USTA Colorado honors Tennis Hall of Fame inductees, champions

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This year’s Colorado Hall of Fame Gala 2022 was held at The Cable Center and hosted by tennis radio host Andy Zodin and past Denver morning news anchor, Christine Chang Gillette.

Among the USTA Colorado’s award winners were 14 recipients who received the annual awards celebrating on and off-court accomplishments and service to the tennis community.

Zodin is Director of Tennis at Columbine Country Club in Denver, CO. President, USPTA Intermountain Division and s sports talk radio host on Mile High Sports Radio. Christine Chang Gillette is past weekend morning anchor for The Denver Channel-KMGH and is a book consultant and media trainer.

The Colorado Tennis community celebrates the induction of Luke and Clancy Shields, alongside Virginia Dunn Smith Kraut, and the many accomplishments of USTA Colorado’s Annual Award Winners. (entire list found here).

The Colorado Tennis Hall of Fame was established in 2000 to recognize Colorado’s rich tennis heritage. Brothers Luke and Clancy Shields (Grand Junction, CO) and Virginia Dunn Smith Kraut (Denver, CO) were all inducted Saturday, January 12 at the  Colorado Tennis Hall of Fame Gala,

This year’s annual event was held at the The Cable Center, located adjacent to the University of Denver campus. This annual event supports the Colorado Youth Tennis Foundation (www.cytf.net) and their many youth programs supporting outreach and greater diversity in the sport.

Through the lifetime sport of tennis, the CYTF promotes the physical, emotional and social development of all youth to aspire to become active, productive and responsible citizens. The Colorado Youth Tennis Foundation is a fundraising arm of USTA Colorado.

Luke Shields and Clancy Shields were born and raised in Grand Junction, CO. Both enjoyed tremendous success on the junior circuit and in NCAA competition, and have gone on to become highly decorated collegiate coaches. Dozens of other awards were awarded for community service, volunteerism an contributions to tennis in Colorado.

For more information visit www.usta.com

 

 

2020 Colorado Tennis Hall of Fame Gala

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For tennis fans throughout Colorado the USTA Tennis Hall of Fame Gala is a must-attend fundraising dinner honoring the best, most talented and generous past and present members of Colorado’s tennis community. The event–benefiting the Colorado Youth Tennis Foundation (CYTF)– honors a Hall of Fame inductee and Colorado youth and adult players and organizations in several categories including sportsmanship, community service and competitive skills. In fact, Colorado USTA league players have sent many teams to the national competition and the Denver-based organization remains the nation’s 2nd largest division.

Andrew Sidel, Scott Thompson, JD Goodwin of Subaru of America

USTA Board President Angela Finan began the evening with a welcome and thanks to guests, sponsors and honorees before introducing the guest of honor and 2020 Hall of Fame inductee: Gigi Fernandez, one of the top doubles tennis players in U.S. history with a career spanning more than 25 years.

Fernandez thanked guests and acknowledged the hard work of Executive Director Fritz Garger, Associate Director Lisa Schaefer, and USTA staff & volunteers for successfully organizing the annual gala year after year. Later, Fernandez, CYTF Board President Cindy McLemore, and youth player Lyric Newsome assisted with the live auction led by Shelly St. John of the Auction Divas. After the award presentation, guests enjoyed live music by The Saddle Rockers. This HOF Gala sponsors this year were: SubaruMidFirst BankLINE 3 and Sprouts Farmers Market.

Fernandez, who lived in Colorado in the 1990s, summarized her tennis career and urged guests to share their talents on behalf of others.  Fernandez turned pro in 1983 to become Puerto Rico’s first female professional athlete, in any sport. She went on to win 17 U.S. Open championship titles and moved to Aspen in 1989. Later, she represented the U.S at the Olympics and won 2 Olympic Gold Medals in doubles with Mary Joe Fernandez (no relation) and 16 additional Grand Slam doubles titles. In 2000, she was honored as the Puerto Rican Athlete of the Century and in 2019 was inducted in the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Her former Colorado coach, Randy Crawford, was inducted in 2019.

