History of Longhorn women’s golf from  1957-2014

Coach Pat Weis- 1957-1993

Pat Weis Is “The Architect Of The Texas Longhorn Women’s Golf Team” Pat Weis Quotes

“A Good Team Can’t Have A Whole Bunch Of Leaders.”

After Coming Close To Winning Two National Championships, She Says, “Winning Simply Cannot Be Your Only Goal.  One Team And Only One Team Wins..”

Pat Weis was hired in 1957 as a P.E. teacher. In 1967, she became the first women’s varsity golf coach. From 1967 -1973, Coach Weis was unsalaried and unbudgeted. Her salary primarily came from teaching as an associate professor in the physical education department.

After Title IX in 1972, she was hired as the part-time varsity golf coach; It was not until 1980 that Coach Weis became the full-time coach of the women’s University of Texas Golf team. In 1982 the NCAA finally sanctioned women’s sports.

During her tenure, Weis was involved in many significant changes in women’s golf. The changes included:

• a change in the ruling body of college sports from the AIAW to the NCAA;

• changes in recruiting techniques and scholarship offers;

• changes in Golf rules and

• changes from a sports program dominated by men to a sports program dominated by great women and men. Harvey Penick was one of the first golf instructors who understood that talent is not gendered exclusive.

Much of the research for this section was derived from Mickie Edwards’s incredibly informative “Book Life of Coach: The Story of Pat Weis.”

• The UT women’s golf program started in 1969.

• Weis was a member of the rules committee for the Senior PGA tour;

• a 2001 Hall of Honor inductee;

• part of the NCAA Championship tournaments 24 times;

• Coach for 3 Big 12 Champion and 7 SWC champions;

• Her teams were included in the top 10 Nationally 11 times;

• She coached 11 All-Americans, 4 SWC players of the year, 3 Honda-Broderick Award winners, one AIAW National Champion, one National Player of the Year, and one NCAA tournament medalist and

• 5 of Coach Weis’s golfers make the 1980’s All-Decade team -Kate Golden, Sherri Steinhauer, Sue Ginter, and Nancy Ledbetter. Machiko Hattori is the MVP of the 1980’s All-decade team.

• Weis earned five 5 Conference Coach of the Year Awards, 2 National Coach of the Year Awards, and one Gladys Palmer Award.

  To buy Coach Weis’s book click on the link below.

http://www.thebookpatch.com/BookStore/life-of-coach-the-story-of-pat-weis/fe4ba7bb-1a77-4d5a-996f-5736f2260e9d

University of Texas Women’s Golf 1969-2014

1972- Coach Weis

Since sanctioned as either an AIAW or NCAA sport, the women’s golf team has won four Big 12 Women’s Golf Championship titles (1997, 2004, 2011, and 2017) and ten Southwest Conference titles (1984, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, and 1996). They were the runner-up for the 1993 NCAA Division I Golf Championship. Between 1974 and 1982, UT had six Top-10 AIAW Championship finishes and seven Top-5 state finishes. These stats only include women’s golf history through 2017)

1973- Coach Weis

Nancy Hager was the medalist in the state meet and finished 3rd at the National competition.

Title IX becomes law.

Nancy Hager sets the women’s Morris Williams Golf Tournament record. Her caddy was Ben Crenshaw.

1974- Coach Weis

In 1974 the Betsy Rawls tournament was started by Pat Weiss.  Horns won the SWC championship.

First year for the Women’s Intercollegiate Athletic Program. The budget for all seven women’s sports was $27,000. Women’s golf received $220 of the budget. Coach Weis managed the Golf team in her spare time and worked full-time as a teacher. With no budget to travel, Weis decided to bring top-level women’s golf to Austin and started the annual Betsy Rawls Invitational, named after the 1950 Texas graduate who became a 40-time tour champion in 1974. The tournament held its 46th event in October 2019.

Nancy Hager is ineligible because she went to school outside of the country.

By 1976 the name of the invitational tournament is named after Betsy Rawls.

Pat was on the 1973 and 1974 AIAW Golf Committee.

1974 is the first year of four-member teams. The women’s scores are combined to determine the winner.

Nancy is a two-handicap on the team.

1975 – Coach Weis

The team at the nationals was one short, while the other teams had five golfers. Why? One Longhorn dropped off the team in the winter. The four were Nancy Hager, Jan Rapp, Carla Spenkoch, and Debbie Norton. Nancy Hager was the team leader for the year. Nancy was a medalist in 4 tournaments during the year. Jan Rapp was first on scholarship in Tennis. This was Pat’s second team in 9 years to attend the national meet.

1974 is the first year of four-member teams. All the women’s scores are combined to determine the winner. Nancy Hager, who had a two-handicap, was the medalist at the Betsy Rawls Invitational. She capped off the year as the golf team’s MVP.

Nancy Hager finished 5th in the AIAW individual rankings in 1975. She was also the medalist at the Betsy Rawls Invitational in 1974 and 1975 and the team MVP in 1974.

1976-Coach Weis- Horns finish 6 in the National meet.

The first “official” team.

Lopiano is hired as the Women’s Athletic Director. The golf team decides not to join the SWC. The team is 14th in the AIAW National Championship tournament. Since the budget is minimal, there are no uniforms until an Austin doctor contributes funds to purchase the clothing. Cathy Bertram remembered how hard it was to find burnt orange accessories for the team and that Coach Weis had to wash all the Longhorn clothes.

Carla Spenkoch is MVP in 1975

1976-1977-Coach Weis – State champion

 Lori Huxhold was the medalist for the Championship team in 1977.

The team is 8th in the AIAW  National Championship tournament.

For the first time, on May 8th, 1977, the tower was orange for a women’s SWC championship.

1977-1978-Coach Weis- TAIAW Champs and 3rd in the National meet

The golf team is 3rd in the AIAW  National championship tournament.

1977-1978 Coach Weis finished 4th in Nation in the AIAW

This year the team learns to gracefully accept defeat, finishing anywhere from 2nd place to 7th place in tournament play.

The team is 14th in the AIAW  National championship tournament.

Coach Weiss is still a part-time Longhorn women’s golf coach, but the budgets start to increase so the Longhorns offer more golf scholarships.

Bari Brandwynne’s is the daughter of a bandleader at Ceaser’s in Vegas who has two celebrity friends – Mac Davis and Don Cherry. They tell Coach Weis how great a golfer Bari is. But since the recruiting rules in 1978 state that a university could not recruit a women athlete or pay her way on a recruiting trip, Bari drives herself and her two dogs to Austin for the interview with Coach Weis. She signs a Letter of Intent.

Pat Weiss Notes in 1978 are below .

1979-Coach Weis finished 4th in the TAIAW

After Bari Brandwynne graduated from Texas, she played the European tour and then landed at The Los Angeles Country Club. She was not only a PGA member but the 1st WOMAN PGA employee since 1897 at the club. I’ve been there 36 years now!!!

 Coach Weis said Cindy Figg was a great leader for the team.

Coach Weis is selected chairperson for the All-American selection committee.

1980-Coach Weis- TAIAW champs and 7th nationally

Coach Weiss is hired as a full-time coach for the Women’s golf team, and the Athletic Department pays her full salary. Slow start but a beautiful finish as the Horns won the TAIAW state championship with Lori Huxhold winning the medalist honors.

The team is 7th in the AIAW  National championship.

1981- Coach Weis Team is 3rd in the AIAW  National championship

This was the first time Coach Weis split her golf team up, sending one group to California and the other to Bryan, TX. All the golfers needed experience. This was one of Coach Weis’s best teams, with Pettrizzi, Figg, and Brandywynne leading the way.

Weis says, for the first time, she has depth on the team. The freshman class this year is strong. – Kim Shipman, Debbie Wright, and Nancy Ledbetter. “We have 8 or nine golfers who could press for the starting 5,” said Weis.

 1982- Coach Weis- finished 2nd in the nation

Texas finished second to Tulsa by 3 strokes for the AIAW national championship. Texas was 2nd out of 23 teams.

TOP OF THE CHARTS 1982

Nancy Ledbetter finished 5th in the AIAW individual rankings.

Coach Weis says to those who would listen that it is difficult for freshmen to adjust from golf as an individual sport in high school to golf as a team sport in college.

 For 8 years in a row the Lady Longhorns win the TAIAW state tournament with the low scoring average.

1982-1983 pending -Coach Weis- 15th at the NCAA

This is Texas’s first year playing under NCAA rules. To give student-athletes a chance to enjoy the college environment, the NCAA limits practice time to 20 hours a week. The NCAA also cuts golf scholarships from 8 to 6.

The team is victorious in three tournaments and places 15th in the NCAA Championship.

Sherri Steinhauer was a medalist at the Lady Gator Tournament. Horns got an at-large birth to the NCAA tournament.

Texas qualified for the national every year since the sport attained varsity status in 1975. This is the year that the NCAA replaced the AIAW as the official organization for collegiate women’s sports.

1984- Coach Weis wins the SWC

Texas won two regular-season tournaments and outclassed the SWC field by 27 strokes. This team just missed a top-10 finish.

Ledbetter is an SWC medalist, and the team wins by 27 strokes. Steinhauer was ranked by Golf Digest as the 7th-best amateur in America, and she is an alternate on the United States Curtis Cup team.

The team wins one tournament and the SWC Championship.

Nancy Ledbetter is the SWC individual champion and the team MVP.

Texas finished 11th in the NCAA championship.

