Impact
Records
Tom Stanhope
Stevenson High School
Impact Statement
“Coaching has been a great way to stay involved with the community outside of the classroom,” Tom Stanhope
Biography
Stanhope led Stevenson to an Illinois 2A team championship in the fall. In addition to this year’s state championship, in eight years as the head coach of the girls’ team, Stanhope led the school to three runner-up finishes, plus a third place finish. He compiled a 124-14 dual match record that includes back-to-back undefeated seasons in 2016 and 2017. Stevenson is currently riding a 33- match win streak.
Stanhope, who retired at the end of the season, but will continue coaching the boys’ team, was named as Illinois High School Tennis Coaches Association as its Class AA Coach of the Year.
Photos
Stonington High School
“You want to instill in them a competitive spirit. I’ve always been a competitor in whatever game I play. Do the best you can and try not to settle for just being out there. Try to play to win.” -George Crouse
“You want to instill in them a competitive spirit. I’ve always been a competitor in whatever game I play. Do the best you can and try not to settle for just being out there. Try to play to win.” -George Crouse
George Crouse
Stonington High School
Impact Statement
“You want to instill in them a competitive spirit. I’ve always been a competitor in whatever game I play. Do the best you can and try not to settle for just being out there. Try to play to win.” -George Crouse
Biography
Crouse hit a couple of huge milestones during the 2018-19 season. Not only did he pick up his 500th career win as the head coach of the Stonington girls’ tennis team, but he also won his 800th victory as the head coach of both the girls’ and boys’ teams.
Crouse’s record with the girls’ team stands at 510-106, after a 15-2 season that saw his team advance to the Connecticut Class S state quarterfinals. His record with the boys’ team was 304-114 from 1974-2000. This season Crouse’s squad shared the Eastern Connecticut Conference Division championship.
Coming into the season, the Lady Bears had won five straight titles and 13 of the last 14 championships. In 2013, Crouse, who has won numerous Coach of the Year awards, led Stonington to its first-ever girls’ tennis state championship.
Photos
Records
Marist School
“They were all very dedicated to improving each and every year and although tennis is an individual sport, they thrived on the team concept.” -Father Kissel
“They were all very dedicated to improving each and every year and although tennis is an individual sport, they thrived on the team concept.” -Father Kissel
Fr. Frank Kissel
Marist School
Impact Statement
“They were all very dedicated to improving each and every year and although tennis is an individual sport, they thrived on the team concept.” -Father Kissel
Biography
Father Frank Kissel has led Marist to be one of the best girls’ tennis programs in his 25-plus years as the program’s head coach.
This past year, Father Kissel led the Lady War Eagle team to its fourth state title in five years. From 1995-2006, Kissel led his teams to 12 straight state titles, which ranks as the third longest consecutive title streak in America. This year;s state championship isFather Kissel’s 18th. His overall record stands at 508-69.
Father Kissel led Marist for another season after being honored. He ended his career with 516 victories, although he still remains active and the biggest fan of the Lady War Eagles.
Photos
Records
The Miami Valley School
For 42 years Vin Romeo has pulled double duty as the head coach of the girls’ and boy’s tennis teams at The Miami Valley School.
For 42 years Vin Romeo has pulled double duty as the head coach of the girls’ and boy’s tennis teams at The Miami Valley School.
Vin Romeo
The Miami Valley School
Impact Statement
For 42 years Vin Romeo has pulled double duty as the head coach of the girls’ and boy’s tennis teams at The Miami Valley School.
Biography
For 42 years Vin Romeo has pulled double duty as the head coach of the girls’ and boy’s tennis teams at The Miami Valley School. He started both programs over four decades ago.
This past season, Coach Romeo was saluted as Ohio’s all-time wins leader with over 600 victories for each program.
Romeo continued to coach until he stepped down in 2015.
Photos
Timber Creek High School
Wolfberg is the first female player to ever accomplish the feat of winning four straight Florida Class 4A Singles State Championships.
Wolfberg is the first female player to ever accomplish the feat of winning four straight Florida Class 4A Singles State Championships.
Alana Wolfberg
Timber Creek High School
Impact Statement
Wolfberg is the first female player to ever accomplish the feat of winning four straight Florida Class 4A Singles State Championships.
Biography
Wolfberg capped an incredible four-year run with her fourth straight Florida Class 4A singles state championship. Wolfberg is the first female player to ever accomplish the feat, which helps her pass Hall of Fame tennis player Chris Evret, who won three straight titles from 1970 through 1972 while she was at St. Thomas Aquinas High School.
Wolfberg never lost a high school singles match. Wolfberg is equally as good in the classroom. She holds a 4.0 GPA and received over 50 college scholarship offers. She will continue her career on a tennis scholarship at Oklahoma State University.
