Mangan Award | Ann LoPrinzi

New Jersey’s Ann LoPrinzi was honored with the historic Mangan Award in March during the annual Philadelphia Area Tennis District Awards Ceremony.

The Mangan Award is USTA Middle States' highest recognition of achievement and service, having been awarded throughout the last four decades to tennis leaders who inspire, lead and grow tennis each and every day. Past winners include Judy Levering, Merv Heller, Jay Witmer, Ben Zislis and Laura Canfield, among others.

LoPrinzi has been a USTA volunteer, player and media member for decades. She was inducted into the Middle States Hall of Fame in 2019.

“What a surprise,” LoPrinzi said after the event. “I’m so humbled to be included in such an elite group of former honorees. I have great memories of my long history with Middle States as a volunteer, a staffer, and a player — then during my 25 years as a NJ tennis columnist. I will always treasure this special award.”

Over the years, LoPrinzi was one of the most recognizable names in Middle States. As a writer and reporter, LoPrinzi informed the local community about tennis news and happenings through a tennis column in the Trenton Times, a regional daily newspaper covering central New Jersey. She often wrote about USTA Tournaments, USTA League Tennis teams and the many tennis happenings in New Jersey and Middle States as a whole. 

Some of LoPrinzi’s most memorable moments have come through the US Open, where she connected local and world-wide tennis news. She mentioned great memories as a frequent attendee at the Cryan Tournament — one of the largest USTA Tournaments on the east coast.

In addition to her impactful work as a reporter and columnist, LoPrinzi has served the USTA in many other roles at the district, section and national level. As a player, her teams advanced to USTA National Championships on many occasions. She also holds a unique distinction of playing college tennis while in her 40s, when she competed for the Mercer County Community College team.