LPGA names Coach Weis College Golf Coach of the Year

1985-Coach Weis

Karolyn Criado, Lisa DePaulo, Nancy Ledbetter, Donna Linder , Meredith McCuaig

1986-Coach Weis

Kate Golden won the SWC individual Championship three times while at Texas.

The team wins two tournaments, including the SWC championship.

The team places 17th in the NCAA Championship.

1987  SWC Champs Weis is SWC Coach of the Year

The Golf team wins six tournaments, including the SWC championship.

The team places 7th in the NCAA Championship.

The Longhorns successfully recruited their first US Amateur Champion- Michiko Hattori.

Coach Weis changed her practice schedule to focus more on individual play rather than team play. The new approach is successful and boosts team morale. Finally, after 13 years, the Longhorns win their host tournament.

Coach Weis says this was one of her best teams. The National Golf Coaches Association named her National Coach of the Year.

In her 12-year tenure as the Texas golf coach, Weis has failed to qualify at least one individual for the NCAA tournament only once. Kate Golden, Cindy Haley, and Jenny Germs gave the Horns the needed edge to succeed in 1987. Lisa DePaulo’s back problems healed, and she led the team to a top-5 finish in four tournaments.

1988- Coach Weis – First in the SWC

Texas won its second consecutive SWC championship with the widest victory margin ever in SWC play. Hattori was the medalist, winning five of the ten tournaments this year. Weis was coach of the year for the second time. Four members made the All-SWC team: Ginter, Brown, Golden, and Hattori.

below Nunes Manager, Hattori, Golden, Stott, Ginter, Ginger Brown, Fischer

Horns break an SWC record for the widest victory margin.   Hattori was the medalist. She won 5 of the team’s tournaments.

TOPPING THE CHARTS 1988- Faith

The team wins four tournaments, including the SWC championship.

Places 11th in the NCAA Championship.

Coach Weis’s record at Texas is impressive. As of 1988, her golf teams had qualified for the National Championship venue in all but two years.

Jenny Germs is the Horn’s longest hitter, and Weiss says that Jenny is one of the top 10 best collegiate players in 1988.

1989 -Coach Weis- SWC champions

1989 teams weakness is putting

Piper Wagner- 1987-1982  “Piper UP”

Piper says in the book Life of Coach by Mickie Edwards that at a certain moment and time, ” I wasn’t a very good golfer.”  Other teammates “were tough and seemed able to take the ups and downs of competing with each other and another team as well.”  “My biggest challenge was growing up mentally and fitting in. I had to learn how to handle life. For me, the pressure was so intense.” Piper accomplishes her college goals.

In March 2011, she was diagnosed with cancer.  Her teammates and friends started a “Piper UP” charity bike ride in her honor. 15,000 white wristbands were sold to help Piper and raise awareness of Lung cancer.   Piper passed away in August of 2014, but she left a great Legacy, and in 2014, her Longhorn friends dedicated the 2014 Weis Cup to Piper.

The Horns are SWC champions of the SWC and the number-one qualifier for the NCAA tournament. After the first day, they are 19 shots down and never recover. The team finishes 10th.

When Coach Weis was asked why some of her players lacked discipline, she said, “Advanced athletic skill does not automatically come with the responsibility of maturity!”

Jaime Fischer is the SWC individual title winner and an academic all-American. After leaving the tour, she coaches as a master instructor. Golf for Women Magazine named her one of the top 50 instructors.

Texas enters the NCAA tournament as #1, but, as Pat Weis said, the Horns had a “very disappointing tournament.” Kate Golden at the NCAA tournament leads the team to finish 9th, but the season is a disappointment, with the Horns finishing tied with Stanford for 10th place. Michiko Hattori had a tough tournament due to an injury to her finger.

1989- 1990-Coach Weis- SWC champions

The Women’s golfing team wins their 4th consecutive SWC. Michiko Hattori tied for 2nd in the SWC.

The team has won two tournaments, including the SWC championship. Machiko is also the SWC player of the year.

Team Places  7th in the NCAA Championship

Tom Kite’s connections helped the Longhorns recruit Machiko.  Coach Weis said that Michiko was ” one of her best athletes at managing her game.

Michiko Hattori finishes second in the NCAA National Championship medalist competition and wins the Honda Broderick Award for National Collegiate Golfer of the Year. In 1989, she received the Eleanor Dudley Award. She also finished tied for 7th in 1988 and tied for 6th place in 1991 in the NCAA Individual rankings.

Machiko holds the Texas record for the most consecutive years on the All-American team (4). She was also named SWC Athlete of the Decade for golf ( 1982-1992).

1990-1991 COACH Weis 5th consecutive SWC championship

Jamie Fischer is the SWC medalist.

1991-1992- Coach Weis- Finished second at the SWC tournament but recovered to finish 6TH nationally.

Piper Wagner was the only senior on this team. There were many questions about its quality, but those thoughts were misplaced. The Longhorns once again were a top-10 NCAA golf team, at #6.

Nadine Cooper, a Sophomore, walks on and wins a place on the team. Nadine learned golf from Harvey Penick, and Nadine Ash and Nicole Cooper are chosen to join a United States team at the World University Golf Championship in Madrid, Spain. Nicole wins the tournament, and the United States wins as a team.

Jenny Turner is the highest finisher from the state of Texas at the NCAA tournament. She finished 2nd at the SWC meet.

The team is victorious in five tournaments, including the SWC championship.

1992- 1993-Coach Weis SWC and 2nd in the Nation.

Coach says the 1992-1993 team was the most unselfish team she coached. Each player supported the effort of their teammates

The Horns won the SWC by 54 strokes, their seventh championship. Nadine Ash was the SWC player of the year, and Coach Weis was the SWC Coach of the year. The Horns had the top four scores at the SWC championship.

After 20 years as head coach of the Longhorn women’s golf team, Pat Weis retires. Nadine Cash, Angela Wray, and Jenny Turner made sure that Pat’s last year was a success with a 4th place finish at nationals. Ash was the SWC player of the year, and Weis was the Coach of the Year.

After a player begs Coach Weis to play her in a tournament, Coach says, “Let your clubs do the talking, not your mouth!”.

Nicole Cooper walks on to make the UT women’s golf team.  With special instruction from Harvey Penick, she develops into a consummate golfer.  She and Nadine Cash represent the USA in the World University Golf Championship in Madrid, Spain.  Nicole took individual honors, and the USA won as a team.  Her final two holes of the match were a pressure cooker, but Harvey’s comment helped smooth her nerves.  He said to her before she left for the tournament, ” take dead aim” She did!!!!

Reflection Point

1993—The Weis Cup, an annual event, was started as a way for current and former players to compete against each other.

To read more about the UT women’s Golf program and Pat Weis, there is a great book available.

Coach Patty Fendick-McCain-  2006- 2014

• Record at Texas – 145-70

• Two big 12 championships (2012 and 2013)

• Round of 16 (2008, 2010, 2012)

2005-2006

2006-2007- women’s tennis- was ranked 20th in the nation- Coach Patty McCain- 12- 4 record

2007 women’s tennis –    Horns are #19 down from #3 in 2006 – Horns beat UC-Irvine 4-0 in the first round of the NCAA tennis championships.

2007-2008- 17-8 Ranked 23rd  Coach Patty Fendick-McCain Pending

The Horns lost to Baylor in the Big 12 championship and to Pepperdine in the NCAA Tournament. Vanja Corivic led the team to the Big 12 championship.

Vanja Corovic

• 2008 NCAA Doubles Championships participant
• 2008 All-Big 12 singles and doubles
• 2007 NCAA Singles Championships participant
• 2007 Big 12 Freshman and Newcomer of the Year
• 2007 All-Big 12 singles and doubles

All Conference in singles and doubles 2006 and 2007.

•2008 NCAA Doubles Championships participant

•2008 All-Big 12 doubles

•2007 All-Big 12 doubles

•2008, 2007 Academic All-Big 12 (first team) and all Conference in doubles in 2006 and 2007.

2008-2009-  Coach Patty Fendick-McCain Pending

2010- 19-6 Ranked 16th  Coach Patty Fendick-McCain Pending

Photo above Sarah Lancaster hits a backhand against Tessa Lang of Iowa State. She won the competition.

Qualifies for round of 16 but loses to Baylor.

2011-17-8 Ranked 23rd Coach Patty Fendick-McCain Pending

Qualifies for 2nd round but loses to Miami.

2012-19-8 Ranked 10th  Coach Patty Fendick-McCain

Qualifies for round of 16, then loses to Georgia.

2013- 18-11 ranked 17th nationally

Team makes it to the round of 16  but loses to Virginia

Courtney Zauft and Marija Milic

Edgar O. and Melanie  A. Weller Tennis Center opens at a cost of 8 million dollars.

2014- 13-13 RANKED 22nd Pending

Qualifies for the second round but loses to Texas A & M

Coach Danielle Lund McNamara 2015

One year and done- Coach McNamara resigns – UT posted a 10-11 mark during the 2015 spring dual-match season, including a 6-3 record in Big 12 Conference play.

The team qualifies for 2nd round but loses to Virginia.

2016 to present – coach Howard Joffe

“There’s a tradition of excellence within the women’s tennis program here, not only in having won national and conference titles but also in producing very fine athletes and students,” Joffe said upon his hire.  “I’m cognizant of the charge and the responsibility, but I’m very confident that I’ll be able to work with the student-athletes and the administration to continue that tradition of excellence.”