Wolfberg finished her freshman year with a winning record in both singles and doubles for the Cowgirls. Off the court, she was an ITA Scholar-Athlete.
Photos
Records
Personal Honors
Elkhorn South High School
“But sometimes you need to lose to learn the areas you need to get better at. Hopefully I can turn it into a positive for me in the end.” -Samantha Mannix
“But sometimes you need to lose to learn the areas you need to get better at. Hopefully I can turn it into a positive for me in the end.” -Samantha Mannix
Samantha Mannix
Elkhorn South High School
Impact Statement
“But sometimes you need to lose to learn the areas you need to get better at. Hopefully I can turn it into a positive for me in the end.” -Samantha Mannix
Biography
Mannix recently closed out her high school career by winning her fourth straight Nebraska No.1 singles title.
After the match, the Iowa-recruit told Omaha.com, “It was one of my goals since I was probably in middle school. I am ready to move on (to college), but I’m so glad that I was able to represent Elkhorn South.” Mannix was a perfect 114-0 during her scholastic career.
She is the fourth girls in Nebraska girls’ tennis history to win four straight No. 1 singles titles.
Mannix saw action her first two seasons as a Hawkeye. She had a 4-6 record at the No. 2 position before the season was canceled due to Covid. She was a letterman winner. In the spring of 2021, Mannix was named Academic All-Big Ten and the Big Ten Distinguished Scholar. She was also an ITA Scholar Athlete.
Photos
Articles
Records
Personal Honors
Rumson-Fair Haven High School
“Take advantage of team members’ strengths and weaknesses and how to bounce back quickly after losses.”
-Kate Fahey, on real life lessons from tennis
“Take advantage of team members’ strengths and weaknesses and how to bounce back quickly after losses.”
-Kate Fahey, on real life lessons from tennis
Kate Fahey
Rumson-Fair Haven High School
Impact Statement
“Take advantage of team members’ strengths and weaknesses and how to bounce back quickly after losses.”
-Kate Fahey, on real life lessons from tennis
Biography
Kate Fahey was the #1 college recruit according to TennisRecruiting.com during her senior season.
After finishing runner-up as a sophomore and taking-off to compete nationally as a junior, Fahey captured New Jersey’s singles’ championship during her senior season.
Fahey will attend Michigan to play college tennis.
As a Wolverine, Fahey was a three-time ITA All-American. She was a two-time Big Ten Athlete of the Year as a junior and senior. She was named All-Big Ten all four years. Fahey graduated as Michigan’s leader in career singles wins with 132.
Fahey exceled off the court as well. She was the recipient of the ITA Scholar Athlete Award twice.
Upon graduating, Fahey returned to New Jersey where she is the volunteer assistant coach at Rutgers University.
Photos
Records
Professional Achievements
Personal Honors
Huntington High School
Mercer concludes her stellar career with a total of eight State Titles, four Individuals and four Doubles.
Mercer concludes her stellar career with a total of eight State Titles, four Individuals and four Doubles.
Cassie Mercer
Huntington High School
Impact Statement
Mercer concludes her stellar career with a total of eight State Titles, four Individuals and four Doubles.
Biography
Cassie Mercer closed out her incredible high school tennis career with her fourth straight No. 1 singles state championship. In addition, she teamed-up with Kate Huck to wins the state’s #1 double title.
Mercer, who will attend the University of Virginia, is a great student and has been playing on the United States Tennis Association’s junior circuit since 2006. She’s currently ranked #11 in the country by tennisrecruiting.net. Mercer is West Virginia’s first girls’ tennis player to be honored by the NHSCA.
Mercer played all four years while attending UVA.
Photos
Records
Personal Honors
American Heritage High School
“Mentally, you have to be tough. No one’s going to give up points.” -Rasheeda McAdoo
“Mentally, you have to be tough. No one’s going to give up points.” -Rasheeda McAdoo
Rasheeda McAdoo
American Heritage High School
Impact Statement
“Mentally, you have to be tough. No one’s going to give up points.” -Rasheeda McAdoo
Biography
Rasheeda McAdoo closed-out her high school career by winning her second straight overall Florida individual singles title.
McAdoo is the daughter of NBA legend Bob McAdoo. He is currently an assistant coach with the NBA champion Miami Heat. Rasheeda is only one of 24 girls to win more than one Florida individual state championship since the state began holding them in 1938.
McAdoo, who will attend Georgia Tech on a tennis scholarship, is ranked #5 in America on the junior circuit. She was undefeated as a junior and a senior.
While at Georgia Tech she continued to perform on the court. She helped the Yellow Jackets with their national ranking. McAdoo is now playing professionally after graduation from college.
