Colorado tennis community celebrates inductees and award winners
Close to 350 guests helped USTA Colorado welcome the Class of 2022 into the Colorado Tennis Hall of Fame. The Gala also served as an opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of USTA Colorado's Annual Award winners.
"A night to celebrate" as Colorado Tennis Hall of Fame Gala returns in person
For the first time since 2019, members of the Colorado tennis community gathered together to celebrate the induction of new members into the Colorado Tennis Hall of Fame. The event, which drew more than 350 attendees, was held at The Cable Center located next to the University of Denver campus on Saturday, November 12. In addition to inducting Virginia Dunn Smith Kraut, and Luke and Clancy Shields to the Hall of Fame, USTA Colorado handed out 14 Annual Awards celebrating the accomplishments of members of the tennis community in the areas of competition, sportsmanship/leadership, and service.
Once again, the event was emceed by Andy Zodin (Director of Racquet Sports at Columbine Country Club, President of USPTA Intermountain Division and a sports talk radio host and podcaster) and Christine Chang Gillette (Former longtime Emmy award winning morning news anchor and reporter at ABC’s Denver 7, now book consultant and media trainer).
An annual event, the 2022 Colorado Tennis Hall of Fame Gala raised $50,000 for the Colorado Youth Tennis Foundation. Through the lifetime sport of tennis, the Colorado Youth Tennis Foundation, a 501(c)3 fundraising arm of USTA Colorado, promotes the physical, emotional and social development of ALL youth to aspire to become active, productive and responsible citizens. By providing individual player scholarships and program grants to kids and organizations throughout the state, the CYTF ensures that juniors from small rural towns as well as from larger metropolitan areas benefit from the sport.
Colorado Tennis Hall of Fame Inductees
Virginia Dunn Smith Kraut: Born in Donnellson, IL, in 1915, Virginia was the daughter of William Ferris and Hattie Mansfield Dunn who had moved to Colorado in 1924. She graduated from Denver East High School in 1932 and attended the University of Denver and the University of Colorado.
Virginia was a well-known tennis player in the 1930s winning numerous titles including state titles in three states. In later years she played in USTA National Senior tournaments winning a number of titles. Her last national title came in Women’s 80s Doubles at the USTA Women’s National Grass Court Championship in 1996. Virginia passed away in 2005.
Luke & Clancy Shields: Luke (1985-) and Clancy (1987-) were born and raised in Grand Junction, CO. Both enjoyed tremendous success on the junior circuit and in NCAA competition, and have gone on to become highly decorated collegiate coaches.
A highly accomplished junior player, Luke went on to play collegiately at Boise State University, amassing numerous accolades. He earned ITA All-American honors in singles in 2007, and in both singles and doubles in 2005.
Luke was named the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Player of the Year in 2007, and helped lead the Broncos to the WAC title in 2005, 2006 and 2007. He earned All-WAC First Team honors in singles and doubles every season, and owns the BSU career (119) and single-season (35; twice) wins record.
While head coach at Fresno State (2014-21), Luke was a two-time Mountain West Coach of the Year honoree, in 2017 and 2019. He was named Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Northwest Region Coach of the Year in 2019. He spent a year at Oklahoma and was announced as the new head coach at his alma mater, Boise State University, in 2022.
A top national and international junior player, Clancy was a member of the US Junior Davis Cup Team. He joined the Boise State squad a year after Luke, in 2005, earning All-WAC first-team honors (for doubles and singles) seven times. He helped the Broncos to three WAC titles in 2006, 2007 and 2009. Clancy was a first-team Academic All-American in 2007, and the 2009 Rafael Osuna Sportsmanship and Leadership Award winner.
As head coach at Utah State for three seasons, Clancy led the Aggies to the 2016 Mountain West title and was named ITA Mountain Region Coach of the Year and Mountain West Coach of the Year. He was hired as head coach at the University of Arizona in 2017. Clancy was named Pac-12 Coach of the Year in 2019 and 2021, and was named ITA Southwest Coach of the Year in 2019. His 2022 Wildcat squad was Pac-12 Conference Regular Season Champions, the first-ever title in school history. Watch their induction video.
USTA Colorado Annual Awards
On-Court Achievement: Anton Samuilau (Male Player of the Year); Anna Riedmiller (Female Player of the Year); Greg Beehler (Senior Player of the Year).
Junior Sportsmanship, Leadership and Achievement: Kasia Chen (Girls 14 & Under); Cale Brush (Boys 14 & Under); Lorena Cedeno (Girls 15-18); Cameron Kruep (Boys 15-18); Evan Gear (Parks & Recreation Program Participant).
Service: Eastmoor Swim & Tennis (Organization of the Year); Kraatz Family (Family of the Year); Rachel Morley (Volunteer of the Year); Sonia Schwartz (Service to Under-Resourced Populations); Susan Bolton (Service to Recreational Players); Bill & Loretta Conway(Service to the Colorado Tennis Community).
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