“We’re extremely pleased to land a coach of Howard’s character and caliber,” UT Women’s Athletics Director Chris Plonsky said upon Joffe’s hire.  “He is a proven winner.  Howard was a very competitive student-athlete himself.  He was mentored by an exceptional coach, and after pursuing coaching himself, he has found it to be a perfect landscape for him.  He’s driven to excellence, cares about his student-athletes, and is inspired by the combination of an institution with academic excellence and high goals for championship performance.”

Courtney Dolehide is a former All-America tennis player at UCLA. She assumed her position at Texas in January 2015 and was retained by first-year Texas head coach Howard Joffe upon his hiring in June 2015.

2016- History of Tennis is completed – more will be added later.

The team makes the round of 16

Before Title IX, Longhorn women’s sports built a strong foundation with club and intramural competition. I hope, with time, the TLSN website can add more historical insight and tell the full and compelling story of how UT women enhanced the Longhorn brand.

Coach Jeff Moore-  1982-2005

Jeff Moore is acknowledged as a prolific innovator, popular speaker, and expert clinician. As his record shows, Jeff was an outstanding tennis coach for the Lady Longhorns! His squad was always comprised of true scholar-athletes. Jeff is truly a classy guy who knows how to succeed. Further, he is always available to help others achieve their goals or missions! Jim Deitrick

In 1983, Coach Moore was the Longhorns’ fourth women’s tennis coach in seven years. Not a good testimonial reflecting the continuity of the women’s tennis program at U.T.

Coach Moore’s journey to greatness took time. Most Epiphanies occur in a flash, but for Coach Moore, his was a slow-motion process, requiring trial-and-error to find the right recruiting combination to build a successful Tennis program. For six years, Coach Moore’s learning curve looked more like the stock market chart during the Wuhan virus pandemic.

Part of coaching is an art cultivated over time. Laszlo Bock said, “that human beings (and institutions) are complicated, thorny, messy things, but those unquantifiable qualities are also what make magic happen.” In 1988, Jeff managed to quantify the unquantifiable and was able to turn the tennis program around, not with voodoo magic or allusions, but with the consummate skills of a Tennis Picasso. Coach Moore learned to connect isolated elements of the tennis team’s dynamics and create a big-picture view of success.

The Epiphany

Jeff says in his book Strive Together, “I learned that knowing what you don’t know is what fuels personal growth and development .” Coach Moore says, “Success in sports requires a player to commit to self, team, and coach.” While Jeff’s formula sounds easy, it is not. Coaching that focuses on self, team, and coach requires nuance coaching, attention to detail, and making hard choices. Coach Moore learned how to draw out each of his players’ competitive spirit. Coach Moore used the art of psychology to maximize team performance in an individual sport.

• Coach Moore says, Developing a competitive relationship to self involves understanding that you’re going to have to compete with yourself if you want to improve.

• As for the team -players must move out of their comfort zone and compete against each other for the good of the organization.

• As for the relationship to Coach Jeff says, “it is important that the coach be respected. Coach’s don’t need to be liked by the players, but they do need to be respected.”

 Jeff makes the point that true leaders must have an inner drive to reach beyond one’s grasp and to adapt and reinvent themselves when the situation calls for it.

By 1988, his formula for success moved Texas from an above-average regional tennis team to elite national status. Honors to him, his players, and UT reached a well-deserved crescendo.

The Honors

Coaching

1. No. 2 in Division I women’s tennis all-time victories (594)

2. 1999 tri-Big 12 Coach of the Year

3. 1997 Co-Big 12 Coach of the Year

4. 1993 National Coach of the Year

5. Six-time Southwest Region Coach of the Year

6. Eight-time Southwest Conference Coach of the Year

   Team

7. 1993 & 1995 NCAA National Champions

8. NCAA National Champion runner-up (1992, 2005)

9. 10 top-5 NCAA finishes (1984, 1990, 1992-98, 2005)

10. Seven-time Big 12 Conference regular-season champions
    (1997, ’98, ’99, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004 [*co-champions])

11. Seven-time Big 12 Conference Tournament Champions
    (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005)

12. Won 11 of 14 Southwest Conference regular- season championships

13. Won nine consecutive SWC Tournament titles (1988-95)

    Student-Athlete Accomplishments
    

14. 19 All-Americans

15. 10 Academic All-America honors

16. 13 have gone on to professional tennis careers

17. 13 Conference Players of the Year awards

18. 44 Academic All-Conference honorees

19. 13 First Team Academic All-Big 12 Conference honorees

20. Eight Academic All-Southwest Conference honorees

Sports psychology podcast, mental game of sports expert, Dr. Patrick Cohn, interviews coach Jeff Moore. 

Jeff Moore and Dr. Cohn discussed the mental dynamic of practice, emotional toughness, and how to design practice to address physical, mental, and emotional stress. This way, athletes create a positive transfer from practice to competition.

Listen to this month’s sports psychology podcast to learn how to improve your performance in sports and other mental game barriers that limit your performance.

To learn more about Coach Moore, visit http://mooreleadership.com/home.

1982- 1983 29-7 ranked 5th Coach Jeff Moore- SWC champions

Team finished 8-0 in SWC and 28-6 overall.  Kathleen Cummings compiles a 28-1 record in singles and is ranked 9th nationally.  Beverly Bowes’ record was 21-4.  SWC champion. Moore was Coach of the Year in the SWC.  Texas beat powerhouses Florida, Indiana, and San Diego State for the first time ever.

Sweet Dreams are made of this is the top of the charts in Coach Moore’s first year as Head Coach of the Longhorn women’s tennis team.

Kirsten McKeen

Jeff Moore believed in discipline, commitment, and conditioning.  Team compiled a 64-8 record in conference action this year and a 21-9 record in dual matches. The Horns were undefeated In SWC play.  Ellis was the #1 Longhorn player with Greiwe a close second at 7-1 during the SWC competition. Stewart was 3rd and Johnasen 4th but both were undefeated in conference play.  McKeen received the SWC scholar-athlete award.

Mary Jo Giammalva comes from a tennis rich family that has spawned great tennis players Sammy and Tony Giammalva.

 During Coach Moore’s first 6 years as the Longhorn women’s tennis coach, the teams were good to excellent on a regional basis but were never considered one of the elite national teams. Coach Moore even conceded in his book, Strive Together that the Longhorn women’s Tennis program was not improving under his watch.

The 1983 team holds the record for most wins in a season (29)

Horns Lose to California in First round of the NCAA tournament

1983-1984- 24-3 ranked 9th Coach Jeff Moore

Jeff Moore recruited two world-ranked tennis players and Robyn Field, from south Africa.

Construction of a new Tennis facility begins. This was the highest-ranked Longhorn team to start the season. Beverly Bowes is the number 1 tennis player and wins the ITCA Indoor Singles Champion.

Walk-on Cathy Flaig and Kristen Guszak make the tennis team.

This was Texas’ 4th time to qualify for the national collegiate tennis tournament.  7 of the 15 top tennis colleges visited Texas this year.

Becky Callan is a Doubles ITA All American and is all Conference in Doubles in 1984 and 1985.

Robyn Field is All Conference in singles in 1984 and doubles in 1986.

 Kathleen Cummings is a singles ITA All American in 1984, and a member of the 80’s All Decade team. She is All Conference in Singles in 1983.

Horns Lose to San Diego State  in the NCAA quarterfinals

1984-1985- 11-12 ranked 9th Coach Jeff Moore

Diana Dopson is a Doubles ITA All American and a Singles ITA All American. She is All Conference in doubles in 1985.

Texas loses to Oklahoma State in first round of NCAA tournament.

1985- 1986-18-8 Ranked 12th- Coach Jeff Moore

 Anne Grousbeck- singles ITA All American 1986, 1987, 1988 and All Conference in 1987 in singles.

Lanae Renschler is All Conference in doubles in 1986.

 Horns Lose to California  in first round.

1986-1987-16-11 ranked 18th nationally -Coach Jeff Moore

Top of the Charts 1987- Walk like an Egyptian

 Beverly Bowes is a singles All American in 1984, 1985, 1987 and a All-American in doubles in 1984.  Beverly is also Conference Player of the year in 1984 and 1986. She is a member of the 1980’s All Decade team.

Diane Merrett is All Conference in singles in 1987 and conference player of the year in 1988.

 Horns lose to Trinity in first round of the NCAA tournament.

1988-19-8 Ranked 9th Nationally Coach Jeff Moore

The horns win the SWC, but the team is injury plagued. Groesbeck and Merrett carry the team. Ann Grousbeck is the #1 ranked player on the Texas team.

Texas overcame injury and stiff competition to win the 5th SWC championship in 6 years. Diana Merrett led the orns with wins in the #2 single spot and with Stacie Otten in the #2 doubles spot. Michelle Carrier and Lanae Renschler captured the #3 doubles crown. It was Texas 6th time in the NCAA tournament but 17th-seeded Texas lost to Pepperdine.

Three time All-American Anne Grousbeck

1989- 26-5 Ranked 4th nationally Coach Jeff Moore

Bob Knight said, “The key is not the will to win everyone has that it is the will to prepare to win that is important.”

Jeff Moore took this message to heart, and good things start to happen for Texas women’s tennis.

Women were undefeated in regular season play, winning the SWC championship and ranked 13th nationally but lost to Georgia in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Diana Merrett, Texas’s #1 player, and Carla Cossa both won 30 matches this year.