Photos
Records
Personal Honors
Plum High School
“Every time I stepped on the court, I gave it my all. I played for this school and represented the block ‘M’ on my shirt, because that’s the only thing that really matters.” – Ronit Yurovsky
“Every time I stepped on the court, I gave it my all. I played for this school and represented the block ‘M’ on my shirt, because that’s the only thing that really matters.” – Ronit Yurovsky
Ronit Yurovsky
Plum High School
Impact Statement
“Every time I stepped on the court, I gave it my all. I played for this school and represented the block ‘M’ on my shirt, because that’s the only thing that really matters.” – Ronit Yurovsky
Biography
Ranked the No. 8 recruit nationally by tennisrecruiting.net and the top-ranked player from the Middle Atlantic region, Yurovsky completed her career by winning her second consecutive 3A state singles title last fall. She was a four-time state placewinner, finishing third in state as a sophomore and second in state as a freshman.
Before winning her second state title, Yurovsky became just the second girl to become a three-time Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League (WPIAL) singles champion. She lost just five singles matches in her high school career and was undefeated in regular-season play.
Currently ranked No. 16 on the USTA Under-18 girls list, Yurovsky owns a 14-8 Junior record. The University of Michigan recruit claimed the singles title at the 2010 USTA Interscholastics Championship East and was a bronze ball winner as a semifinalist at the 2008 Easter Bowl.
This winter, she was a semifinalist in the USTA Under-18 Regional Segment and a finalist in the USTA Under-18 National Open, both held in Grand Rapids, Mich. Yurovsky also was named a 2011 Scholar-Athlete Extra Effort Award recipient and is a volunteer for the Make a Wish Foundation and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Awareness Fund.
While at Michigan, Yurovsky excelled on the tennis courts. She is one of two Wolverines to make four NCAA Singles Championship appearances in Michigan history. She was named the Big-10 Freshman of the Year, as well as the ITA Midwest Region Rookie in 2013. As a senior, she was named ITA Midwest Region Senior of the Year. She was also honored as Michigan’s Big Ten Female Sportsmanship Award in 2016. She was named All Big Team every year and Academic All-Big Ten three times.
After graduation, Yurovsky played two years on the WTA Tour. In 2019, she was hired as an assistant coach at Penn State.
Photos
Community Service
Yurovsky volunteered for both the Make a Wish Foundation and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Awareness Fund during high school.
Records
Professional Achievements
Marian High School
Urzendowski boasts a high school career with only two losses. She is only the second girl to win four State Championships in Nebraska.
Urzendowski boasts a high school career with only two losses. She is only the second girl to win four State Championships in Nebraska.
Brooke Urzendowski
Marian High School
Impact Statement
Urzendowski boasts a high school career with only two losses. She is only the second girl to win four State Championships in Nebraska.
Biography
The 5-foot-7 Urzendowski became the second girl to become a four-time Class A state champion at No. 1 singles, posting three unbeaten seasons and completing her career with an overall record of 115-2. That included year-by-year records of 29-0 as a freshman, 25-2 as a sophomore, 32-0 as a junior and 29-0 this year.
She is a four-time Metro Conference champion, a three-time Nebraska Girls Player of the Year and a three-time captain of The Omaha World-Herald All-State First Team. A four-star recruit ranked No. 126 nationally by tennisrecruiting.net, Urzendowski owns a career Junior record of 21-15 and was the Missouri Valley Girls-16 Player of the Year in 2009. Also an outstanding student, Urzendowski owns a 4.3 GPA (of 4.0), ranks No. 13 in a class of 163 and was named to The Lincoln Journal-Star Academic All-State Team.
The Saint Louis University signee is a member of the National Honor Society, the National English Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta National Mathematics Honor Society. She also finished third in the Sports News Coverage category in the Nebraska School Activities Association State Journalism Championships this month.
Urzendowski continued her success on the tennis court and in the classroom. She finished her career with a 65-39 singles record and a 54-43 doubles. She was also on the A-10 Commissioner’s Honor Roll seven of eight terms.
Photos
Records
Professional Achievements
Personal Honors
New Braunfels High School
Kimbell became the ninth girl in Texas high school history to win four state singles titles and the first to win any of them in 5A, the state’s largest classification.
Kimbell became the ninth girl in Texas high school history to win four state singles titles and the first to win any of them in 5A, the state’s largest classification.
Lilly Kimbell
New Braunfels High School
Impact Statement
Kimbell became the ninth girl in Texas high school history to win four state singles titles and the first to win any of them in 5A, the state’s largest classification.
Biography
Earlier this month, the 5-foot-7 Kimbell became the ninth girl in Texas high school history to win four state singles titles and the first to win any of them in 5A, the state’s largest classification. She followed up two 4A titles with a pair of 5A crowns. In her four state tournament appearances Kimbell never lost a set, and dropped just 16 games in four state tournament matches this year.
