Carlene Petersen, Class of 2006

Carlene attended William Jewell College, where she won numerous tournaments, and became the first woman to play on the men’s tennis team, where she competed at the No. 1 singles spot her sophomore through senior years. Carlene was the first woman to participate in the NAIA Men’s Collegiate Championships in 1964.

An avid competitor, she won many Missouri Valley and Intermountain Section tournaments and is holder of at least 17 combined titles at the region’s three major tournaments: Denver City Open, Colorado State Open, and Intermountain Sectional Championships.

Carlene was a tennis professional at many clubs within the Denver area, and coached the women’s tennis team at the University of Denver for 10 seasons, beginning in 1974. She received Conference Coach of the Year honors while at the University of Denver, and in 1994, was inducted into the William Jewell College Athletic Hall of Fame.