Susan is also an ITA All-American and National singles and doubles winner from 1990- 1993 and holds the Texas seasonal record for doubles wins. (38-9) and Texas career record in doubles of (122-24).

1990-23-5 3rd at Nationals Coach Jeff Moore

Women’s Tennis continues to dominate the SWC. The women-only lose one SWC match from 1982 -1990.

Women – From 1982 to 1990, the women’s tennis team only lost in 1986. In 1990, the Horns were 8-0 in SWC play. It was their third straight SWC title. They were ranked 7th in the nation. Susan Gilchrist was one of the top recruits in the country, ranked #12. She was SWC Player of the Year. Joanna Plautz made the All-SWC team in doubles. The team made the NCAA semi-finals, losing to Stanford.

During this year, the Horns are ranked 7th nationally. Susan Gilchrist is ranked 12th in the nation, is SWC player of the year, and is the regular-season champion. In the NCAA tournament, the Longhorns beat Duke, California, but lost to Stanford in the semi-finals. Texas is the lowest-seeded team to ever advance to the final four.

Carla Cossa ITA singles All American 1990. All Conference in singles 1988-1990.

Joanna Plautz ITA doubles All-American in 1990 and 1991. All Conference in singles and doubles in 1988 and doubles in 1989 and 1990.

1992 25-4 record Coach Jeff Moore – Horns make the NCAA semi-finals

From 1982-1992, Coach Moore’s teams compiled a dual record of 228-74 and produced 19 All-Americans, including Susan Gilchrist and Vickie Paynter.  His teams produced 24 All-SWCC champions in 300 career victories.   It still hurts, but Texas set a school record with 25 wins and one loss this year. Unfortunately, the one loss was to Stanford in the semifinal round.

After high school, Vickie Paynter has a respectable national ranking but is not high enough to attract scholarship offers from the top schools. Coach Moore disagrees with this implicit rejection of her talents and offers her a scholarship because he likes the “fire in her belly.”

Coach Moore says, “Susan is aggressive to the net, approaching the game like a skilled surgeon.” Her lefty serves are precise, and she can hit volleys with an exquisite touch.

Susan Gilchrist, Vickie Paynter, and Carla Cossa are the nucleus of this super team. Elite tennis schools passed over all three, and each was driven by the internal and external motivation to prove the “elites” wrong.

Vickie was the first to get revenge, beating the #2 Stanford seed in the NCAA tournament.

The Horns upset Stanford to advance to the NCAA finals. Texas broke Stanford’s 53-match home win streak and a string of five consecutive national titles. The victory was heralded as one of the biggest upsets in college sports that year.

Two-time All-American Carla Cossa and four-time All-American Susan Gilchrist were the cornerstones for an excellent year for the Lady Longhorn tennis team. First-year students Kelly Pace, Ashley Johnson, and Jennifer Nasser are a great help to this year’s team.

The doubles team of Gilchrist and Paynter is ranked first in the nation. Coach Moore says that they are the best doubles team in the history of UT women’s tennis.

Horns shock defending national champion Stanford in the Semi-Finals beating them 5-3. The Horns lose in the finals to Florida 3-5 and the Horns double team loses to UCLA.

 Vickie Paynter ITA All American singles and doubles 1992, ’93

 This team holds the record for most All Conference players (8)

1992- 1993-25-1 Ranked #1 Coach Jeff Moore

1992-1993- 13 years as the tennis coach for Texas Coach Moore Texas winning percentage is .775. Texas wins the national championship this year .  Team finishes 21-4  with a 10-0 mark in SWC play. It is Texas 11th straight NCAA bid.  All 4 losses were against top 10 teams.  Susan Gilchrist is ranked 7th , Kelly Pace #10, and Jackie Moe is #35 nationally.  Jeff Moore receives the ITA Wilson/Coach of the Year award  for the Southwest region. Susan Gilchrist, Kelly Pace , and Vickie Paynter all receive regional and/or national honors.  All three are among the five finalists for the national award in their respective categories.  Coach Morre is Coach of the Year.   Susan Gilchrist receives a post-graduate scholarship.  Vickie Paynter is the Southwest regional winner of the Tennis Magazine/Arthur Ashe Collegiate Award .

This team became the lowest seeded team to win the NCAA championship in the history of college tennis.

 Best season ever in women’s tennis at UT

This team holds the Texas season record for winning percentage (.961)

National Champions

With four All-Americans, the 1993 Longhorns win their first-ever NCAA Championship in women’s tennis. Susan Gilchrist leads the Longhorns with a 31-9 singles record, and Kelly Pace and Jackie Moe reach the 30-win plateau. Vickie Paynter is a four-time All-American. All four players finished the season ranked in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Top 50 in singles. In doubles, Gilchrist and Paynter finish as the ITA top-ranked squad in the country.

Vickie Paynter is a ITA All American in  singles and doubles in 1994 and 1995 . Vickie is All Conference in singles in 1992 and 1993. She Holds The Career Winning Percentage For Doubles (.866)

 Jill Craybas is All Conference in singles in 1993.

1993-1994- 26-3  finishes 3rd at Ncaa- Coach Jeff Moore

 Lucie Ludvigova is a ITA singles All American in 1994 and 1995, Conference Player of the year in 1993, and All Conference in singles and doubles in 1993 and singles in 1994.

HOH inductee in 2016

Jackie Moe is a ITA All American in singles 1993 and doubles 1994 and All Conference in singles and doubles in 1993 and 1994.

The 1994  team sets the season record for Most All Americans (6)

1994- 1995- 22-6 National Champions Coach Jeff Moore

Coach Moore said in his book Striving Together “when Texas played Florida in tennis for the national championship, Texas had to sweep both doubles to win. No team had ever pulled that off in the history of the NCAA championship finals.”

One of his players on the Texas doubles team was Farley Taylor, an under the radar recruit from Montana. She had not played in as many tournaments as most of her peers, but she was a superbly gifted athlete who learned to compete as a Little League pitcher.

Her teammates tagged her with the nickname, Bambi. Her backhand was anemic, but that often didn’t matter because her forehand and serve were explosive. True to her roots as a baseball pitcher, she hit fastballs on the tennis court with precision accuracy that kept the opponent on defense. The path to the national championship was through Farley and her doubles partner Anne Pastor.

It was unlike Coach Moore to micromanage during tournament play. Until the Florida matchup, Coach Moore believed that knowing how to win matches was a function of practice. The national championship was at stake, and micromanaging was the theme of the day. Coach Moore morphed into both the drill Sargent and cheerleader for Farley and Anne. Coaching them on virtually every point by calling serves, returns, and poaches as a catcher calls pitches.

Kelly Pace wins 152 single matches for a .863 winning percentage, and  is a ITA All American in singles 1993, ’94, ’95 and in doubles in 1994, ’95. She is Conference Player of the year in 1994.

Kelly Pace holds the Texas record for most single career wins (152-24)

Kelly Pace Wilson Induction video starts at 1:07.

Melody Falco is All Conference in doubles in 1995.

1995 -1996- 24-6 Ranked 3rd nationally and SWC champions Coach Jeff Moore

1995-1996  – Farley Taylor is SWC player of the year.  Coach Moore says “Losers think winning is possible, but it may be too difficult. Winners think winning may be difficult, but it is possible.”  Texas played 7 of the top 11 teams this season. .  Anne Pastor is diagnosed with Graves disease. Injuries hurt the team this season.

All American Kelly Pace is ranked #1 nationally.

All-American Lucie Ludigova in one year jumps from #24 to #1 nationally.

1996- 1997-23-6 ranked 3rd Coach Jeff Moore

Cristina Moros is Big 12 player of the year in 1996, All-Conference in singles in 1997, and doubles 1995,1996, and 1997. She is an ITA double All American  1995,’96,’98, and singles 1997

Horns qualify for the semifinals but lose to Florida

1997- 1998-21-7 Ranked 17th Coach Jeff Moore

Sandy Sureephong is a 4 time All American and two time Big 12 player of the year who participates in 3 Top 5 NCAA finishes. HOH inductee

Sandy Sureephong is Big 12 Player of the Year in 1996 and 1997.

Sandy Sureephong is an  ITA All American singles and doubles  in 1997 and 1998.

Kaysie Smashey is All Conference in doubles

1998-1999- 24-6 ranked 8th- Coach Moore won with creativity and new techniques.

 THE YEAR OF THE JOURNAL AND THE “EMOTIONAL EKG”

Lucie Schmidhauser is the assistant coach.

The journal and emotional EKG  gauged the attitude and progress of the players over the season.

Janet Walker and Laura Berendt lead the Horns to the teams 12th straight conference title. Sandy Sureephong  earned the #1 spot on the team.  The Longhorns extended their conference win streak to 107 matches.

This was Jeff Moore’s 17 years  as the Texas Tennis Coach.

Vladka Uhlirova is All Confernce in singles and doubles 1999-2001

Michelle Faucher is All Conference in singles 1996-1999.

Longhorns Qualify for 2nd round but lose to Miami

1999- 2000- 21-9 ranked 13th Coach Jeff Mooore

Hit em where they ain’t – baseball legend “Wee” Willie Keeler.

   Coach Moore works hard in building a “Court Presents” in tournament play.  Rebekah Forney says “We try to look the same whether we win a point or lose a point, therefore our opponent never knows what’s on our mond- we don’t want to give them any advantage.”

