Top Players and Contributors Honored at 2024 Colorado Tennis Hall of Fame Gala

Posted: ML Chavez

Colorado’s most talented tennis players and supporters took center stage on November 9 to be honored for their skills, talent and contributions to the game as part of the 2024 Colorado Tennis Hall of Fame Gala and Annual Awards Celebration.

Special Thanks to Subaru– a long-term sponsor of USTA Colorado and CYTF- and their rep JD Goodwin

Emceed by Christine Chang Gillette and Andy Zodin, this year’s event inducted Julie Anthony and Andy Zurcher at the Infinity Park Events Center in Glendale, Colorado.

Each year, members of the Colorado tennis community gather to commemorate the induction of a new class to the Colorado Tennis Hall of Fame, and to celebrate the achievements of players, organizations, volunteers and others who have distinguished themselves through their dedication and commitment to tennis.

Intermountain Executive Director Rob Scott toasts the award winners

All proceeds benefit the Colorado Youth Tennis Foundation (CYTF) which promotes the physical, emotional and social development of all youth to aspire to become active, productive and responsible citizens.

California native Julie Anthony played for Stanford University and won the national collegiate doubles crown in 1967. She made appearances at Roland Garros, Wimbledon, and the U.S. and earned a Ph.D while competing in the women’s pro circuit. She played doubles with Billie Jean King in the inaugural year of World Team Tennis, and in the 1980s she relocated to Colorado and was co-owner of the Aspen Club and later founded the Fitness and Sports Medicine Institute. From 1989 to 1994 she coached Gigi Fernandez (2019 inductee) to an Olympic gold medal and 11 Grand Slam doubles titles.

More than 300 attended this year

Colorado native Andy Zurcher was among the nation’s top collegiate players and two-time captain at the University of Notre Dame. He graduated as an All-American and Academic All-American and was presented with the Dan Magill Award in 1994 for his performance and contributions to collegiate tennis. While at Notre Dame he achieved NCAA career high rankings of No. 19 in singles and No. 7 in doubles. From 1995 to 1997 he served as Notre Dame’s Assistant Men’s Tennis Coach and was recognized as the Midwest Assistant Coach of the Year in 1997. Most recently he has won more than a dozen combined titles at the Denver City Open and Colorado Tennis Championships.

Below is a list of the USTA Colorado Annual Award Winners in various categories.

ON COURT ACHIEVEMENT
Male Player: Nicholas Herrero Cuesta (Denver)
Female Player: Lucy Lu (Broomfield)
Senior Player: Richard Best (Denver)

SPORTSMANSHIP, LEADERSHIP AND ACHIEVEMENT
Boys’ 14U: Braylon Desquitado (Colorado Springs)
Boys’ 15-18: Tyler Van Tassell (Ft. Collins)
Girls’ 14U: Anna Curran (Golden)
Girls’ 15-18: Sabina Czauz (Thornton)
Parks Player: Samantha Garcia Lucero (Denver)

SERVICE – OF THE YEAR
Organization of the Year: Springs Tennis – Rep-Patrick Ramirez (CO Springs)
Volunteer of the Year: Alden Bock (Golden)
Family of the Year: Bernthal Family (Boulder)

SERVICE – LONGTIME
Service to under-served populations: Tom Talmadge (Centennial)
Service to recreational players: Jason Bolton (Arvada)
Service to the tennis community: Mike Phillips (Erie)

For information on the Colorado Youth Tennis Foundation please visit their website at: cytf.net

: Gaby Wilkins, Evelyn Rodriguez, Magda Apodaca

: USTA Colorado Directors, Trustees and other supporters

: USTA Colorado President Susan Bolton welcomes guests

: Cindy McLemore, Colorado Youth Tennis Foundation President, thanks guest for their support

: The dynamic and entertaining Auctioneer Reggie Rivers never fails to exceed fundraising goals

: Going Once…Going Twice…

: USTA Colorado Board Member Angela Finan and Executive Director Fritz Garger

: Angela Finan, Rick Best (Senior Play of the Year)

: The happy award-winning Bernthal family (Family of the Year)

: Angela Finan, Patrick Ramirez accepting award for Springs Tennis (Organization of the Year)

: Angela Finan, Alden Bock (Volunteer of the Year)

: Angela Finan, Samantha Garcia Lucero (Sportsmanship Award)

: Angela Finan, Braylon Desquitado (Sportsmanship Award)

: Angela Finan, Anna Curran (Sportsmanship Award)

: Angela Finan, Tyler Van Tassell (Sportsmanship Award)

