Awards
2020 RTA Awards
Each year, the RTA recognizes special people in the Raleigh tennis community that make a difference! We're excited to announce the winners in these categories: Pro of the Year, Team Captain of the Year, and Team Player of the Year!
Bennett Bailey, 2020 Raleigh's Pro of the Year:
Congratulations to Bennett Bailey for being named RTA’s 2020 Pro of the Year. Bennett, Head Tennis Professional at Millbrook Tennis Center, has been playing tennis since he was four years old. Growing up in Asheville, Bennett was a competitive and highly-ranked junior player. At 16 years old, he found his passion for teaching tennis while teaching summer camps at Biltmore Forest Country Club and volunteering for the Western North Carolina Tennis Association.
Bennett left Asheville for college at NC State University. It was while at NC State that he started his tenure with the City of Raleigh Parks and Recreation Department. He began teaching as an NJTL coach, then later as an instructor and JTT coach. Several years later, he would be promoted to Head Tennis Professional at Millbrook Tennis Center.
Jennifer Wolborsky, 2020 RTA's Team Captain of the Year:
Congratulations to Jennifer Wolborsky on being named RTA's 2020 Team Captain of the Year! The award is given to an area captain, voted by their peers and teammates to be a hardworking, organized, and devoted captain.
Jennifer, a Realtor with Allen Tate Realtors, started seriously playing tennis in 2017. Prior to 2017, she had played in a neighborhood league but had never really learned how to properly play the game. To get back into it, she decided to join a Level 1 class with Coach Mike Hendricks at Millbrook Tennis Center. In the class, Jennifer met other beginners with whom she is still friends today.
This season, Jennifer is captaining a 3.0 team at 18 & Over and 40 & Over and a 3.5 40 & Over team.
Wendy Christensen, 2020 RTA's Team Player of the Year:
Congratulations to Wendy Christensen for being named Raleigh’s 2020 Team Player of the Year! This award is given to a local player and voted by other players in the Raleigh area. This award is presented to a league player who demonstrates good sportsmanship, consistently plays on league teams, and encourages a positive play environment for their team.
“Wendy is fierce, driven, and can compliment anyone’s style of play on my team. Not only is her positive energy contagious, but she also has the best sportsmanship on the team. I am honored she choose to play on my team,” said Bernice Kelly about Wendy.
“Win or lose, I am thankful to be on the court. I hope to continue playing all the rest of my days,” says Wendy about tennis.
Past RTA Community Awards
2019 RTA's Pro of the Year: Carlos Garcia
2019 RTA's Best Team Captain of the Year: Allen Oliver
2019 RTA's Volunteer of the Year: NC State Club Tennis (Tennis on Campus)
2019 RTA Player of the Year: QueenE Hargrove
2018 RTA Best Team Captain, Maggie Wittke
2018 RTA Best Tennis Pro, Meghan Coomes, Hasentree
2018 RTA Volunteer of the Year, Tanya SigRist
2018 Try Tennis Player of the Year, Magali Brigham
2017 RTA Best Team Captain, Jennifer Wermig
2017 RTA Best Pro of the Year, Paul-Henri Arrigoni, RRC
2017 RTA Volunteer of the Year, Dempsey Farmer
2017 RTA LLC Sportsmanship, Will Edwards
2017 RTA LLC Sportsmanship, Tracy Crisp
2016 RTA "Wizard of Oz" John VanDeWater
2016 RTA Volunteer of the Year, Roger Winstead
2016 Best Tennis Pro, Jon Janda, North Hills Club
2016 Best Team Captain Laura Brown
2015 RTA "Wizard of Oz" David Bell
2015 RTA Volunteer of the Year, Susan Shaw
2015 RTA Best Tennis Pro, Jay White, University Club
2015 RTA Best Team Captain Brittany Robinson
2015 RTA LLC Sportsmanship Barbara Kelly
2014 RTA "Wizard of Oz" Shane Wells
2014 RTA Volunteer of the Year, Pam Boyden
2014 Best Tennis Pro, Paul Goode, RRC
2014 Best Team Captain, Carol Kissell
2013 RTA "Wizard of Oz" Tim Wilkins
2013 RTA Volunteer of the Year, Pam Priddy
2013 LLC Sportsmanship Award, Tammy Crump
2013 Best Tennis Pro, Bennett Bailey, MEX
2013 Best Tennis Captain, Cathy Couch
RTA Awards and Notable Achievements
2020 - NC Tennis Community Tennis Association of the Year - Raleigh Tennis Association
2020 - NC Tennis Educational Merit Award given by Buster & Karen Brown - Julie Dick
2018 - Southern USTA LLC of the Year - Tracy Debnam
2018 - NC Tennis LLC of the Year - Tracy Debnam
2014 - NC Tennis, CTA of the year - Raleigh Tennis Association
2014 - Southern USTA, Marilyn Sherman Spirit Award - RTA Community Director Susan Flanagan
2014 - NC Tennis Peggy Golden Spirit Award - RTA Community Director Susan Flanagan
2013 - NC Tennis Jr. Team Tennis Local League Coordinator of the Year - Ken Glanville & Lorraine Norris
2013 - NC Tennis Volunteer of the Month for May - RTA Community Director Susan Flanagan
2011 - NC Tennis Special Event of the Year - RTA's Adopt-A-Troop Care Package Packing Party
2009 - NC Tennis Outstanding Parks & Rec Center - Millbrook Exchange Park
2008 - NC Tennis Member Organization of the Year- Raleigh Tennis Association
2008 - USTA Tennis Welcome Center - Top 50 in the US
2008 - Southern USTA Jr Tournament of the Year - RTA Futures
2007 - NC Tennis Member Organization of the Year - Raleigh Tennis Association
2007 - City of Raleigh's Outstanding Financial Contributor - Raleigh Tennis Association