Faucher is a 4 time all-conference selection,  Uhlirova and Walker are  named All big 12 in doubles.

In February the women’s team hit the century mark in victories over Big 12 opponents in a row.   Moore said “ the difference between having a great team and having a great program is consistency”, and in order to be consistent , you have to have Hard working athletes in your program.”

The Team Qualifies for Round of 16, then loses to UCLA

2000-2001- 23-6 ranked 10th Coach Moore Pending

Janet Walker – Tennis 2000-2001

The Horns were the #1 seed in the Big 12 championships with a #15 national ranking and a #15 national ranking.   Moore’s record as of this championship tournament was 417-119 in 19 seasons.

Janet Walker spent most of the season with a strained rotator cuff. She is the only senior on the team.  During Walker’s years as a Longhorn, the record was 82-76, with a a 41-0 run against Big 12 foes.  Her .775 winning record in doubles is the 5th best in Horn’s history.

The Horns qualify for the Round of 16 then lose to Duke

2001-2002- 11-15 Ranked 33rd Coach Moore pending

The Horns advanced to the round of 16 before losing to Wake Forest.

Kendra Strohm is conference Freshman of the Year and is All Conference in singles in 2002 and doubles in 2003 and 2004.

 Ziva Grasic is All Conference in doubles 2001 and 2002.

2002-2003-23-6 Ranked 12th- Coach Jeff Moore

 21st consecutive appearance to the NCAA championships dating back to 1983.  1993 and 1995 national champions, runner up in 1992 and 3rd in 1990 and 1994. Kendra Storhm was the Big 12 conference freshman of the year.  Coach Moore was #2 nationally in wins by Division I coaches.

Katie Ruckert is All Conference in 2003 in singles and doubles in 2004.

The team loses in the first round to Tulane.

2003- 2004- 25-6 Ranked 3rd Coach Jeff Moore

Mia Marovic is All Conference in singles in 2004 and singles and doubles in 2004 and 2005. She wins the team MVP.

 She Qualifies for 2nd round, then loses to Arizona State.

2004- 2005-  25-6 Coach Jeff Moore – final 4

Courtney Zauft All Conference 2005 doubles and 2007 singles.

Petra Dizdar is an All-Conference singles player in 2003- 2005, Freshman Conference player of the year, team academic MVP, and a recipient of a postgraduate scholarship.

Team Qualifies for the finals but loses to Stanford

 1974-1975 Coach Jack Daniels

This was the women’s track team’s first year. 41 students participated.

1975-1976

This team includes Sheryl Copeland a hurdler, Carol Sheffield in the 880, and Susan Abernathy a standout runner.

1977 – Coach Jack Daniels

1978 pending more information

 Horns place 2nd at the Texas Women’s University Invitational, with Julia Campbell winning the 1500 meter and Carol Finsrud winning the discus and mile.

1979 pending more information

Horn women return five runners from the 1978 State Champions.  Tracksters win the regionals but fall well short of their goal at the national meet.  Kelly Wells leads the way in state and regional competition.  14 qualified for the NCAA championships, and all but two school records are broken.

198o- Coach Phil Delevan- Carol pending more informtion

Texas women place 2nd at the TAIAW track meet.   It was a team effort with only two Longhorns winning their events- Tammy Etienne in the 400 hurdles and Laura Messner in the discus. The Horns also won the 1600 meter relay

1981 pending Coach Phil Delvan

All-American hurdler Tammy Etienne, Robbin Coleman, and discus thrower Laura Messner lead the team in 1981, breaking five school records and two stadium records. Still, these records at AIAW nationals are not good enough to win any points at the National meet.

Jo Beth Palmer wins the shot put at the Louisiana  State Invitational.  Robbin Coleman, Tara Arnold, and Heidi Hansen also win their events.

Julie Holmes is recognized as National Champion as a member of the 4 x 400 in 1981, and she is a 5 time All American.

Coach Terry Crawford 1982-1992

Coach Crawford was an expert in human physiology, kinesiology, and running. She wanted her athletes to understand the science of the sport. She was adamant that women in sports should develop from the inside out to be complete individuals and consummate athletes.

1976-1992 Coach Crawford –

Terry Crawford ran track at Tennessee in the 70’s and won three national middle distance championships;

Competed at the Pan American games;

Coached Tennessee for 11 years; and

Terry Crawford Is The Only Woman Inducted Into The Hall Of Honor In The Cross Country Category;

Her Longhorn teams won 5 national Championships, including the Indoor Championship in 1986, 1988, and 1990, and the Outdoor Championships in 1982 and 1986. Crawford’s athletes also won the 1986 Women’s Cross Country National Championship.

1982- Coach Terry Crawford AIAW National Champions

Coach Crawford is the only triple Crown winner in the The History Of Longhorn Track.

Texas wins the 1982 AIAW outdoor National team title

Etienne, Holmes, Sherfield, Coleman are National Champions in the the 4 x 100

I am looking for better photos of these great athletes.

• Tara Arnold is the National Champion as a member of the 4 x 800 relay and a 6-time All-American.

• Susan Bean is a three-time All-American and a national champion in the 4 x 100 and 4 x 400 relays.

• Hollie Denny is a three-time All-American and a national champion in the 4 x 100 and 800 medley relay.

• Lorri Kokkola is the national champion of Javelin, and she is a two-time All-American.

• Sharon Neugebauer is a two-time All-American and a four-time national champion in the 4 x 800.

• Donna Sherfield was a National Champion in the 4 x 400 and 4 x 100 relays in 1981 and 1982 and is an 8-time All-American.

• Florence Walker is a National Champion in the 4 x 400 and 4 x 800 and a six-time All-American.

(I am looking for better pictures of these  athletes.)

 JoBeth Palmer placed fifth in the discus at the 1982 AIAW National Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

1983 Coach Terry Crawford ranked 11th Nationally

TOPPING THE CHARTS IN 1983

Five school records were broken: Susan Shurr in the 200 meters, Arnold in the 1500 meters, and Cuthbert in the 100 meters. Two school relay records were also broken, but the Horns did not score as a team in the NCAA tournament.

 1984 Coach Terry Crawford ranked 14th nationally

Three individuals and two relays qualified for the NCAA indoor national championship track meet.

 Second in the SWC tournament and 14th in the Indoor national championship meet.

Three individuals – Tara Arnold, Teri Smajatria, and Terri Turner qualified for the NCAA championship, and two relay teams also made the journey.

 1985- Coach Terry Crawford Texas is runner-up to the national champions

In 1985 and 1986, Juliet Cuthbert receives the Honda-Broderick award as National Track & Field Athlete of the Year and the Jumbo Elliot Award. She is a 12-time All-American.

As of June 2020, the relay team of Barbara Flowers, Mary Bolden, Carlette Guidry, and Karol Davidson still hold the NCAA record in the spring medley 3:41:97.

1986 Coach Terry Crawford indoor, Cross Country, and Outdoor National champions

Annie Schweitzer is the National Champion in the 5000M and a member of the HOH, and she is a six-time All-American. (looking for picture)

1987 COACH TERRY CRAWFORD Indoor National Champion

In 1987, the Longhorns backed into the Indoor National Championship. They initially finished 2nd to Alabama, but Alabama used an ineligible player, so Texas was crowned national champion.

1988 COACH TERRY CRAWFORD Indoor National Champion

9 Horns were named All-America finishing no less than 6th at the national meet. .

Roberts, Bolden, Guidry, and Flowers win the National Championship in the 4 x 400 Meter.

9 team members were named All-Americans.  Guidry set two school records,  was the top performer at Nationals, and the first woman track star to win two individual events at the NCAA National Championship.

 1989- COACH TERRY CRAWFORD- swc champs

For the fifth consecutive season, the Lady Longhorns won the SWC indor title. Carlette Guidry won three events.

Barbara Flowers is recognized as a National Champion as part of the 4 x 400 in 1988 and 1989 and is a 6 time All American.

Leslie Hardison is recognized as a National Champion as a member of the 4 x 400 in 1989.

Kellie Roberts is recognized as National champion as a member of the  4 x 400 relay in 1998,1999, and 2000, and she is an 8 time All American.

 1990 Coach Terry Crawford Indoor National Champion

Horns win the SWC and the Indoor national championship. Carlette Guidry, Angie Bradburn, Sandie Richards, and Kellie Roberts lead the team. Guidry receives the outstanding achievement award for her accomplishments in 1989.

Roberts, Guidry, Ates, Richards win the National Championship in the 4 x 400 Meter.

Angie Bradburn is National Champion in the high jump in 1988 and 1990. She is recognized five times as an All-American and is inducted into the HOH.

Nicole Ates is recognized as the National Champion as part of the 4 x 400. She is recognized four times as an All-American. (looking for better photo quality.)

Sandie Richards is a National Champion as part of the 4 x 400 relay, and she is a 7-time All-American.

1991 Coach Terry Crawford Runner up to National Champions

Horns are SWC indoor champions. The 7th straight title. Crawford is SWC Indoor Track Coach of the year for the 3rd time.

Eileen Vanisi was the National Champion in the shotput in 1991 and 1994. She was inducted into the HOH in 2010 and is also an eight-time All-American.

Tamela Saldana was recognized as a National Champion as a member of the  4 x 100 in 1991 and the 4 x 400 in 1989, and she is a 6-time All-American.

Michelle Williams- NCAA Indoor National Championship team in 89-90 and – a member of the 4×100 relay team that won the national championship during the 1991 track season.