: Angela Finan, Sabina Czauz (Sportsmanship Award)

: USTA Colorado Tennis Hall of Fame inductee Andy Zurcher

: Angela Finan with Brad and Ande Bernthal (Family of the Year)

: Angela Finan, Andy Zurcher

: Angela Finan, Tom Talmadge (Under-Resourced Populations – Service Award)

: Angela Finan, James Bolton (Recreational Players – Service Award)

: Angela Finan, Mike Phillips (Tennis Community – Service Award)

: USTA Colorado Tennis Hall of Fame inductee Julie Anthony

: Angela Finan, Julie Anthony 2024 Colorado Tennis Hall of Fame Inductee

: Emmy-Award Winning TV Anchor and Emcee Christine Chang Gillette hosted with Andy Zodin

: Sports-talk Radio Host Andy Zodin is an encyclopedia of tennis

: Victor and Diana Guettlein

: Bev and Mario Moranetz, Ron Klump

: Brooke and Brad Webb

: Eileen Pero, Bo Wright, Richard Lynn

: Emcee Christine Chang Gillette, CYTF President Cindy McLemore

: Erin Eggland, Greg Anselmo

: Chris and Lindsay Hand

: USTA Colorado Board members Laura Ecton, Bethany Brookens, Carolyn Peters

: Lisa Schaefer and Katie Jirauch

: Michael Richmond, Heather Gray, Peter Richman

: CYTF Board Members Dietz Fry, Kacey Walisundara, Cindy McLemore and Kathy Anselmo

: USTA Colorado Board Members

: Steve Schlafer, Lisa Marco

: USTA and CYTF Board Members, Friends and Family

: Jeff Salzenstein, Kristin Janos

: Chris and Lauren Duran; Denise and Dan Maestas

: USTA Intermountain Executive Director Rob Scott makes a toast to the award winners

: USTA Intermountain Executive Director Rob Scott salutes this year award winners

: Auctioneer Reggie Rivers describes the live auction items available

: More than 300 guests attended this year’s event

: Lucy Lu was named Female Player of the Year

: Emcee Andy Zodin congratulates Patrick Ramirez of Springs Tennis (Organization of the Year)

01 Nov

Top Stars Honored at Gala

Posted: ML Chavez

The stars shined bright on Saturday, October 28 as USTA Colorado honored its top players and celebrated the achievements and contributions of industry leaders. The annual Colorado Tennis Hall of Fame and USTA Colorado Annual Awards event benefits the Colorado Youth Tennis Foundation (CYTF) which promotes the physical, emotional and social development of all youth to aspire to become active, productive and responsible citizens.

The Gala was held at Infinity Park Event Center and is the annual signature event to honor Colorado players, coaches, volunteers, administrators and other leaders for their contributions to the sport. This year the organization inducted two members to the Hall of Fame.

Emceed by Christine Chang Gillette and Andy Zodin the event highlighted the top two Hall of Fame inductees this year: Krista Damico and Lt. Col. Dan Oosterhous. This is the USTA Colorado’s 23rd class of inductees, bringing the total number of members to 103.

Damico grew up in Parker and is best known as a junior women’s champion and a standout at the University of Texas. She competed in the girls’ singles draw at the U.S. Open as well as the girls’ qualifying events at Wimbledon and the Australian Open. She lead the Texas Longhorns on a 14-match unbeaten streak in her senior year.

As head coach of the USAFA Falcon men’s tennis team Lt. Col. Oosterhous has led the team to new heights for decades. This past season Air Force is coming off its second straight winning season in 2023 and the third in the last four seasons. The Falcons earned a national ranking of 63 in February, 2023, tying for the highest ranking in program history.

In 2022 USTA Colorado’s steadily growing league program achieved one of its highest levels of player participation in its history which requires more resources and facilities. In addition, USTA Colorado presented the following annual awards:

On-Court Achievement Awards
Male Player of the Year: Ignatius Castelino
Female Player of the Year: Taylor Melville
Senior Player of the Year: Hiko Fritz-Krockow

Sportsmanship Awards
Quinn Bernthal
Malaika Chinyerere
Trevor Hajek
Leslie Jimenez
Blake and Sebastian Wright

Service Awards
Mike Brohard – Dorothy Mauk Media Excellence of the Year Award
Omar Campos Family – Carter & Lena Elliott Family of the Year Award
Denver Tennis Park – E. L. Griffey Organization of the Year Award
Cindy McLemore – Jody Riser Knudsen Volunteer of the Year Award
CD Bodam – Tennis Industry Award
Adam Burbary – Tennis Industry Award
Kendall Chitambar – Arthur Ashe Award (service to under-served communities)
Diane Westlind – Clyde Rogers Award (longtime service to recreational players)
Leanne Palmisano – Bud Robineau Award (longtime service to the tennis community)