Last fall Kimbell led New Braunfels to its third straight team title and second in 5A, and the Unicorns have won 75 straight matches and 120 of their last 123. Ranked No. 5 on tennisrecruiting.net’s Blue Chip list, Kimbell was the Orange Bowl Under-16 singles and doubles champion in 2007 and was the Texas Sectionals Grand Slam champion in 2009. In 2009, and again this year, she won a gold ball in doubles in the USTA Spring Supernationals and swept the singles and doubles titles in the Under-18 National Open Championships.
She will attend the University of Georgia. Kimbell finished her career at Georgia with a 109-31 record in doubles competition. She was named to the All-SEC 2nd Team twice.
Photos
Records
Personal Honors
The Francis Parker School
Epstein became the ninth girl in Illinois high school history to win multiple state singles titles.
Epstein became the ninth girl in Illinois high school history to win multiple state singles titles.
Elizabeth Epstein
The Francis Parker School
Impact Statement
Epstein became the ninth girl in Illinois high school history to win multiple state singles titles.
Biography
Last fall Epstein became the ninth girl in Illinois high school history to win multiple state singles titles after beating the two-time defending state doubles champion, Nida Hamilton of Hinsdale Central High, 6-4, 6-4 in the championship match. She was named the Chicago Tribune/WGN-Channel 9 Athlete of the Month for October for her accomplishment.
Competing in a field that included six players on tennisrecruiting.net’s Blue Chip list, Epstein did not lose a set in six state tournament matches as a senior. She also won the state title in straight sets as a junior and was the state runnerup as a sophomore, winning the opening set of the title match. Ranked in tennisrecruiting.net’s top 30 seniors, Epstein owns a 27-14 junior record. She will attend Yale University.
While at Yale, Epstein helped the Bulldogs win their first ever NCAA tournament victory as a sophomore. She was named First Team All-Ivy her Senior and Junior seasons in singles. Her senior year she was honored with the Nellie Pratt Elliot Award, the highest honor for a senior female student-athlete at Yale.
Photos
Videos
Records
Personal Honors
Edina High School
Whitney remained undefeated in 166 matches during her high school career. She also holds the record for state medals at Edina.
Whitney remained undefeated in 166 matches during her high school career. She also holds the record for state medals at Edina.
Whitney Taney
Edina High School
Impact Statement
Whitney remained undefeated in 166 matches during her high school career. She also holds the record for state medals at Edina.
Biography
Taney was unbeaten in a six-year high school career, winning all 166 matches in which she competed. That total included 150 singles victories and 16 doubles victories. Taney was the state doubles champion as an eighth-grader and as a freshman, following that with state singles titles as a sophomore, junior and senior. Edina won the state team title all six seasons.
As a junior player, Taney has won 174 consecutive USTA Northern Section matches and 42 consecutive tournaments, and has been ranked as high as No. 9 nationally in singles and No. 5 in doubles. She will attend the University of Michigan.
Taney was a four year letter winner while at Michigan. The Wolverine holds the record for most career doubles victories with 114. She was named All Big-Ten in 2008, 2010 and 2011. She also was a 2010 NCAA Qualifier. In addition, Taney was a three time Academic All-Big Ten selection and a two time U-M Athletic Academic Achievement award winner.
Photos
Videos
Records
Professional Achievements
Personal Honors
Marcus High School
Francis won three State Championships while at Marcus High School.
Francis won three State Championships while at Marcus High School.
Pavi Francis
Marcus High School
Impact Statement
Francis won three State Championships while at Marcus High School.
Biography
Not many players are fortunate to win two state singles titles in hotly-competitive Texas, but Francis has accomplished the feat. Despite a loss in the finals of the region tournament earlier this month – her first in high school competition since the state tournament her freshman year – she has a chance to make it three titles later this month, which she did.
The reigning Dallas Morning News Most Valuable Player is the first three-time champion in Class 5A – the state’s highest class – in 35 years. Also active on the junior tennis circuit, she will attend Southern Methodist University.
She finished her career at SMU with 86 doubles victories, a school record, and 77 single victories, placing her sixth overall.
Photos
Articles
Records
Personal Honors
Divine Savior Holy Angels High School
Potts was a four- time state finalist and a two- time champion before entering Notre Dame University.
Potts was a four- time state finalist and a two- time champion before entering Notre Dame University.
Katie Potts
Divine Savior Holy Angels High School
Impact Statement
Potts was a four- time state finalist and a two- time champion before entering Notre Dame University.