1991 -1992 Coach Terry Crawford won the SWC – Coach Crawford resigned – She had 5 national championships for the Horns.

Horns won the indoor and outdoor SWC championship for the 7th time. and she placed second at the NCAA indoor meet. Coach Crawford chooses to resign at the end of the 1992 season to coach Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo. She is one of the best coaches ever at Texas! She led Texas to 5 NCAA championships in 8 years. She coached the women’s track team to an SWC indoor championship in her final year as a Longhorn.

During Crawford’s seven-year reign, the Longhorns had never placed lower than fourth at the NCAA meet. 17-time All-American Guidry won the 55-meter and 200-meter events.

TOP OF THE CHARTS IN 1992

Monica Hays was the top scorer for the Horns. Shola Lynch wins the 800 meters, Kellie Roberts finishes first in the 400 meters, and Davina Manship wins the 5000 meters.

During the outdoor season, the Horns finish first in the SWC. Roberts scored the most points in the SWC meet, Lynch shattered the meet record in 1500, Manship won the 3000 meters, and Vanisi won the discus. Shola Lynch was an All-American in 1992.

Track Coach – Sue Humphrey

 SUE IS AN OLYMPIAN

Sue Humphrey was the Head Manager for the USA women’s Olympic track & field team in 1992, an Assistant Coach for the women’s team in 1996, and the Head Coach for the women’s team in 2004. Charles Austin, one of the athletes Sue coached, won the 1996 Olympic Gold Medal in the men’s high jump, setting an Olympic Record of 7’10”, which still stands!

Please welcome Sue Humphrey to the celebration of Longhorn Sports History.

The Longhorns hired Sue Humphrey in 1984 as assistant women’s field event coach. She was part of a coaching contingent that produced 4 NCAA team titles in 5 years. She takes special pride in working with individual National Champions Carlette Guidry, Terri Turner, & Angie Bradburn. Sue is the only female to coach NCAA individual champions in the Long, triple, and high jumps.

From 1992-1995, Sue assisted Stan Huntsman’s men’s track & field team working with Richard Duncan, the first Longhorn athlete to qualify for NCAA Nationals in the long jump, triple & high jump.

Sue returned to UT for the 2010-2011 season as a volunteer coach for Bev Kearney’s women’s team, helping with the high jumpers & pole vaulters.

UT started women’s athletics in 1974. At that time it was Intercollegiate Athletics for Women. Susan Abernathy, Julie Campbell, Susan Davis, and Carol Sheffield would capture the TAIAW state 2-mile relay state championship. In 1981, UT was the host for T&F Champions, Division I. UCLA would dominate the meet. UT women have captured 6 indoor and outdoor national championships. 19 Longhorns have competed in the Summer

Longhorn Olympians have won 18 total medals (9 gold)

https://www.texaslsn.org/michelle-adamolekun-trackl

Horn Olympians

https://www.texaslsn.org/longhorn-women-track-olympians

Erin Aldrich – Volleyball and Track 1999- Hard on herself and hard on teammates

Aldrich says she enjoys individual sports (high jump) more than team sports. Many who know Erin say they have never met anyone as competitive as Erin.” Her years as a Longhorn were focused on school and competing. There was little time for socializing with her schedule and goals. Sports were the focus of her life, and she confirmed that statement in 1999 when she said: “I do believe and hope that I can hold the world record in the high jump.”

The volleyball coach Jim Moore said, “I’m convinced Erin could be the best volleyball player who has ever played in this country.” “She’s so good already, and she only does it four or five months a year. She has gifts for volleyball that no one has ever had.”

 In Sports, Illustrated Erin is quoted as saying, “I find myself in volleyball being so focused on what I need to do, and a little bit closed off from my teammates.” She says about the volleyball team “Our biggest problem is holding each other accountable. ” Aldrich says. “If somebody makes a bad play, we don’t look at her and say, ‘You need to get that ball.’ Instead, we’re like ‘O.K., guys, we’ll do better.’ We are so nice to each other; I can’t believe it. It’s just crazy how cohesive we are. We are way too cohesive.”

04.07.2006

The full article about Sheretta Jones: “Finishing the race strong” is told at Texassports.com .

Sheretta Jones

NCAA champion, All-American, two-time Big 12 champion, six-time All-Big 12, NCAA and Texas record-holder in the distance medley relay, just to name a few highlights.

Moreover, beyond her track accomplishments are another set of achievements in the classroom. The epitome of a student-athletes, Jones also will receive her degree in the highly-competitive major of business administration at the end of the May.

Her collegiate and high school All-American honors go hand-in-hand with her valedictorian honor coming out of high school, where she was ranked No. 1 academically at Houston’s Forest Brook HS. Add to that the Academic All-Big 12 First Team honors and College Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-District plaudits, and you easily see that Sheretta’s future plans not only include a professional career, but plans for graduate school as well.

“Academically, I’ve achieved more than I ever thought I could achieve. When I got [to Texas], I went above and beyond those obstacles to achieve more than I expected,” Jones said. “But, it wasn’t as hard to achieve, academically as it has been athletically, to be honest. I have to work so much harder to earn athletic accolades. I can’t really say which recognition I enjoy the most, or which one is better. Here at UT, you are on a pedestal in your sport and in the classroom, and being a Longhorn student-athlete just makes you work even harder to do more than you’ve done already.”

One of the biggest struggles athletes face when they arrive on the UT campus is balancing the heavy demands of school and sports. However, Jones has been in the rhythm of multi-tasking for many years.

“I’ve done this [juggled school and track] for so long, ever since I was nine, so it’s kind of second nature,” she explained. “The question which would be hard to answer would be how would I balance not having track in my life, not having the two to compliment each other. Doing both doesn’t even affect me and I don’t even think twice about it,” Jones said.

This shift in priorities proved useful when Texas and head coach Bev Kearney came calling offered a scholarship, to which Jones was eager to sign.

“They had the best academic and athletic combination that was best suited for me. It wasn’t too far from home, and there were two big No. 1’s facing me. My major program was ranked number one nationally in UT’s business school, and Texas had the number one women’s track team, so why not?” Jones said.

“I’m also applying to graduate school, so upon acceptance to graduate school, I would start classes in August,” noted Jones. “I’ll possibly venture into a professional track career if it’s feasible and if a contract is available once I graduate and my eligibility is done.”

Never one to stop learning, it could also be said that these four years have been one long learning experience for Jones. Not only has she learned perseverance and benefits of hard work, but Jones has discovered the secret to success.

Michelle Carter

Shot Diva

By Kate Hull in Nov | Dec 2016, Special, Sports, TXEX on November 2, 2016, at 9:10 am | No Comments

Alcalde Magazine

Shot putter Michelle Carter is at the top of her game.

When Michelle Carter stepped into the throwing circle for her final heave at the 2016 Rio Olympics, the podium was within her reach; she was slotted to win silver. The distance to beat was 20.42 meters, held by two-time gold medalist Valerie Adams of New Zealand. In her third Olympic appearance, Carter was ready and focused—and not willing to settle for second place.

Hey, this is it. You might as well go for the gold, she thought to herself.

Then she unleashed a throw of 20.63 meters that shattered the American record and made Carter the first U.S. woman ever to win gold in shot put. She also became the first American woman to stand on the Olympic shot put podium in more than 50 years.

“I couldn’t believe it happened,” she says. “It is great to let the world know the USA women are competitors internationally in [shot put] and are capable of winning major championships—it opens doors for other women to see that these things are possible.”

A Red Oak, Texas, native, Carter, BS ’07, Life Member, is already setting her sights on the IAAF World Championships next year in London. In 2015, she placed third. Looking ahead to her next feat, she speaks with confidence and energy.

“I believe I have more to give. I want to see how far I can actually throw the shot put,” she says. “The only person who can beat me is myself. Even if I don’t win that day, but I gave 100 percent, I still won.”

Carter trains in Dallas alongside her father and coach, 1984 Olympic shot put silver medalist and former San Francisco 49ers nose tackle Michael Carter. She credits her competitive drive to her father’s coaching and her parents’ support.

“They always pushed me to be my best,” Carter says. “They always said, ‘You have more to give,’ and I’d figure out how to get it done.”

While training for Rio, the duo started at 8 a.m. to beat the high Texas temps, beginning with throwing drills before heading to the gym to lift weights and do physical therapy. A typical training day for Carter lasts 12 hours.

But when she isn’t in the throwing circle, she explores her other passion: beauty and fashion. The champion athlete is also a professional makeup artist. Carter, 31, has always enjoyed incorporating her glam habits into her sport.

“It is a part of me and I take that with me,” she says.

Carter prepared for her gold medal-winning shot put throw just like any other competition: She relaxed and focused on the task ahead. The last step of her preparation routine? Applying her NYX Monte Carlo lipstick in bright matte red, her color of choice when she represents Team USA. Only then was she ready to throw.

“When you feel good and you look good,” Carter says, “you have the confidence to do your best.” It’s a motto she takes to every competition.

While on UT’s track and field team, she earned the nickname Shot Diva for her confident demeanor. The only shot putter on the team, her teammates initially called her Track Diva, but she quickly changed the nickname to reflect her sport, and it’s stuck ever since.

“In sports, you are taught that you are supposed to be rough and tough and you can’t dress pretty,” she says. “Putting on makeup is what I do when I get ready for church, an interview, or a special event to look my best. I like to carry that into my sport. I get my nails done, get put together, and get ready to go to work.”

