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.
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