Biography
A four-time Division I state finalist, Potts finished her senior year with a 26-1 overall record, a 24-match winning streak and back-to-back state titles, also leading DSHA to the team title. That accomplishment earned her a mention in Sports Illustrated magazine’s Faces in the Crowd section in the December 6, 2004 issue. Potts, whose career record was 126-5, is a three-time All-American selection by the National High School Tennis All-American Foundation.
A three-sport athlete, she scored a goal and an assist in the state title game to lead the Dashers to the Division I girls soccer crown this spring and also was a starting forward on the basketball team. She will attend the University of Notre Dame.
While competing for the Fighting Irish Potts was a two time NCAA Qualifier.
Photos
Records
Professional Achievements
Personal Honors
Pine Creek High School
“That’s been my motto since I stopped playing tennis – be the best I can be and help my patients lead better lives and give back in that way.” -Nicole Leimbach
“That’s been my motto since I stopped playing tennis – be the best I can be and help my patients lead better lives and give back in that way.” -Nicole Leimbach
Nicole Leimbach
Pine Creek High School
Impact Statement
“That’s been my motto since I stopped playing tennis – be the best I can be and help my patients lead better lives and give back in that way.” -Nicole Leimbach
Biography
Leimbach also finished her prep career with four state titles to earn NHSCA Senior Athlete of the Year honors. Leimbach, who holds a 59-0 career mark, never lost a set during her high school tennis career and hopes to continue her success at the University of Southern California.
In her Freshman year Leimbach earned All American honors while winning the PAC-10 Singles Title. She then transferred to Texas Christian University her sophomore year.
In her TCU sophomore debut, Leimbach was the first Frog to reach the semifinals of the Riviera/ITA All-American Championships. In 2006, Leimbach helped the Frogs make their first appearance at the NCAA Sweet Sixteen.
In 2008, Leimbach had a season ending injury to her ankle and retired from tennis.
Photos
Records
Professional Achievements
Personal Honors
Corona del Mar High School
Yelsey has won numberous ITF Championships over the course of her career.
Yelsey has won numberous ITF Championships over the course of her career.
Anne Yelsey
Corona del Mar High School
Impact Statement
Yelsey has won numberous ITF Championships over the course of her career.
Biography
“Anne Yelsey has continually enjoyed enormous success on both the singles and doubles tennis scene,” said NHSCA executive director Bob Ferraro. “The NHSCA is proud to honor Anne Yelsey as the National High School Senior Girls Tennis Athlete of the Year.”
Yelsey will continue her academic and athletic endeavors at Stanford University after closing out a high school career that seems to have put her directly in the center of the national tennis scene. A two-time doubles champion at the USTA Supernational Clay Court Championships, Yelsey also won the doubles title at the USTA Girls’ 18 National Hard Court Championship with Riza Zalameda. Yelsey also holds the singles and doubles titles at the Easter Bowl Girls’ 18 Championship.
While at Stanford, she had a great career. In 2005, Yelsey and her partner Amber Lui, advanced to the finals where they took second. Her junior year she earned All-American honors in both singles and doubles. Her senior year was derailed with an injury.
Since college she has won multiple ITF titles in the women’s circuit. In August of 2008 Yelsey hit her career high ranking, coming in at at 370.
Photos
Records
Professional Achievements
Personal Honors
Needham Broughton High School
Williams excelled on the tennis courts of Needham Broughton High and Princeton University.
Williams excelled on the tennis courts of Needham Broughton High and Princeton University.
Rankin Williams
Needham Broughton High School
Impact Statement
Williams excelled on the tennis courts of Needham Broughton High and Princeton University.
Biography
“Athletes like Rankin Williams are among the success stories produced in high school athletics today,” NHSCA executive director Bob Ferraro said. “She has worked extremely hard to develop her skills and has become one of the best tennis players not only in the state of North Carolina, but the entire nation, and we are proud to be honoring her.”
Coached by Steve Spivey, the NHSCA National High School Girls Tennis of the Year in 2000, Williams became one of the most dominating players in state history. She was undefeated in 94 singles matches during her career, helping lead Broughton High to four consecutive Class 4A dual state titles. After winning Class 4A state singles titles as a sophomore and junior, Williams elected to pass up a bid for a third singles title in favor of teaming with her sister, Hampton, a freshman, to play in the state doubles tournament (North Carolina does not permit players to play both singles and doubles in the individual state tournament series). The sisters went on to win the doubles title.
A finalist in the Gator Bowl Festival Tournament’s under-16 division as a junior and a quarterfinalist in the under-18 division as a senior, Williams was selected to the First Team by the National High School Tennis All-American Foundation.
Also an outstanding student, she will attend Princeton University in the fall. Sports Illustrated magazine also recognized Williams’ distinguished career with a mention in its “Faces in the Crowd” section this year.
Photos
Records
Professional Achievements
Osborne High School
Dietz, a standout tennis high school star, became a two sport athlete at Oklahoma State University.