Carter has combined her two worlds into a body-positive identity she hopes to share with young female athletes. Next February, she will launch her first young girls’ sports camp in Dallas focused on female athletic empowerment and body-positive messaging. It’ll be called You Throw Girl Sports Confidence Camp.

“As a female athlete, we don’t look like the average woman,” she says, of shot putters. We have more muscles; our thighs may be bigger or our shoulders may be bigger. I want to break down these stereotypes and teach girls that we can’t all be built the same.”

The camp will focus on healthy eating habits, the importance of stretching and weight lifting, and setting personal goals.

“If Gabby Douglas was built like me, she couldn’t flip, and if I was built like Gabby, I couldn’t throw,” she says. “I want them to learn to appreciate it and learn good habits.”

Michiko Hattori has a storied collegiate career at the University of Texas:

• Four-time All-American

• Southwest Conference Player of the Year (1987-91)

• Two-time National Collegiate Golfer of the Year

• 1988-89 National Golf Coaches and Golf Week National Player of the Year

• Honda Broderick Award Player of the Year (1989-90)

• Southwest Conference Player of the Decade for the 1980s

• Led UT team to three top-10 finishes at the NCAAs

• UT record three top-10 individual NCAA finishes

• winning 10 individual titles , finishing in the top ten in 38 of 40 events during her 4 years as a Longhorn

• Three top 10 finishes at the NCAA Women’s Golf Championship (tied for 1st at the end of regulation in 1989 but lost lost in the playoff).

   

Before all of these honors and accolades a perfect storm of events Leads Hattori down a burnt orange brick road.

In her pre-teens and early teens Machiko did not like golf, but by 16 years of age Machiko’s golf maturity was evident, and she understood her destiny. Golf was part of her genetic make-up. Her mother was the Japanese amateur champion.

In Seattle, Washington in 1984 Coach Weis saw Hattori swing a club for the first time, and the road to Austin began.

In 1985 Hattori won the US amateur and the Asian amateur championship. In her travels, she met Tom Kite, the ex-Longhorn who played on two national championship golf teams at Texas and who was a prominent golfer on the PGA circuit. Hattori respected Kite and listened to him during the next two years as he symbolically whispered in Machiko’s ear “The stars at night are big and bright (clap, clap, clap) deep in the heart of Texas.”

In 1986, Hattori became the first golfer to win medalist honors at the U.S. Women’s Amateur and the U.S. Girls’ Juniors in the same year.

Recruiting, honors and Challenges

In March 1989, Machiko was considered one of the best women amateur golfers in the country. The NCAA ranked her #2, but while she came very close once, Michiko never won an NCAA championship tournament.    

Machiko’s greatness is as a Longhorn sports pioneer. Hattori’s accomplishments are a Reminder of All That is In Sports And Far Beyond. She has earned her equity stake in Longhorn Sports history. She has Shaped The Present And Empowered The Future and set a very high bar for future Longhorns.

Coach Weis

Little information exists about the early years of the Women’s Golf Program at the University of Texas prior to the hiring of Pat Weis as a P.E. teacher in 1957. Weis was instrumental in organizing the Texas women’s golf club in 1969, which competed non-competitively at the collegiate level until 1972. With the passage of Title IX in 1972, Weis was hired as the varsity women’s golf coach.

With increased financial support from the university and the leadership of new head coach, Pat Weis, UT Women’s Golf team began their inaugural season in 1972-1973. Weis, considered “The Architect of the Texas Longhorn Women’s Golf Team” by the Texas Legacy Support Network, coached the women’s golf team to win seven Southwest Conference Championships over the course of her twenty-one-year tenure from 1972 to 1993.

FROM THE BOOK LIFE OF COACH BY MICKIE EDWARDS

COACHES ARE REAL PEOPLE

Piper Wagner l (Longhorn golf 1987-1992) Left the Longhorn nation too soon. She was diagnosed with cancer in March 2011 and passed away in August of 2014.

COACHES ARE REAL PEOPLE
Piper Wagner

Piper Wagner l (Longhorn golf 1987-1992) Left the Longhorn nation too soon. She was diagnosed with cancer in March 2011 and passed away in August of 2014.

Coaches are people, too

In an emotional moment, Coach Weis could not speak because a friend has passed away so she touched Piper. Weis’s eyes teared up, and she could not speak so Coach touched her heart with her hand.

Piper said, ” I was shocked to see her that way”. “In college, all I thought about was me”. “People like Coach, they weren’t real people. Looking back on it now, it is so strange! We were just kids, completely self-centered. I certainly didn’t think about her having a life outside of coaching our team”. 

Piper’s comments are very insightful and reflect many coach/student-athlete relationships. I experienced the same epiphany with Coach Royal after he suffered a family tragedy. It was such a surprise for me to see him grieve. Like Piper- as a young, self-centered person- I was shocked at Coach Royal shedding tears.

Bari Brandwynne

Coach Weis sent Bari a letter stating that U.T. could not recruit her or pay her way to the campus for an interview. Bari understood this distorted rule written by the AIAW, so at 17, she drove from Las Vegas to Austin with her two dogs and met with Coach Weis. Bari became the youngest Longhorn golf member on the team.

The photos are of Bari Brandywine with Coach Weis, Bari’s team, and an action shot of Bari found in the “Cactus.”. In December 2019, Bari added to her story, “I was already recruited to play for Stanford…but was only receiving a partial scholarship. At the last moment, the coach called me up (because of my Vegas connections), and I told my mom that I needed to check out Texas before I committed to Stanford…the next morning, I got a trip ticket from AAA.

I drove with my two dogs in a day and a 1/2, walked into her office (with my dogs), and she yelled across the room… (in her Texas hard, loud accent)… “Well, this is the first time I have ever had a recruit walk into my office with two damn dogs!” I fell in love with her in two seconds… I called Bruce At Stanford and said my heart goes to Texas. I’ve been a Longhorn fan for life! The funny thing is while in Texas, Harvey Penick gave me his little white Maltese Heidi, who lived at Austin Country Club, and I adopted Harvey’s dog.

Bari Brandwynne is a Member of The LPGA Teaching and Club Professional (T&CP) Division. The LPGA T&CP was founded in 1959 and boasted the most prominent membership of female golf professionals worldwide.

LPGA T&CP members are certified as golf instructors, coaches, and business managers through a comprehensive curriculum designed to meet the changing needs of the golfing public. More than 1,500 strong LPGA T&CP members are dedicated to the advancement of golf and serve throughout the golf industry as head professionals, assistant professionals, teaching professionals, directors of golf, owners of golf schools and facilities, golf administrators, college and high school coaches, and more.

LPGA T&CP members support the LPGA’s various grassroots programs that were created to involve women and youth in golf and contribute to the overall growth of the sport. These programs include LPGA-USGA Girls Golf, LPGA Tour Junior Clinics, the LPGA Lesson Zone Presented by Volvik, and LPGA Golf Clinics for Women. Bari is at the Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles, CA.

Sophia Schubert –

1976 is the first year of NCAA sanctioned tennis at Texas

• Tennis record thru 2015 is 717 victories and 264 defeats

• 31 NCAA appearances

• 2 National Championships (1993 and 1995) Under Coach Moore

• 1 runner up for National Championship team (1992)

• 3 semi-final appearances in 1990, 1994, 1997

• 18 conference championships

• 21 Longhorns have received ITA All American status

For information on Longhorn Women’s tennis prior to 1973  Please click on  the  search Engine and type in “1896”

1971- 1976 Betty Hagerman coached the Racquetball club

JO ANN KURZ 5/03/2022 – 1973-1976

Jo Ann Kurz says about her tennis coach, “Betty Sue was an excellent coach. She helped me learn doubles and that helped my singles game. She was very patient as I developed more in my junior and senior years….”

“Significantly, I saw the change in women’s tennis with Title IX. I got a tuition waiver my first two years, then more assistance my 3rd and 4th perhaps a partial scholarship.”

We went from riding in Betty Sue’s Volkswagen bus to Arizona to flying to the Braniff Mixed Championships in Michigan, all because of more funding. We taught lessons for the Austin Tennis Foundation to bring money in for our team before we had enough funding to fly to team events.

Thank you for hearing pieces of my past at UT. It was a lot of work for us and it is nice to know that the women following us have had a smoother path.”

Jo Ann Kurz says “Betty Sue was an excellent coach. She helped me learn doubles and that helped my singles game. She was very patient as I developed more in my junior and senior years, after playing juniors in Texas, moving to Ohio during my high school years, and then returning to Texas for college.”

“Significantly, I saw the change in women’s tennis with Title IX. I got a tuition waiver my first two years, then more assistance my 3rd and 4th perhaps a partial scholarship.”

We went from riding in Betty Sue’s Volkswagen bus to Arizona to flying to the Braniff Mixed Championships in Michigan, all because of more funding. We taught lessons for the Austin Tennis Foundation to bring money in for our team before we had enough funding to fly to team events.

Thank you for hearing pieces of my past at UT. It was a lot of work for us and it is nice to know that the women following us have had a smoother path.”

Betty Sue Hagerman Welch was ranked No. 1 in Texas in women’s and mixed doubles in both the open and 35 and over divisions. She was also ranked No. 1 in Women’s 35 singles. Welch’s coaching accolades include starting the Division 1-A women’s tennis team at the University of Texas. Her many awards as educator and coach include being named 1993 USPTA National High School Tennis Coach of the Year.

