TicketsMay 15, 2009
CINCINNATI - University of Cincinnati head women's tennis coach Angela Wilson has been selected as one of four inductees to the Cincinnati Tennis Hall of Fame and will been enshrined this summer on August 15 as part of ceremonies during the women's semifinals and the men's qualifying for the Western & Southern Financial Group Master & Women's open.
Those to be enshrined are John Peckskamp, John Cook, Angela (Farley) Wilson and Lynn Nabors-McNally.
Peckskamp, Farley-Wilson and Nabors-McNally were nominated in the "Recent Player Category" (those who played within the past 50 years), and Cook was nominated in the "Contributor Category".
"This class of inductees is just another example of the depth of tennis talent we've been blessed to have in Cincinnati," said Jim Farley, Chairman of the Cincinnati Tennis Hall of Fame. "One hundred years ago, Cincinnatians were on the forefront of the national and international tennis scene, and over the years that history, tradition and legacy has only grown. These four individuals are certainly great examples of why."
The enshrinees will be inducted on Center Court on Saturday, August 15, during the women's semifinals and the men's qualifying of the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters & Women's Open, the latest name for a Cincinnati tennis tradition that is today the oldest tournament in the nation played in its original city.
Wilson joined UC this past summer after spending the last four years at the Western Tennis and Fitness Club in Western Hills. Wilson started in the family-owned club in 2004 as the Director of Tennis and was named Director of Operations and Tennis in January of 2006. In her tenure at Western, she has directed the overall operations while being heavily involved in the elite junior development program, which has turned out several college players.
In her first year as coach, Wilson led the Bearcats to a 16-9 record, the fourth wins in a single season at UC, and its second appearance in the BIG EAST Conference Championship.
She brought a wealth of experience to the Bearcats having played and coached throughout her life. Prior to the Western Tennis and Fitness Club, she was the Director of Junior Tennis for two years in Crestview, Ky., at the Five Seasons Sports Club, creating junior programs for varying levels, including nationally-ranked junior players. Her experience coaching with nationally-renowned college players goes back to 1991 when she was an assistant coach for the United States Tennis Association (USTA) at the 1991 World University Games.
Over the last four years she has spent a great deal of her time helping grow the sport of tennis in Cincinnati as a USTA training center coach, starting in 2005 when she launched the Greater Cincinnati Tennis Association (GCTA) 10 and Under Training Center.
A well respected coach, Wilson is able to draw on a wealth of playing experience which started as a high school player at Indian Hill High school in Cincinnati. At Indian Hill, Wilson was a nationally-ranked junior player at both the 16 and under and 18 and under levels. After earning an Ohio High School double championship in 1981 and making it to the singles finals in 1982, Wilson went on to a four-year career at Indiana University (1983-87). In her four years in Bloomington, she was twice named team captain and was a part of two Big Ten titles (1984, 1987). In 1987, Wilson was named first-team all-Big Ten as she helped the Hoosiers to their second NCAA Tournament appearance.
Wilson's playing career extends beyond her college career as she has captured six Cincinnati Metropolitan Tennis Championship titles overall and five since 2003, including last year's women's doubles title. In 2006, she was named the Greater Cincinnati Tennis Association's Player of the Year and winner of the Carol Brestel Award for volunteering and promoting junior tennis in the Cincinnati area.
The enshrinement luncheon is open to the public. Individuals wishing to purchase tickets or a table may call Carole Meldon at 513-379-7726. (A ticket to the matches is required for entry to the tournament grounds.)
A Cincinnati Tennis Hall of Fame luncheon (formerly a dinner) will begin at 11 a.m., and will include brief speeches followed by an on-court enshrinement ceremony on Center Court.
Once enshrined, individuals will be permanently memorialized at the physical home of the Cincinnati Tennis Hall of Fame, which is at the Carl & Edyth Lindner Family Tennis Pavilion, Lunken Airport Playfield.
About the Cincinnati Tennis Hall of Fame
Cincinnati is home to world-renowned players, the oldest professional tournament played in its original city, and the first city ever selected by the International Tennis Hall of Fame as its "City of the Year." The Cincinnati Tennis Hall of Fame was established in 2002 to honor the individuals who have helped forge the history, tradition and legacy of Cincinnati tennis. The Chairman of the Cincinnati Tennis Hall of Fame is Jim Farley. Selection Committee members are Marguerita Alder, Jim Brockhoff, Kathy Graeter, Bill Lofgren, Brian Nester and Phil Smith. The Program Committee is comprised of Bruce Flory, Dick Friedman, Brian Leshner, Karen Montovan and Phil Smith. The Cincinnati Tennis Hall of Fame is a part of the Greater Cincinnati Tennis Association, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
Cincinnati Tennis Hall of Fame Enshrinees
2002 - Bill Talbert & Tony Trabert
2003 - Barry MacKay, Paul Flory, Tom Price, Al Bunis, Ruth Sanders Cordes, Kathy Graeter & Nat Emerson
2004 - Bill Lofgren, J. Howard "Bumpy" Frazer, Marty Wolf & Clara Louise Zinke
2005 - Andrea Farley, Reuben Holden, Caroline Kuhlman, Jim Brockhoff & Jack Guggenheim
2006 - Henry Bunis, Steve Contardi, Winona Closterman & Carol Brestel
2007 - Heather Hairston-Propp, Joe O'Brien, Dave Power & Carol Tanner
2008 - Charles Thomas, Carl Lindner, Rich Lindner & Jeff Wolf