Dietz, a standout tennis high school star, became a two sport athlete at Oklahoma State University.
Brittany Dietz
Osborne High School
Impact Statement
Dietz, a standout tennis high school star, became a two sport athlete at Oklahoma State University.
Biography
“Athletes like Brittany Dietz are among the success stories produced in high school athletics today,” NHSCA executive director Bob Ferraro said. “She has worked extremely hard to develop her skills and has become one of the best tennis players not only in the state of Kansas, but the entire nation, and we are proud to be honoring her.”
Dietz is the only female player in the nation to win a fourth state singles title this year, winning the Class 3A-2A-A title last fall and completing two consecutive unbeaten seasons. She also earned National High School All-America honors in the NHSCA National Sports Festival the past two years, in 1999 at Jekyll Island, Georgia and in 2000 at Orlando, Florida.
After graduation, Dietz spent two years at Hutchinson Community College playing basketball before transferring to Oklahoma State University. Upon Dietz’s arrival in Stillwater, she was approached to be a walk-on for the tennis team.
Photos
Records
Professional Achievements
Personal Honors
Glenbrook North High School
“I’ve always wanted to be a fair player, I want to win the right way.” -Chrissie Nolan
“I’ve always wanted to be a fair player, I want to win the right way.” -Chrissie Nolan
Chrissie Nolan
Glenbrook North High School
Impact Statement
“I’ve always wanted to be a fair player, I want to win the right way.” -Chrissie Nolan
Biography
“Athletes like Chrissie Nolan are among the success stories produced in high school athletics today,” NHSCA executive director Bob Ferraro said. “She has worked extremely hard to develop her skills and has become one of the best tennis players in the entire nation, and we are proud to be honoring her.”
Nolan was unbeaten as a senior, winning her third consecutive state singles title with a perfect 30-0 season record. She became the third girl to win three state singles titles, and the first since 1978. Nolan, whose career singles record was 106-3, led Glenbrook North to a sixth-place state finish.
Nolan appeared in Sports Illustrated’s “Faces in the Crowd” in December of 1999. Nolan will continue her education and tennis career while attending the University of Michigan.
While at Michigan, Nolan was named to the Academic All-Big Ten Conference multiple times.
Photos
Records
Professional Achievements
Personal Honors
Xavier College Prep
Coach Laurie Martin led Xavier Prep to its fourth straight Division 1 state title in 2015.
Coach Laurie Martin led Xavier Prep to its fourth straight Division 1 state title in 2015.
Laurie Martin
Xavier College Prep
Impact Statement
Coach Laurie Martin led Xavier Prep to its fourth straight Division 1 state title in 2015.
Biography
Laurie Martin led Xavier Prep to its fourth straight Division 1 state title in 2015. Martin has been cited for her “no-cut” policy, which has led to the program having nearly 100 student-athletes. Tennis Industry Magazine has also named her Coach of the Year and so did the United States Tennis Association for her “no-cut” philosophy.
Photos
Articles
Records
Professional Achievements
Ramapo High School
Marchese has made an impact on all his student athletes on and off the court.
Marchese has made an impact on all his student athletes on and off the court.
Kim Marchese
Ramapo High School
Impact Statement
Marchese has made an impact on all his student athletes on and off the court.
Biography
Coach Marchese just completed his 32nd year as head coach at Ramapo High School.
This past season he hit a huge milestone when he won his 600th match this spring. This year’s team finished 18-5 and was ranked #20 in the Star-Ledger’s Top 20.
In his tenure, the Raiders have won 26 league titles, 16 county titles, 15 state sectionals and four group state championships.
In addition to tennis, Marchese also coached the boys’ and girls’ soccer teams, boys’ ice hockey, basketball and the boys’s tennis team.
Marchese continues to coach the girls’ tennis team at Ramapo.
Photos
Records
Professional Achievements
Wakefield High School
Boyden posted a successful career at Wakefield and continued that to Cal Poly.
Boyden posted a successful career at Wakefield and continued that to Cal Poly.
Susanne Boyden
Wakefield High School
Impact Statement
Boyden posted a successful career at Wakefield and continued that to Cal Poly.
Biography
Susanne Boyden closed-out her high school career with her third straight North Carolina singles tennis championship. Boyden won the state championship after surviving a three and one-half hour marathon in the morning semifinal.
Boyden outlasted Supriya Narisetti of Cary, who did not lose a game in four sets on Friday, by 6-2, 5-7, 6-3, and then took the championship over Winston-Salem R.J. Reynolds’ Peyton Pesavento in straight 6-3 sets. Boyden will be attending Cal Poly in the fall.
Boyden earned Second Team All-Conference honors twice. She was also named Big West All-Conference Honorable Mention as a sophomore. She completed her career notching 50 single match victories and 34 doubles.
