Best of Texas Tennis 2024 Results

AUSTIN, Texas – Voters across the Texas tennis community have chosen the Best of Texas Tennis people’s choice campaign winners for 2024. 

With nearly 100,000 votes across 30 categories, this year’s slate of winners spans the entire state of Texas, from Beaumont to Amarillo. 2024 is the program’s third year, and voters picked their favorites from a slate of 146 nominees. 

Best of Texas Tennis is unique in that it is a people’s choice campaign where the Texas tennis community itself nominates and votes for its favorites for each year. 

To celebrate their achievement, winners will receive a custom Best of Texas Tennis plaque or banner—and of course, bragging rights— in their category for 2024. 

This year, the winner with the most votes was Ramiro Cuevas of San Bonito, who won the Certified Coach category with over 12,000 votes. This is the second year the Certified Coach winner was also the highest vote-getter. 

Mandi Schmitz of Dallas, who won the Women’s League captain award said she was honored to be recognized by the Texas tennis community and the members of her home facility, The Nelson Golf & Sport Club in Irving. 

“I am honored to be recognized for this award and grateful to the incredible tennis community at The Nelson,” she said. “Y’all are the best cheerleaders on and off the court. Thank you for the love and votes!”

Tucker Richolson, Head Coach for All Saints Episcopal School in Lubbock, won for Best High School Coach, a category with the most nominees this year (25). He said he was deeply grateful to the USTA for this opportunity to recognize outstanding high school coaches.

"It’s truly humbling to be recognized among such esteemed peers in West Texas and across the state," Richolson said. "I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to the Lubbock and Brownfield communities, including the Burgess-Rushing Tennis Center and All Saints Episcopal School, along with my friends and family who have supported me throughout the years. I’m honored to be this year’s recipient."

This year’s Best of Texas Tennis launched on August 26 to coincide with the first day of main draw competition at the US Open. Voting ended September 22.

Congratulations to all of our 2024 Best of Texas Tennis winners! (Listed alphabetically by category) #BOTT24

🏆 Adaptive Tennis Program (Large): Buddy Up Tennis Dallas (Dallas)

🏆 Adaptive Tennis Program (Small): Aceing Autism | Houston Hearthstone CC (Houston) 

🏆 Adult Social Tennis Program: Northeast Tarrant Tennis (Flower Mound)

🏆 Certified Coach: Ramiro Cuevas (San Benito)

🏆 College Coach: Gabriel Gutierrez (Houston)

🏆 College Team (Men's): TCU Men's Tennis (Fort Worth)

🏆 College Team (Women's): Texas A&M Women's Tennis (College Station)

🏆 CTA (Large): San Antonio Tennis Association (San Antonio)

🏆 CTA (Small): DFW Black Tennis (Dallas)

🏆 High School Coach: Tucker Richolson (Lubbock)

🏆 High School Team (Large): Conroe High School (Conroe)

🏆 High School Team (Small): Peaster High School (Weatherford)

🏆 Inclusive Tennis Program: DFW Black Tennis (Dallas)

🏆 JTT Organizer: Edward Criado (San Antonio)

🏆 League Captain (Men's): Pushkar Chhajed (Austin)

🏆 League Captain (Mixed): Aurora Robles (Corpus Christi)

🏆 League Captain (Women’s): Mandi Schmitz (Dallas)

🏆 Middle School Coach: Billy Ceniceros (Amarillo)

🏆 NJTL Chapter: Tennis Success, Inc. (Corpus Christi)

🏆 Official: Satish Chukka (Plano)

🏆 Private Facility: Brookhaven Country Club (Farmers Branch)

🏆 Public Facility (Large): Beaumont Municipal Tennis Center (Beaumont)

🏆 Public Facility (Small): Dove Park - City of Grapevine (Grapevine)

🏆 Stringer: Axel Martinez Ortiz (San Benito)

🏆 Tennis Retailer: First Serve Tennis (San Antonio)

🏆 TOC Club Team: SMU Club Tennis (Dallas)

🏆 Tournament Director (Adult): Kaltrina Minick (Kountze)

🏆 Tournament Director (Junior): Austin Wynne (Dallas)

🏆 Volunteer: Brian Hake (Royse City)

🏆 Wheelchair Tennis Program: Adaptive Athletics at UH (Houston)