Tennis player Lyric is the daughter of Metheia and Quentin Newsome


The gala, held Saturday, February 8 at the Denver Marriott Tech Center, benefits the
Colorado Youth Tennis Foundation (CYTF), which was founded in 1961 by the USTA to develop the next generation of U.S. tennis players. The event recognizes Colorado’s high school state champions and USTA league teams that advanced to national championships. The Colorado Tennis Hall of Fame display is permanently housed on the first floor of Denver’s Gates Tennis Center in Cherry Creek and is open to the public during normal hours of operation.

The Colorado Youth Tennis Foundation offers financial assistance to organizations that reach youth across Colorado through tennis programming. Grants range between $100 and $1,000. To download an application for the CYTF scholarships due March 1, 2019 visit: http://www.colorado.usta.com/cta/resources/financial_assistance/program_grants/

Colorado 2020 Tennis Hall of Fame inductee Gigi Fernandez urged guests to contribute and share their skills with others.To view past HOF honorees visit the CYTF web site here: https://cytf.net/events/

For more info on Colorado USTA visit: www.colorado.usta.com

17th Annual Colorado Tennis Hall of Fame Gala

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When USTA Colorado honors its own, the event goes beyond an awards ceremony and live auction. It’s all about the tennis family sharing a great meal, along with stories of athleticism, integrity and generosity … and it concludes with a kick-up-your-heels party to cap off the evening. Anyone who still thinks tennis is an elitist sport should consider the guests at this year’s Colorado Tennis Hall of Fame Gala, who represented the continuing growth of the game’s participants, spanning age, gender, ethnicity and physical ability. Throughout the event, guests and speakers expressed that in participating in tennis, they learn more than sports skill sets, but also acquire positive life skills. Game. Set. Match.

Hall of Fame inductees, Class of 2016 (l to r): Don Willsie, Dennis Ralston and Dave Benson

On Friday, Jan. 20, more than 400 tennis aficionados gathered at the Marriott Denver Tech Center to celebrate the induction of four luminaries into its Hall of Fame: Dave Benson, Mary Jane Metcalf Donnalley (whose posthumous award was accepted by her granddaughter Eryn), Dennis Ralston and Don Willsie. Others were honored for their feats on the court, from winning a national title to exhibiting sportsmanship and grace during competition. Off-the-court good deeds were singled out as well, from coaching underserved youth to promoting the game. Vicky Matarazzo received special recognition for her work coaching Special Olympics athletes.

USTA Colorado board member Angela Finan, with Lew Sowell

Andy Zodin and Christine Chang served as co-emcees for the awards program, and auctioneer Shelly St. John revved up the crowd during a live auction that included an opening and a closing weekend at the 2017 U.S. Open. Two high bidders were able to jump on the special opportunity. The evening ended with a lively after-party to the sounds of Saddle Rock.

Dollars raised at the annual gala benefit the Colorado Youth Tennis Foundation (a fundraising arm of USTA Colorado), which promotes the physical, emotional and social development of all youth to aspire to become active, productive and responsible citizens. The organization strives to put a tennis racket into the hands of any child who wants to learn and participate in the game. USTA Intermountain Colorado has been promoting the growth and development of tennis since 1955, and support of the CYTF enables USTA Colorado help create the next generation of tennis players in the state. The Colorado Tennis Hall of Fame display is permanently housed on the first floor of Gates Tennis Center in Cherry Creek, in Denver, and is open to the public during normal hours of operation for the center. For more information, and to read bios of this year’s Hall of Fame inductees, please visit: http://www.colorado.usta.com.

