in the business of tennis. Once again, we'd like to honor the champions of our sport — the many, often unheralded heroes who work tirelessly to develop tennis in...
June 2006
USTA Offers Support and Recognition To H.S. Coaches With No-Cut Policies
One of the most memorable and fun experiences that high-school students can have is the opportunity to be on a team, to contribute toward a common goal with their fellow students. And now, with high-school tennis, that opportunity is...
April 2006
USTA and ITA Honor Champions of Campus and Community
The USTA and the Intercollegiate Tennis Association are continuing a tradition of honoring coaches who, in addition to their job of successfully coaching and graduating student-athletes, reach out to their campus and outlying communities to grow tennis. "The ITA...
The Good Stuff
Each of hese soft-court winners is solid to the core.
January 2006
USRSA Members' Choice Awards
Our exclusive rankings, based on responses by USRSA members, will help you pick the right strings for your shop.
November 2005
2005 Builder/Contractor of the Year: Fast-Dry Companies
For the Fast-Dry Companies of Pompano Beach, Fla., it's not just about family values, it's about valuing the family. Steven Dettor started the business in 1981, and now, with three of his five sons involved in the company —...
Golfsmith — Chain Retailer/Mass Merchant of the Year
Salt & pepper. Ben & Jerry. Golf & tennis? Though often still linked by their country-club reputations, golf and tennis aren't exactly the yin and yang items they once were. More often, they seem at odds with one another...
Baltimore Tennis Patrons — Community Tennis Association of the Year
As director of programs for the Greater Baltimore Tennis Patrons Association Inc. (BTP), Lynn Morrell (right) says the key to growing the game is twofold: making it affordable and accessible for kids and adults. The BTP — based in...
Shirley Ruane — Grassroots Champion of the Year
In parts of the Navajo Reservation in the Southwestern U.S., tennis is an esteemed sport to the area's characteristically athletic population. Shirley Ruane, a Page, Ariz., tennis teaching pro and coach who has worked with many Navajo youngsters, sees...
Wayne St. Peter — Junior Development Champ of the Year
When it comes to junior tennis players, there's no doubt that Wayne St. Peter knows what he's doing. Over the past 11 years, he has worked with about 8,000 young tennis players. And it's due to his dedication to...
John Drew Smith Tennis Center — Municipal Facility of the Year
In 1980, the John Drew Smith Tennis Center was dedicated in honor of a legendary Macon, Ga., instructor who had recently passed away and had been instrumental in the development of the 24-court facility. Smith would be proud to...
2005 Online Retailer of the Year: Tennis Warehouse
Passions run high when talking about online retailing in the tennis business. Many traditional brick-and-mortar store owners who are not also selling on the internet obviously feel it cuts into their business, while those successfully selling online see internet...
2005 Person of the Year: Max Brownlee
Talk to Tennis Retailers and others in this business about Babolat North America's general manager, Max Brownlee, and the same phrases keep popping up: "professional," "honest," "high standards," "great products," "man of his word," "industry leader." Brownlee is not...
Brookhaven Country Club — Private Facility of the Year
In 2007, Brookhaven Country Club will be 50 years old. In that time, the Dallas facility — the largest and oldest in the ClubCorp organization (which currently consists of about 200 clubs) — has certainly learned how to do...
Racquet World — Pro/Specialty Retailer of the Year
When it comes to operating a small business, conventional wisdom says success is all about location. But you don't have to convince specialty retailer Leon Echevarria of Racquet World in Miami. A decision to relocate his shop has turned...
Lisa Duncan — PTR Member of the Year
By Barbara Long As early as kindergarten, Lisa Duncan had decided to follow in her mother's footsteps and go into education. Then, at age 12, standing outside the tennis courts unable to afford lessons, she added another goal: making tennis...
Scalzi Park — Public Park of the Year
With the National Public Parks Tennis Championships coming into town in July 2005, the Greater Stamford Tennis Association in Stamford, Conn., wanted to put its best foot forward for the tournament and the host city. And in doing so,...
Kay Barney — Sales Rep of the Year
With a mix of more than 100 specialty retailers and seasonal accounts across Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming, HEAD/Penn Racquet Sports district sales manager Kay Barney says compulsive responsiveness is the key to staying organized. Barney, of Littleton, Colo., returns...
2005 Stringer of the Year: Bob Patterson
Talk to Bob Patterson about stringing and one thing is immediately clear. "Everything we do is built on consistency," he says. That word — "consistency" — sneaks in everywhere. Patterson, of Birmingham, Ala., even has his customers using it....
Bob Reed — USPTA Member of the Year
Bob Reed of Eugene, Ore., was enjoying a comfortable career as tennis director of the Eugene Family YMCA about a year and a half ago when he was inspired by the movie "The Pianist" to make changes in his...
USA Tennis Florida — USTA Section of the Year
Each of the 17 USTA sections strives to stand out. But being the best comes about through a combination of creativity, ingenuity, and originality, among other attributes. "With us, it's been a building process," says USA Tennis Florida Executive...
Karin Korb — Wheelchair Tennis Champ of the Year
Karin Korb didn't pick up a tennis racquet until she was 27 years old. Yet, a year later, she was among the top four women wheelchair tennis players in the world and playing in the World Team Cup, the...
