Texas

Mary Lowdon Outstanding Sportsmanship Award

2025 Lowdon Award Winner, Rayna Li

Established in 1972, this award is presented to the outstanding junior girl in Texas who exemplifies outstanding sportsmanship and fair play, both on and off the court. The recipient of this award is automatically nominated for the USTA Bill Talbert Junior Sportsmanship Award, when applicable.

 

Good sportsmanship can be defined as the practice of displaying respect, fairness, and empathy towards opponents, officials, and teammates. It encompasses a set of behaviors and attitudes that promote a positive and inclusive sports environment. By embodying these qualities, athletes can contribute to a culture of sportsmanship that benefits themselves and those around them.

  • Cannot be nominated by a family member. If a candidate self-nominates, a letter of recommendation (LOR) from a "sponsor" with their contact information must be included with this nomination form (e.g. tennis coach, tournament director, school counselor, teacher, principal, athletic director).
  • Must reside within the boundaries of USTA Texas.
  • Must have a current USTA individual membership.
  • Must be a girl and 18 or under as of January 1, 2025. 
  • Cannot have any suspension points or Code of Conduct violations in the last 12 months.  
  • Exemplifies the finest qualities of sportsmanship in competitive play, including but not limited to USTA Junior Tournaments, USTA Junior Team Tennis, and/or USTA Junior Circuit events. 
  • Demonstrates leadership off the court, including but not limited to serving in leadership roles, volunteering in the community, and/or volunteering with the USTA at any level.

2026
  • Nomination Period: November 1-21, 2025
  • Notification Period: December 15-19, 2025
  • Awards Celebration: February 21-March 1, 2026 (ATX Open)

Nominations open annually on the first day of November and close the Friday before Thanksgiving. Selection Committees review nominations and select winners during the first two weeks of December. Submitters are notified about the status of their nomination and winners are contacted the third week of December. Winners are honored at premiere professional tournaments in Texas in the Spring.

2025 Rayna Li, Dallas

2024 Not awarded

2023 Laila Nguyen, Houston

2022 Stela Sifuentes, Eagle Pass

2021 Victoria Zhao, Houston

2020 Not awarded

2019 Fiona Crawley, San Antonio

2018 Jeanette Mireles, Houston

2017 Chelsea Kung, Fort Worth

2016 Janice Shin, Houston

2015 Priya Niezgoda, Austin

2014 Camila Wesbrooks, McKinney

2013 Rhiann Newborn, Houston

2012 Liza Fieldsend, New Braunfels

2011 Nichole Long, Dallas

2010 Samantha Adams, New Braunfels

2009 Lilly Kimbell, New Braunfels

2008 Hideko Tachibana, New Braunfels

2007 Hillary Davis, Austin

2006 Paloma Escobedo, Houston

2005 Megan Alexander, Dallas

2004 Ashley Joelson, Austin

2003 Anna Lubinsky, Richardson

2002 Whitney Deason, Houston

2001 Nikki Mechem, Fredericksburg

2000 Jessica Rush, Dallas

1999 Tiffany Chang, Spring

1998 Jennifer Yeh, Sugar Land

1997 Shannon Duffy, Plano

         Rebekah Forney, New Braunfels

1996 Claudia Aguilar, College Station

1995 Elizabeth Schmidt, Austin

1994 Elizabeth Schmidt, Austin

1993 Tina Ansari, Houston

1992 Jennifer Atkerson, San Antonio

1991 Ashley Johnson, Austin

1990 Lee Ann Denley, Houston

1989 Nancy Webster, Corpus Christi

1988 Amy Ryan, Springtown

1987 Claire Sessions, Dallas

1986 Cindy Churchwell, Houston

1985 Diana Merrett, Richardson

1984 Tammy Christensen, Houston

1983 Ann Hulbert, Houston

1982 Diana Dopson, Austin

1981 Dadja Roerig, San Antonio

1980 Nancy Talley, League City

1979 Kirsten McKeen, Richardson

1978 Tracie Blumentritt, League City

1977 Anne Smith, Dallas

1976 Anne Smith, Dallas

1975 Anne Smith, Dallas

         Sherry Dunkin, Garland

1974 Anne Smith, Dallas

1973 Dundee Davis

         Susie Smith

1972 Daryl Gralka, Houston

 

The USTA Texas Sportsmanship Task Force is responsible for this award. For questions or assistance, please contact the task force's staff liaison, Kyle Wrather.

 

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