Photos
Records
Personal Honors
Ellsworth High School
“It’s a lifetime sport.” -Brian Higgins
“It’s a lifetime sport.” -Brian Higgins
Brian Higgins
Ellsworth High School
Impact Statement
“It’s a lifetime sport.” -Brian Higgins
Biography
Brian Higgins has the distinction of being Maine’s winningest coach in both tennis and soccer. Higgins has won over 600 total tennis matches with over 300 victories for each the boys’ and girls’ programs. His record as a soccer coach was 566-103-45 in 42 years, before retiring in 2016.
The Ellsworth girls’ program has had five state runner-up finishes, while the boys’ program captured a state title in 1996 with five runner-up finishes.
Higgins is the second coach from Maine to win the NHSCA National Girls’ Tennis Coach of the Year. Anita Murphy of Lewiston High School won the award in 2011.
Photos
Articles
Records
Professional Achievements
Millburn High School
Schrage capped off a stellar high school career before heading to Princeton University.
Schrage capped off a stellar high school career before heading to Princeton University.
Stephanie Schrage
Millburn High School
Impact Statement
Schrage capped off a stellar high school career before heading to Princeton University.
Biography
Stephanie Schrage, who will play tennis in college at Princeton University, finished her high school career with a runner-up finish in the 2016 state individual championships.
Schrage captured the state title as a junior after a runner-up finish as a sophomore. She only lost three matches in her entire scholastic career with over 100 victories. Two of the losses came in the state finals, while the other was in the state quarterfinals as a freshman. Schrage has been a big part of the Millburn program that won four straight New Jersey Tournament of Champions state titles during her time in the program.
Millburn has won 99 straight matches heading into the 2017-18 high school sports season. She is ranked the No. 6 recruit in the Class of 2017 by The Tennis Recruiting Network. Schrage is the second New Jersey student-athlete to win the NHSCA Girls’ Tennis Athlete of the Year Award.
Schrage was named Second-team All-Ivy in singles both her freshman and sophomore season. She was also Academic All-Ivy honoree as a sophomore. Her junior year, she went 13-9 in the fall and spring season before the pandemic canceled the season.
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Professional Achievements
Personal Honors
The Heritage High School
Villaflor led his tennis teams to success both on and off the court over his 41 years at the helm.
Villaflor led his tennis teams to success both on and off the court over his 41 years at the helm.
Dick Villaflor
The Heritage High School
Impact Statement
Villaflor led his tennis teams to success both on and off the court over his 41 years at the helm.
Biography
A state doubles champion at El Reno High School in 1973, Villaflor arrived at Heritage Hall in 1978 after graduating from the University of Central Oklahoma. He won his first girls state title in 1980 in 2A, and the Chargers are still going strong. They are now the four-time defending state champions, and Villaflor has won 21 girls state team titles. Along with the 11 titles he won when he coached the boys team, he has 32 state titles in all, along with 20 state runner-up finishes. This spring, Heritage Hall moved up to 5A after winning the past three years in 4A, giving Villaflor girls state titles in four different classifications. He also has coached boys and girls cross country and basketball during his tenure. All three of Villaflor’s children, Natalie (Class of 2004), Caleb (Class of 2008) and Carissa (Class of 2011) were state champion tennis players at Heritage Hall and earned college scholarships.
Villaflor served three one-year terms as president of the Oklahoma Tennis Coaches Association (OTCA), and now serves as its Executive Director. The OTCA named him its Coach of the Year in 2003. Villaflor was named National Girls Tennis Coach of the Year by the National High School Athletic Coaches Association in 2011 and by the National Federation of State High School Associations this year.
After being honored, Villaflor stepped away from Heritage Hill in 2013. He took a teaching and coaching position at Yukon High School.
After 41 years, Villaflor stepped down from Yukon in 2020 but plans to be active in some capacity.
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Professional Achievements
Lewiston High School
Murphy is still building on her tremendous career that boasts twelve State Titles, including one in 2019.
Murphy is still building on her tremendous career that boasts twelve State Titles, including one in 2019.
Anita Murphy
Lewiston High School
Impact Statement
Murphy is still building on her tremendous career that boasts twelve State Titles, including one in 2019.
Biography
Now retired from teaching, Murphy led two girls sports powerhouses at Lewiston, and her resume includes a combined 20 state championships. She is starting her 34th season as girls tennis coach, and under her direction, the Blue Devils are the five-time defending Class A state champions.
Her teams have made 18 trips to the state championship match and won 11 state titles overall, along with 13 Eastern Maine regional titles and 16 conference titles. Murphy’s career record is 391-56, and entering this season, her teams had not lost a match since the 2005 regional. Murphy also led the Lewiston girls soccer team to nine state titles, ending a run of 30 years as head coach with a third straight state title in 2009.
