Wheaton family named 2025 Family of the Year

The Wheaton family from Excelsior, Minn., received the Ralph W. Westcott USTA Family of the Year Award. The Wheaton family was honored at the 2025 USTA Annual Meeting & Conference, held in Carlsbad, Calif.

The Ralph W. Westcott USTA Family of the Year Award, created by the USTA in 1965, is given annually to a family that volunteers to promote amateur tennis. The award emphasizes the theme that tennis is a family game.

Meanwhile, the youngest generation of Wheatons, including William, Winston, Daniel and Benjamin, all played high school tennis and remain involved in the sport through coaching and volunteering.

The Wheatons’ impact on tennis did not stop with their on-court performances. Marnie, Mark and John were all involved in David’s professional career, with Mark serving as his coach and trainer and John serving as his manager with IMG. John worked for IMG for nearly a decade, assisting with the management of other IMG clients including Jim Courier and Monica Seles, while also directing professional tennis events in Minnesota. John went on to become the Director of Tennis at the Wayzata Country Club before becoming the executive director of the InnerCity Tennis Foundation, a chapter of the USTA Foundation’s NJTL network serving the Minneapolis area. David served two terms on the USTA Board of Directors. 

“The USTA is proud to recognize the Wheaton family for their incredible dedication to the sport and lasting impact on the tennis community,” said Brian Vahaly, USTA President and Chairman of the Board. “Tennis in Minnesota wouldn’t be what it is today without their nearly century-long commitment—a generational legacy that has touched countless lives both locally and beyond.”