2019 WINNERS ANNOUNCED FOR USTA MID-ATLANTIC SECTION AWARDS    

USTA Mid-Atlantic Section recognizes and honors individuals and organizations that are champions in the local tennis community. These inspiring individuals and organizations are nominated by peers and others for the work they are doing to promote and develop the growth of tennis. 

The nominations indicated that there are many champions for tennis among us in the Mid-Atlantic Section. There are every-day heroes passing on the love of tennis and helping everyone benefit from tennis for a lifetime. 

We were impressed by the enthusiasm kids are bringing to the sport, the creativity coaches are using to make their programs better and the dedication from organizations to engage new players. We are thrilled to announce the 2019 USTA Mid-Atlantic Award winners! 

Diversity and Inclusion Champion: Adrian Zahand is the head coach at Montclair Tennis Country Club in Montclair, Va. His mission is to share his love and passion for tennis with all that want to learn and his nomination recognized his dedication for helping youth excel on and off the court. Adrian is known to offer affordable training classes and lessons so that more people have access to the game.  

Emerging Leader Award: Derek Yan, a middle schooler in Potomac, Md., founded Linx Tennis in 2016.  Linx Tennis is a non-profit social organization aimed at supporting young tennis athletes in the Washington D.C. metro area. Its mission is to offer training partners, social networking and leadership development for junior players aged 8-16. With more than 350 members, Linx offers a buddy system to help players improve their skills, share experiences, and build friendships all through a shared love for tennis. 

Net Generation Coach of the Year: Randy Hudgins is the head coach for the Western Albemarle High School boys tennis team in Albemarle, Va. Randy has coached tennis for more than 30 years and this year he and his players won the VHSL Class 3 State Championships. Coach Hudgins was recognized for being more than just a coach; he is a role model and a mentor for all of his players. His positive encouragement and knowledge of the game instills confidence and brings out the best in his team.  

Volunteer Impact: Kevin Alexander is a dedicated coach, motivator and mentor in the Washington D.C. tennis community. He spends time teaching both children and adults tennis and exudes a positive influence on all of his players. Kevin gives his time in a number of ways, from serving as a captain for USTA League teams to volunteering at tennis events throughout the year.   

Junior Team Tennis Captain of the Year: Dolly Abizeid has made an outstanding contribution to Junior Team Tennis with her talent, hard work, and commitment to both her players and the game. She is a role model for good sportsmanship and instills this in her players. She genuinely cares about the well-being of the players on her team and consistently puts their needs above all else. She is an inspiration to all parents and coaches. 

Innovative Sports Programming: Ronnie Goodall creates inclusive and diverse play opportunities for kids in the D.C. metro area as he works to fulfill the goals of the Washington Tennis & Education Foundation. He strives to offer affordable and competitive tennis training programs for kids in the community while sharing all the sport has to offer with all people. 

Outstanding Tennis Facility: Burrows-Burleson Tennis Center at Virginia Tech provides an exemplary tennis experience for all types of players. The facility welcomes USTA programs and services and recently hosted two significant USTA Mid-Atlantic tennis events - a regional league championship and junior championship tournament - in which players held the facility in high regard.    

Outstanding School Partner: North Elementary School, in Morgantown, W.Va., is embracing and sharing the love for tennis with students. This past school year they added after school tennis with USTA Mid-Atlantic delivering the TGA Premier Youth Tennis enrichment program. This saw significant success with more than 123 participants in at least one season. Interest was so strong they offered the program three days per week throughout the year.  

Congratulations to all these incredible winners. The 2019 USTA Mid-Atlantic Section award winners will be recognized on July 20 at USTA Family Night at the Washington Kastles match.