Awards
2024 RTA Awards
Congratulations to 2024 RTA Award Winners
Leigh Hales
2024 Raleigh's Pro of the Year
Congratulations to Leigh Hales for being the 2024 Tennis Pro of the Year! Leigh is a Tennis Pro at Raleigh Parks Millbrook Exchange Tennis Center. She is an incredibly valuable part of the Raleigh Tennis Community and is loved by the players at METC.
Leigh has been tireless in keeping the program thriving. She is studious with her craft and continues to grow in her position.
Amy Cantando
2024 RTA's Team Captain of the Year
Congratulations to Amy Cantando on being named RTA's 2021 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.
Amy is encouraging to her teammates, does her best to take their preferences into account, and is supportive on and off the court if someone is injured or has a sick child or work conflict and needs a substitute.
Chris Leonard
2024 RTA's Team Player of the Year
Congratulations to Chris Leonard for being named Raleigh’s 2024 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.
Chris is a team player through and through, always there to help out and step in for a sick or injured player. Putting him in the lineup always gave me confidence for us to win that line. He hustles for every ball and at the net he's a beast.
Denise Robinson
2024 RTA's Volunteer of the Year
Congratulations to Denise Robinson for being names RTA's Volunteer of the Year! This award is given to a volunteer in our community that exemplifies extraordinary efforts in dedicating their time to Raleigh Tennis Association events and programs.
Denise has volunteered at almost every one of the RTA tournaments, both adult and junior (Cy King, Jr Fall Challenger, Raleigh Open, Serve Up a Freeze). She shows up with a smile on her face and is ready to lend a hand.
Past RTA Community Awards
2023 RTA Pro of the Year: Bailey Gosselin
2023 Best Team Captain of the Year: Gary Fye
2023 Player of the Year: No nominations
2023 Volunteer of the Year: No nominations
2022 RTA Pro fo the Year: Paul Goode
2022 Best Team Captain of the Year: Shannon Littleton
2022 Player of the Year: Bladen Leippe
2022 RTA Volunteer of the Year: Eli and Tony Morcos
2021 RTA Pro of the Year: Lilo Pelegrino
2021 RTA Best Team Captain of the Year: Pamela Hankerson
2021 RTA Player of the Year: Wendy Sielaty
2021 RTA Volunteer of the Year: Rob Simeone
2020 RTA Pro of the Year: Bennett Bailey
2020 RTA Best Team Captain of the Year: Jennifer Wolborsky
2020 RTA Player of the Year: Wendy Christensen
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 Brow
RTA Awards and Notable Achievements
2024 - NC Volunteer of the Year went to Jonetta Bonds
2024 - NC Tennis Debbie Southern Junior Tennis Female Sportsmanship Award went to Lucy Dupree
2024 - NC Tennis Female Senior Player of the Year went to Brenda Carter
2024 - NC Tennis League Volunteer Service Award went ot Jenny Komes
2024 - NC Tennis James H. Leighton Junior Player of the Year went to Gavin Goode and Matthew Forbes
2023 - NC Tennis Adult/Senior Tennis Council Award was awarded to Victoria Theo - Tennis for Life
2023 - NC Tennis Special Tennis Event of the Year went ot Ronnie TOdd for the Cy King Tennis Classic.
2023 - NC Tennis Facility of the Year went to Raleigh Racquet Club
2023 - NC Tennis Team Tennis Program of the Year went to Raleigh Pro League
2022- NC Tennis Peggy Golden Spirit Award, Ronnie Todd
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