Murphy has received the Auburn-Lewiston Sports Hall of Fame Presidential Award 11 times and will be inducted into the Hall of Fame this year. A recipient of the USA Tennis New England Junior Tennis Chapter of the Year award for her work with Lewiston’s youth tennis program, Murphy was named the Maine Tennis Coach of the Year in 2001 and was recognized by the National Federation of State High School Associations as its National Girls Tennis Coach of the Year in 2008.
This spring, she was one of five recipients of the Unsung Heroines in Maine Sports awards presented during the Mentoring Women in Sports XIII Conference, hosted by the Maine Principals Association.
Since being honored, Murphy has continued to lead Lewiston to success. Her girls went on to place second in the state another three times in 2015, 2016, and 2018. In 2018, she was inducted into the Maine Sports Hall of Fame. Most recently, her team won the 2019 State Championship. Making this one special, her granddaughter was a team member. She has coached her daughter as well.
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Professional Achievements
Brookfield Central High School
“Quantity plus Quality equals Success”
-Dave Steinbach’s motto
“Quantity plus Quality equals Success”
-Dave Steinbach’s motto
Dave Steinbach
Brookfield Central High School
Impact Statement
“Quantity plus Quality equals Success”
-Dave Steinbach’s motto
Biography
Steinbach has coached Brookfield Central’s boys’ and girls’ tennis teams for 28 seasons and his teams have combined for 13 Division 1 state team titles and 13 runner-up finishes. Nine of those titles belong to the girls’ team, which took state gold five straight years from 1983-87 and also won three titles this decade, in 2002, 2003 and 2006. He has coached two boys’ doubles teams and two girls’ doubles teams to state titles.
The chairman of the United States Tennis Association’s No-Cut Program, his girls’ tennis teams boast 120 players and his boys’ teams 95 players. Now retired from teaching at Brookfield Central, Steinbach is on the faculty at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
A past president of the Wisconsin High School Coaches Association (WHSCA), Steinbach has earned many national coaching honors, including Coach of the Year by the National Federation of State High School Associations in 2003; High School Tennis Coach of the Year by Racquet Sports Industry magazine in 2006; and Coach of the Year by the United States Professional Tennis Association in 1998 and 2007. The WHSCA named Steinbach Division 1 Boys Coach of the Year in 2000 and Girls Coach of the Year in 2002, 2003 and 2007.
Since being honored, Steinbach has continued to lead Brookfield Central. Steinbach has coached 13 State Championships teams and 13 teams to State Runner Up finishes. His teams have qualified for the state tournament 39 times over the course of his career. He has also notched over 1,000 victories.
Steinbach has had a ‘no cut’ team policy throughout his career. He has coached over 6,000 student athletes according to Brookfield Central. On October 6, 2018, Brookfield Central honored Coach Steinbach with the dedication of the Dave Steinbach Tennis Center .
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Professional Achievements
Haddonfield Memorial High School
“We try to get them to enjoy the sport. One of our goals is to get them involved as life-long tennis players.”
-Jeff Holman
“We try to get them to enjoy the sport. One of our goals is to get them involved as life-long tennis players.”
-Jeff Holman
Jeff Holman
Haddonfield Memorial High School
Impact Statement
“We try to get them to enjoy the sport. One of our goals is to get them involved as life-long tennis players.”
-Jeff Holman
Biography
In 33 seasons as Haddonfield’s girls’ tennis coach and 31 at the helm of the boys’ team, Holman has coached more than 2,000 matches and has won a national-record 1,730 of them. That includes a record of 871-120 as girls’ coach. His program regularly attracts about 120 boys and girls players each year. Holman’s traveling team, made up of varsity and JV players, includes 27 girls, along with another 30 or so involved in the program’s intramural league, which meets up to three times per week and often sends girls to varsity and junior varsity matches.
Last fall Haddonfield finished 30-3 and won the Colonial Conference, Group 2 South Jersey and Group 2 state championships, advancing to the Tournament of Champions semifinals. His team won the inaugural Tournament of Champions crown in 1980. Holman, whose teams have won 30 conference titles, 27 sectional crowns and 14 state group championships, was named the state’s Girls’ Tennis Coach of the Year this season by the Newark Star-Ledger. He was inducted into the Camden County Sports Hall of Fame this year.
Since being honored, Holman has continued to lead Haddonfield to success on and off the tennis courts. In 2014 Holman hit win 1,000 for his boy’s teams. Through 2019 Holman boasts 1,169 Girls’ wins and 1,146 Boys’ victories. Collectively, Holman’s teams have won 30 NJISAA State Championships. Both teams have won 41 Colonial Conference titles.
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