Porter-Billups Leadership Academy Fundraising Dinner

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Success and Significance. Two words that changed Chauncey Billups’ life as a youngster growing up in the Park Hill neighborhood and propelled him as a star basketball player at Denver’s Washington High School, as CU Boulder Buff and with a 17-year NBA career playing with several pro teams including the Denver Nuggets. The NBA All-Star thanked his coaches and family who inspired him to achieve success on and off the court.

More than 400 guests attended the annual Porter-Billups Leadership Academy (PBLA)  fundraising dinner with the theme of “Education, Leadership and Transformation” at the Ritz-Carlton, Saturday, July 26.

Regis President Father John Fitzgibbons gave the invocation, which was followed with comments from advisory board member co-chairs Flossie O’Leary and Randy Holliday, who introduced coach Lonnie Porter and 1995 George Washington High School graduate Chauncey Billups, who joined the PBLA non-profit in 2006. Entertainment was provided by songstress Natalie Tatum and pianist Ronneka Cox.

Founded in 1996 by Regis basketball coach Lonnie Porter, the non-profit organization offers scholarships to support at-risk Denver Public School students. Coach Porter, founder and executive director; Staci Porter-Bentley, co-founder and director; and Billups, co-executive director, each greeted guests and and recognized top sponsors including The Tynan Family, Robert “Bob” Willis, Panorama Orthopedic and Spine Center, and some other 50+ sponsors.

Recognized as the winningest college basketball coach in Colorado history, Porter recognized student graduates for their hard work and encouraged guests to pay it forward and continue their support for struggling at-risk students who need mentors and guidance. He described the mission of the PBLA, a three-week summer academic program at Regis University serving students ranging from elementary and high school students.

Staci Porter-Bentley took the podium with her mentee DaVeion Jackson and their history of partnership and growth throughout the years. Later in the evening, several other PBLA students shared their stories of overcoming personal struggles and graduation from the program.

For more information visit www. porter-billups.org

 

 

 

 

Colorado Tennis Hall of Fame, 2013 Awards & Inductees

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Tennis, anyone?

The 14th annual Colorado Tennis Hall of Fame Gala was held on Friday, January 24, 2014. The four inductees: Nicole Leimbach, Rita Price, Gil Roberts and John Whistler were welcomed into the Colorado Tennis Hall of Fame and USTA Colorado, where each was honored with a 2013 Annual Award.  The dedicated tennis players had distinguished themselves through life-long dedication and contributions to the sport.

The gala evening was held at the Marriott Tech Center hotel, where 300 tennis enthusiasts and their families joined to raise funds for the Colorado Youth Tennis Foundation. The popular program provides tennis opportunities to youngsters in need. Joining in the fun, the Auction Divas, Shelly St. John and her two sidekick divas, kept the momentum at an anxious pace. The three lovely ladies led the live auction with silly heads or tails games and coaxed higher and higher bids from the supporters for mountain tennis weekends and donated items such as a custom made fly fishing rod. The Colorado Youth Tennis Foundation Friday night was at least $22,000 closer to helping young tennis players enjoy the sport of tennis.

Tennis is big in Colorado – a whopping 85,000 known players in the state. The sport and state have always been like-minded. When the state was formed in 1876, the sport of tennis was right behind it. The USTA was formed in 1881, as a not-for-profit organization devoted to the development of the sport of tennis. It remains the voice of tennis and establishes and maintains rules of play and high standards of amateurism and good sportsmanship.

Emcee Andy Zodin charmed the tennis community with his Broncos’ enthusiasm and his  acknowledged respect for the select group of tennis players who filed onto the stage.  The honored group of 2013 award winners were chosen for their sport skill and tireless support of the tennis community’s goal, which is to promote the physical, emotional and social development of all youth. Tennis has been celebrated throughout the state for 100 years and remains one of the top competitive sports. The inductees and annual award recipients came from all parts of Colorado. Each was chosen for on-court talent, dedication and service benefiting the entire state of Colorado tennis community.

 

 

 

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