2023 USTA Southern Awards

USTA Southern announced today the recipients of its 2023 awards, given for outstanding achievements in tennis both on and off the court. There were 27 winners of 25 awards this year.

Honors were bestowed on two residents and an association from Asheville, N.C. An organization, resident and event in Lafayette, La., were winners. Baton Rouge, La., Raleigh, N.C., and Wilmington, N.C. were represented with two awards.

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. 

For a complete list of all USTA Southern award recipients since 1985, click here.

Recipients are scheduled to receive their awards at the USTA Southern Annual Meeting on Jan. 20, 2024, in Atlanta.

Adaptive Tennis Award; Macon Area Tennis Association/Net Therapy for Children on the Autism Spectrum; Macon, Ga.

Adult Tournament of the Year; Smash Cancer; Wilmington, N.C.

Community Tennis Association of the Year; Asheville Tennis Association; Asheville, N.C.

DeWitt Redgrave III Junior Achievement

   Aidan Atwood; Suwanee, Ga.

   Mia Yamakita: Johns Creek, Ga.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Champion; Ajay Bhingare; Rock Hill, S.C.

Educational Merit Award; Mary Ann Myers; Asheville, N.C.

Gerrie Rothwell Award; Bonnie Vandegrift; Asheville, N.C.
Jim Russell Junior Tournament of the Year; Level 3 Closed: BG 18; Mobile, Ala.

Junior Team Tennis Coordinator of the Year; Cheri Kohan; Raleigh, N.C.

Local League Coordinator of the Year; Anna Martin; Wilmington, N.C.

Mac MacDougal Tennis Official of the Year; Russ Parmele; Kernersville, N.C.

Marc Kaplan Media Excellence; Game Set Match Kentucky!; Russell Springs & Bowling Green, Ky.

Marilyn Sherman Spirit Award; Kristin J. Hamilton; Louisville, Ky.

Member Organization of the Year; Acadiana Serves; Lafayette, La.

Mickey McNulty Family of the Year; Fremin Family; Acadiana, La.

NJTL Chapter of the Year; A’s & Aces; New Orleans

No-Cut Coach Starfish Award; John Cox; Cleveland, Miss.

Outstanding Parks & Recreation Department; Department of Athletics & Sports Tourism; City of Florence, S.C.

Ozaki-Hastings Junior Sportsmanship Award; Ryan Cozad; Alpharetta, Ga.

Slew Hester Male & Female Players of the Year

   George “Ged” Schwing; Baton Rouge, La.

   Rachel Sweatt; Hot Springs, Ark.

Southern Tennis Professional of the Year; Calvin Kemp; Lafayette, La.

Special Tennis Event of the Year; Crawfish Classic; Lafayette, La.

Team Tennis Event of the Year; 2023 MHSAA Team State Championship; Vicksburg, Miss.

Tennis on Campus Club of the Year; North Carolina State University; Raleigh, N.C.

Tennis on Campus Leader of the Year; John Hankinson; University of North Carolina; Chapel Hill, N.C.

Wheelchair Tennis Excellence Award; Marilu Major; Baton Rouge, La.