2018 TEXAS WINNERS  USTA AND ITHF AWARDS

Every year at the USTA Annual Meeting, the USTA and International Tennis Hall of Fame honors programs and individuals that have dedicated their time to growing the game of tennis. This year, four award winners came from Texas.

The awards were given at the 2018 USTA Annual Meeting and Conference, which was held March 16-19 at the Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, Calif.   

Dallas Tennis Association: CTA of the Year Award

The Dallas Tennis Association (DTA) was selected as the Community Tennis Association (CTA) of the Year. The USTA CTA of the Year Award was established in 2002 to honor a CTA for outstanding service in growing and developing the sport of tennis in its community.

DTA is a non-profit, USTA-registered community tennis association serving the Dallas metropolitan area. Over the last 50 years, DTA has grown not only in membership but in community outreach. The Dallas Tennis and Education Academy programs currently serve 25,000 children, ages 4 through 18, in the Dallas metropolitan area. Participants play at all levels, from beginners to the advanced Excellence Team, which plays in national tournaments.

“The Dallas Tennis Association is an incredible CTA and partner,” said Morris. “We are proud to honor an organization that has been instrumental in growing and sustaining a vibrant tennis community with this well-deserved award.”

Bert Cole: NJTL Founders Service Award

Bert Cole of Arlington, Texas, was presented with the USTA Foundation National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL) Founders’ Service Award. Established in 2010, the NJTL Founders' Award was created to recognize an individual who has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to positive youth development through tennis and education, delivers outstanding service to under-resourced children with free or low-cost tennis, and provides education and life-skills programming.

Cole serves as the director of the Dallas Tennis & Education Academy (DTEA) and has been a longtime and frequent contributor to NJTL national meetings and conferences. She also serves as a mentor to other NJTL chapters on a myriad of topics, including programming, life skills and overall operations.

“Bert and her program are a shining example of what a difference NJTL can make in a community,” said Morris. “She is a true grassroots hero and a tremendous leader, and we commend her outstanding dedication to providing opportunities and teaching life skills to children in need.”

Downtown Club at the Met: Organization Member of the Year Award

Downtown Club at the Met was recognized with the USTA Organization Member of the Year Award, which is given annually to an organization that provides outstanding service to its members and to the local community.

Since its opening in 1976, Downtown Club at the Met has served as a center for tennis in the heart of the Houston community. For decades, it has supported the USTA mission of growing the game by offering programming for collegiate level tennis, alumni groups, special needs groups, leagues, juniors, seniors, local schools and charities. 

“The Met is an outstanding local tennis organization that focuses on community engagement through grassroots programming,” said Morris. 

Dr. Anne Smith: Tennis Educational Merit Award

Dr. Anne Smith of Dallas was this year’s female Tennis Educational Merit Award, a former WTA star and world No. 1 in doubles who turned her “retirement” into an accomplished and impactful career in sport psychology and training. Smith was ranked world No. 1 in doubles in 1980 and 81. She won 10 major titles in doubles and mixed doubles between 1980 and 1984, capturing trophies at all four majors.

After retiring from the WTA Tour, Smith pursued higher education, earning her doctorate in Educational Psychology at University of Texas. She is the author of several books, including GRAND SLAM: Coach Your Mind to Win in Sports, Business, and Life, with a foreword by Hall of Famer Billie Jean King.

Smith is the creator of the MACH 4 Mental Training System, a powerful mental training system that which teaches how to develop empowering relationships between parents, coaches and players to produce independent, strong, and confident players. The program also centers on creating a powerful partnership between the mind and the body, so as to coach a player’s mind to win. The program has proven to be highlight effective across a range of areas – in tennis, it has proved beneficial for junior players, collegiate athletes, club players, and parents; while other individuals have utilized the program to excel in academics, business, and many varied areas of life. 

For many years, Smith has shared the system in independent private coaching, public speaking programs, and through numerous published works. She has also served as the Mental Training Coach for the Harvard University Women’s Tennis Team and the Southern Methodist University Women’s Tennis Team, among other coaching roles.

For additional information about the International Tennis Hall of Fame, please visit www.tennisfame.com