2024 Iowa USTA Hall of Fame winner announced

Bunny Bruning has been inducted into Iowa’s USTA Hall of Fame for 2024. The San Diego native who came to Iowa in 1984 to work at the Wakonda Tennis Club has made an imprint on the tennis community for forty years.

“I’m very surprised and honored by this selection,” she said. “I’m not sure who nominated me but thank you. My future plans after retiring from my tennis director position at Wakonda Club include: stepping up my work with my new company, WTCT - Women Teaching and Coaching Tennis, which is  a national endeavor of growing the numbers of female tennis coaches.”

Bruning is a former president of the USPTA for the Missouri Valley Division, spent more than 15 years on the Missouri Valley USPTA board, and a USPTA Master Professional. She also held office as a USPTA National Vice President from 2009–2011 On top of all that, she also volunteers for many local organizations.

“Over the years she has worked with Special Olympians, inner city youth, wheelchair players and team oriented juniors,” said John Terpkosh, USTA Tennis Service Representative. “As a teaching pro, Bunny has selflessly given time, finances and encouragement so everyone she encountered found some success with tennis.”

While in California, Bruning turned pro at age 17, touring for nine years on the WTA circuit in the 1970’s and 1980’s. She competed in the main draws of all four grand slams. Looking ahead, she has big plans after she retires from the Wakonda Tennis Club.

“I plan on doing a lot of community development and state-wide work, helping CTA's, high schools and coaches with ideas, parent workshops and re-starting a middle school tennis feeder program in Des Moines, I am still going to teach and coach my adults and juniors.”