Tennis Industry Award
CD Bodam
Adam Burbary

CYTF organizers like to say that tennis teaches skills a young person can take off the court and into life. For more information on the organization please visit cytf.net

: Emcee Andy Zodin introduces HOF inducteee Krista Demico

: Hall of Fame inductee Krista Damico thanks guests

: Board Member Angela Finan with Hall of Fame inductee Krista Damico

: Award winners await their name to be called

: More than a dozen USTA CO Awards were presented

: Board Member Angela Finan with tennis industry leader Adam Burbary

: Service Award winner Kendall Chitambar

: Service Award winner Diane Westlind

: Service Award winner Leanne Palmisano

: Guests enjoyed the award celebration and live auction

: Friends and family of HOF winner Krista Damico

: One more thing! Emcee Christine Chang Gillette kept the program interesting

: Hall of Fame inductee Lt. Col. Dan Oosterhous thanks the crowd

: Hall of Fame inductee Lt. Col. Dan Oosterhous shared stories of his tennis career

: For Hall of Fame inductee Lt. Col. Dan Oosterhous tennis has always been a family activity

: Malaika Chinyerere accepts her Sportsmanship Award

: It’s the Wright Brothers! Flying High with their Sportsmanship Award! Blake and Sebastian Wright (or is it Sebastian and Blake)

: Leslie Jimenez accepts her Sportsmanship Award

: As President of CYTF for 10 years Cindy McLemore has had a tremendous influence

: Cindy McLemore awaits her Service Award

: Emcee Christine Chang Gillette is also a talented tennis player

: Emcee Andy Zodin introduces the program for Gala 2023

: USTA Colorado President Susan Bolton introduces some auction items including a 3D artwork of Rafa Nadal USTA Colorado president, Susan Bolton, addresses the crowd

: US Air Force Cadet tennis team on hand to celebrate the induction of their colleague: Lt. Col. Dan Oosterhous

: The CO Tennis HOF and USTA Annual Awards Gala was held at the Infinity Park Event Center

: Hall of Fame inductee Krista Damico speaks with family and friends

: Gabriel Guillaume and Keith Bell

: Hundreds attended the annual Gala held at the Summit Events Center in Glendale, CO

: Malaika Chinyerere and family and friends

: Liz Callender and Chris Wells

: Colorado Youth Tennis Foundation Board of Trustees: Troy Jackson, Bill Conway, Marti Champion, George Tavarez, Dietz Fry, and Cindy McLemore

: Sportsmanship Award winner Leslie Jimenez with parents

: Sarah and Andy Zodin

: Jerad and Megan Harbaugh, Dietz and Theresa Fry, Ashriel and Ryan Lutz Andy Zodin, Damon & Christine Gillette

: Director Fritz Garger with Cindy McLemore

: Kelly Winn, Keith Bell, and Magda Apodaca

: Angela Finan and Cindy McLemore

: Colorado Youth Tennis Foundation Board of Trustees: Troy Jackson, Bill Conway, Marti Champion, George Tavarez, Dietz Fry, and Cindy McLemore

: Hall of Fame inductees: Krista Damico and Lt. Dan Oosterhous

: USTA Colorado Board Leadership

: Lisa Schaefer with Subaru Reps: JD Goodwin and Scott Thompson

: And the Hall of Fame inductee is: Lt. Dan Oosterhous

: USTA Board President Susan Bolton welcomed guests to the 2023 Gala

: Auctioneer JJ Raterink kept things moving quickly

: Guests were ready with signs for the Silent Auction

: Guests prepare to bid on the silent auction

: Emcee Andy Zodin has devoted decades to Colorado tennis growth and has hosted the event with Christine Chang Gillette for years

: Senior Player of the Year Hiko Fritz-Krockow

: Male Player of the Year Ignatius Castelino

: Female Player of the Year Taylor Melville

: The Omar Campos family celebrates their Service Award

: President Gabriel Guillaume receives the Service Award on behalf of the Denver Tennis Park

: Emcee Christine Chang Gillette has been co-hosting the USTA event with Andy Zodin for several years

: Youth: The Future of Tennis on stage

: Angela Finan with Quinn Bernthal receiving Sportsmanship Award

14 Nov

USTA Colorado honors Tennis Hall of Fame inductees, champions

Posted: ML Chavez

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