2022 USTA Southern Awards

USTA Southern announced today the recipients of its 2022 awards, given for outstanding achievements in tennis both on and off the court. There were 26 winners of 24 awards this year.

The cities of Auburn, Ala., and Charlotte, N.C., received two awards. Mississippi and North Carolina led with six award winners each.

Candidates were nominated by USTA staff and volunteers in the section’s nine states: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. The winners were then selected from among the nominees by volunteer members of the USTA Southern Awards Committee and other committees that have expertise in the award category.

Recipients are scheduled to receive their awards at the USTA Southern Annual Meeting on Jan. 14, 2023, in Atlanta.

For the USTA Southern awards archive, click here.

The award winners are:

Adult Tournament of the Year: USTA Atlanta Combo Doubles Tournament; Atlanta

Charles B. Morris, Jr. Service Award: Eleanora Mauritson; Fairhope, Ala.

Community Tennis Association of the Year: Paducah Tennis Association; Paducah, Ky.

DeWitt Redgrave III Junior Achievement Awards:

• Riley Crowder; Dothan, Ala.
• Jelani Sarr: Pooler, Ga.

Diversity & Inclusion Champion Award: Ezekiel Salama; Shelbyville, Ky.

Educational Merit Award: Reid Kinlaw; Durham, N.C.
Gerrie Rothwell Award: Bret Peterson; Auburn, Ala.

Jacobs Bowl: Jim Hamm; Roswell, Ga.

Jim Russell Junior Tournament of the Year: Southeastern Junior Team Championships (BG12-14); Auburn, Ala.

Junior Team Tennis Coordinator of the Year: Carla O’Connor; Charlotte, N.C.

Local League Coordinator of the Year: Robyn Haug; Charlotte, N.C.

Mac MacDougal Tennis Official of the Year: Darren Potkey; Powder Springs, Ga.

Marc Kaplan Media Excellence Award: Andy Collier; Cleveland, Miss.

Marilyn Sherman Spirit Award: Cathy Greene; Lottie, La.

Member Organization of the Year: Bayou Bluff Tennis Club; Gulfport, Miss.

Mickey McNulty Family of the Year: Koch Family; Abbeville, La.

NJTL Chapter of the Year: Family Biz Builder; Tunica, Miss.

No-Cut Coach Starfish Award: Jordan Johnson; Pikeville, Ky.

Ozaki-Hastings Junior Sportsmanship Award: Parker Jacques; Huntsville, Ala.

President's Recognition Award:

• Bonnie Vandegrift; Asheville, N.C.
• Mike Vandegrift; Asheville, N.C.

Slew Hester Male and Female Players of the Year:

• Albert Lyle; Jackson, Miss.
• Karen Rembert; Raleigh, N.C.

Southern Tennis Professional of the Year: Stacie Kennington; Statesville, N.C.

Special Tennis Event of the Year: 3rd Annual Battle of the States; Columbus, Miss.

Team Tennis Event of the Year: Level 5 Open: Ridgeland, MS Team Event Pilot; Ridgeland, Miss.

Tennis on Campus Club of the Year: UNC Club Team;University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Chapel Hill, N.C.

Tennis on Campus Leader of the Year: Crawford Latham; University of South Carolina; Columbia, S.C.

Wheelchair Excellence Award: Noah Schepman; Germantown, Tenn.