July 2005
Champions of Tennis 2005
We'd like your help in recognizing the people and organizations that are making a difference in the business of tennis. Once again, we'd like to honor the champions of our sport — the many, often unheralded heroes who work...
November 2004
2004 Builder/contractor of the year: Zaino Tennis Courts
What does a reputation for honesty, quality work, and customer service get you? If you're a court builder, it gets you a lot of business, and in particular a lot of repeat business. And if you're Richard Zaino, along...
2004 Chain retailer/mass merchant of the year: City Sports
With a goal to "always satisfy the customer and have the right product, at the right place, at the right time," it's no wonder that the City Sports chain can boast a loyal customer base, that keeps coming back...
RSi Champions of Tennis 2004
As we present our fourth annual "Champions of Tennis" awards, we find that we have the same problem we've always had -- choosing only one "winner" in each category. While we can only recognize 13 of them on the...
2004 Community tennis association of the year: Pikes Peak CTA
This country is a melting pot of cultures, backgrounds, beliefs, and interests. Finding a way to address that diversity, while bringing people into tennis, can sometimes be a challenge for a Community Tennis Association. But in the Colorado Springs,...
2004 Grassroots champion of the year: Gwen and Dan Ramras
There isn't much guesswork involved regarding the whereabouts of Dan and Gwen Ramras when they don't answer the telephone at their home in Fairbanks, Alaska. The answering machine announces, "Hi. You've reached the Ramras home. Hopefully, we are either...
2004 Junior development champion of the year: Emma Hubbs
In the small city of Dixon, Ill. (population 16,000), it's likely anyone involved in tennis is familiar with Emma Hubbs. Aside from teaching at the Dixon Park District for 57 years, her name is stamped on the Emma Hubbs...
2004 Municipal facility of the year: Lexington County Tennis Complex
When Jorge Andrew (left) signed on to become tennis director of South Carolina's Lexington County Tennis Complex in 2001, he had one mission -- "To have a tennis complex where we could get more people playing tennis, make the...
2004 Person of the year: Arlen Kantarian
For a tennis fan, the US Open Series was almost too good to be true. Ten summer tournaments on the WTA and ATP tours, 100 hours of live national television coverage, a player-bonus system to ensure top draws at...
2004 Private facility of the year: Indian Creek Racquet Club
Like all highly successful tennis clubs, the amenities at Indian Creek Racquet Club in Overland Park, Kansas -- nine, climate-controlled indoor tennis courts, four racquetball courts, fully appointed locker rooms, lounge, café, pro shop, etc. -- are top-notch. But...
2004 Pro/specialty retailer of the year: Players Choice Tennis
When it comes to unlikely career paths, it's hard to match Bob Patterson. Ask him how he cultivated his current status as one of Alabama's top specialty retailers -- he and wife Pam have owned Players Choice Tennis in...
2004 Sales rep of the year: Dustin Perry
by Mike Ralston Passionate. Team player. Creative thinker. Tireless worker. These are just a few of the phrases that customers and colleagues alike use to describe Prince Sports' Dustin Perry. And those are big reasons why Perry has been...
2004 Stringer of the year: Randy Stephenson
Back in 1996, Randy Stephenson faced a tough choice. His car had just been broken into, and the thief walked away with his car stereo. "I thought, should I buy a new stereo, or should I buy my first...
2004 USTA section of the year: Pacific NW
The USTA Pacific Northwest section is the largest section in the country -- geographically. Washington, Oregon, Alaska and northern Idaho all fall within its borders. But in regards to population, the section doesn't have much to work with; as...
2004 Wheelchair tennis champion of the year: Julie Jilly
While Julie Jilly is proud that the Professional Tennis Registry's annual wheelchair tennis tournament has grown to more than 150 players from around the world, she looks forward to the day when there's no longer a reason for it...
May 2004
RSI Champions of Tennis 2004 Nomination Form
We'd like your help in recognizing the people who are making a difference in the business of tennis.
RSI magazine search
RSI magazine articles
RSI magazine categories
- Ask the Experts
- Associations
- Awards
- Ball Machines
- Balls
- Business/Marketing
- Clothing
- Courts/Lighting
- Education
- Footwear
- Frames
- Grips
- Industry News
- Media
- Miscellaneous
- Our Serve
- Peoplewatch
- Playtests
- Racquetball
- Review
- Reviews
- Science
- Squash
- Stringing
- Stringing Machines
- Strings
- Tennis
- Tips and Techniques
- Tournaments/Events
- Your Serve
RSI magazine archives
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
- November 2007
- September 2007
- August 2007
- July 2007
- June 2007
- May 2007
- April 2007
- March 2007
- February 2007
- January 2007
- November 2006
- September 2006
- August 2006
- July 2006
- June 2006
- May 2006
- April 2006
- March 2006
- February 2006
- January 2006
- November 2005
- September 2005
- August 2005
- July 2005
- June 2005
- May 2005
- April 2005
- March 2005
- February 2005
- January 2005
- November 2004
- October 2004
- September 2004
- August 2004
- July 2004
- June 2004
- May 2004
- April 2004
- March 2004
- February 2004