1974 Betty Hagerman

National Texas Team finished 38th out of 50 teams

On November 21, 1973, a letter in support of developing women’s tennis made the rounds with the UT Athletic Department.  The author says “Some 100 or more men are provided with various athletic scholarships ……. special meals and a special dormitory….. Men’s sports are provided with a coaching staff, sports equipment, and travel allowances.  Most women do not seek a point by point comparison with the men’s sports programs; they simply want a first-class program for women’s tennis……”

Texas sent two women to the TAIAW tennis tournament.

1973-1974- Coach Hagerman 13-4 record

In 1974, the team finished 5th in the Nation
This year, Texas sent five women to the TAIAW tournament. It was the most to qualify of any Texas University.  Wilkins is the Horn’s #1 player.
Horn’s record was 13-4 in dual match play. Susie Smith asked for a scholarship to play at Texas, but the women’s athletic program was not yet large enough to offer aid to women. Nerissa Riley transferred to Texas.

1974-1975 –  Coach Hagerman was authorized to offer 4 partial scholarships.  Blackwood and Wilkins received two of the partial scholarships.

1975-1976 – Coach Betty Hagerman

This year the Horns finished 7th out of 43 Teams in tennis

Amy Wilkins is the #1 player at Texas this year.

1976-1977   Record 2-2  Coach Cathy Beene 6th ranked

The team has an excellent record of 13-3 in match play and they finished 2nd in state.

1977- 1978   Record 16-9 Coach Cathy Beene

In March of 1978, the Horns were ranked 6th in the nation.

Susie Smith is an All-American.   Riley and Smith won the 21-year-old and under doubles championship for the state.   The team also has a 2nd place finish in the Arizona Invitational Tennis tournament and the Lamar University Invitational.

In November 1978, Coach Beene resigned, Beene said, “I made a mistake. I appreciate the support of the department in believing that what occurred was a first-time occasion and their effort to preserve my professional reputation. “ A.D. Lopiano placed her on probation, but the media carnival around the incident forced UT to ask Beene to resign.

1978- 1979   Record 14-8 Interim coach dick King pending

Five freshmen are among the seven best tennis players at Texas. Freshman Merrilee Keller is the top seed.

1979-1980   Record 19-8 Coach Dave Woods- Horns finish 20th in the nation

Coach Woods is a prodigy of Dave Snyder.

Shelley Hudson is the team captain and leads the team to 2nd place in the TAIAW state tournament. Losing only to Trinity but beating all SWC opponents.

1981    Record 19-8 Coach Dave Woods

1980-1981- The team won the SWC and went undefeated in 10 dual matches. This team was comprised two first-year students, two sophomores, and two juniors. In the Spring, Coach Woods said, “We played well…just not well enough.”

Beth Ruman suffered a stress fracture the day before the national tennis meet, forcing all the players to move up one position.

1981  – Jane Johnson was a two-time All-American for Texas. She and Kristen McKeen finished 3rd in doubles at the AIAW national tournament.

In the Fall season, she was #1 in singles and #1 on the doubles team on the Texas team. .  Kirsten McKeen AIAW won the consolation title in the AIAW.

The team finished 4th in the AIAW postseason competition.

After the women’s team won the prestigious LSU Invitational, there was no mention in the Austin American Statesman. Many fans were incensed and started a campaign for better local newspaper coverage of Longhorn tennis.

Final Team rankings in the 1981 Spring season had Texas at #8.

1982 – 22-10 ranked 9th Coach Dave Woods

Qualified for AIAW National Championship tournament and beat Alabama and Arkansas but lost to Indiana and Rollins.

TOP SONG 1981

Horns finished 7th in the national tournament,

Dave Wood resigns, stating he is burned out on coaching. The players said the team had a lot of friction and internal differences.

1983 – 22-10 ranked 9th, Coach Jeff Moore – SWC Champions

Tennis team wins the state title and places second in regionals.  The team is led by Vicki Ellis Gen Greiwe, and Jane Johansen

Jane Johnson ITA singles All American.

1982-1983 national finish 16th. Gen Greiwe won the #2 flight for Texas. Ellis was the team MVP.   This year represents the most wins ever by a Texas tennis team. Texas was undefeated in SWC tournament play. Moore was Coach of the Year in the SWC. At 4th nationally this was Texa’s best ranking.

Kamie Ethridge as a Longhorn

Women’s Basketball 3/6/2018 11:18:00 AM By Ryan Pfeifer, UNCBears.com

@UNCBearsWBB Head Coach Kamie Ethridge Named Big Sky Coach of the Year

RENO, Nev. – Kamie Ethridge, the women’s basketball coach at Northern Colorado, has been awarded her first Big Sky Coach of the Year honor, as announced by the conference on Tuesday afternoon. Under her leadership, the Bears achieved a remarkable 23-6 record, securing the program’s first outright Big Sky regular season championship with a 15-3 conference record.

In her fourth year with UNC, Ethridge guided the team to a program-best 23 wins and celebrated several significant milestones. The season kicked off with a historic victory over a Top 25 ranked team, as Northern Colorado defeated No. 20/25 DePaul 94-88. The Bears also won their first game against an SEC opponent, beating LSU 58-50 in their home opener. Their impressive journey culminated in the Big Sky regular season title, which they secured on February 28 with a home victory over Portland State.

In addition to the team’s success this season, Ethridge helped Savannah Scott, Savannah Smith, and Kianna Williams earn All-Big Sky honors. Smith received the Most Valuable Player award along with her second consecutive first-team designation. Williams was honored as the Defensive Player of the Year, while Scott made the second team for the second year in a row.

During her four years as head coach at UNC, Ethridge has an overall record of 80-43, with 52-22 in Big Sky games. She led the program to its deepest postseason run, advancing to the third round of the WNIT. In three of her four seasons, Northern Colorado has won at least 22 games.

Ethridge and her team will play their first game in the Big Sky Conference Tournament tomorrow at 1:05 PM MT against Montana in Reno, Nevada.

To stay updated on all things related to UNC women’s basketball, visit UNCBears.com and follow the team on Twitter at @UNCBearsWBB.

Leigh Ann Fetter – Witt

A record-breaking swimmer at the University of Texas, Fetter-Witt was a fifteen-time NCAA Champion. Not only did she win the 50-yard freestyle all four years in college (1988-91), she also became the first woman ever to swim the 50-free in under 22 seconds. Simultaneously holding the American record in the 50-yard and 50-meter freestyle, she became only the third woman in NCAA history to win the same event four times. She represented the United States as a freshman at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul. She finished fifth in the final of the women’s 50-meter freestyle. Returning to Texas, she won the 100 free her last three years and was a part of three national championship Teams. In 1989 she received the Female Athlete of the Year Award in Swimming, and 1990 she was the recipient of the Honda Award for Swimming, again recognizing her as the outstanding college female swimmer of the year. She became a member of the Longhorn Hall of Honor in 2003. Fetter later became head swim coach for the Greater Nebraska Swim Team and Lincoln Southwest High School men’s and women’s teams. Leigh Ann currently resides in San Antonio and is the Head Age Group Coach at Alamo Area Aquatics Association-Northside, working at one of the best facilities in the United States. She is married to Mike Witt and has two daughters, Ashley and Kaitlyn. 

Slide show of Longhorn Olympians is below.

The 1980 Olympics were boycotted. Kim Linehan , Joan Pennington, and Jill Sterkel were scheduled to attend the 1980 olympics in russia. Jill responded in the Cactus about the Moscow boycott.

Olympian Jill Sterkel the greatest

Jill Sterkel arrived in the Forty Acres from Hacienda Heights, Calif., in the fall of 1979 as a student-athlete on the women’s swimming and diving team. She has served as the Executive Director of the T-Association since 2006.

Before joining the T-Association staff, Sterkel was the head coach of the UT women’s swimming team from 1992-2006 and assistant coach of the UT women’s swimming team from 1986-91. As an athlete, she was a four-time Olympian, winning two gold medals and two bronze in freestyle and relays. She is a 16-time individual national champion and is a two-time winner of the Honda Award as National Female Swimmer of the Year.

Sterkel earned her undergraduate degree in education and a master’s in Kinesiology.  

Jill Sterkel has received more honors than anyone in UT swimming history that includes 4 Olympic’s teams in 1976, 1980, 1984, 1988

Jill Sterkel wins the National Championship in

• the 50 free 1980-1983

• the 100 free 1980- 1983

• the 50 fly 1980-1983

• the 100 fly 1980-1983

Jill Sterkel’s honors include

• 1981- Jill is the only Longhorn Swimmer who has received the Broderick Cup National Female Athlete of the year

• 1979 and 1980 Broderick Award for National Swimmer of the Year.

• Holds the national record for points scored (100) in 1981 and 1982.

• Named to the All American team 27 times

 Jill is a true Longhorn and American legend… and a fantastic person! I can’t say enough good things about her and I have seen her in action in various capacities. Since this is an athletic site, I’ll be brief. In the 1976 summer Olympics in Montreal, the US women were expected to dominate. But the East German “Ladies”, fueled by performance enhancing drugs, stole the show. No gold medals for the US women swimmers. On the last day, the last event, the 4X100 relay, the US swimmers were determined to win gold. After 2 legs, they were behind. Then a 15 year old girl hit the water for the US and took the lead…. Jill Sterkel! The ladies hung on to win Gold!!! Fast forward 4 years, and Jill was primed to win many gold medals in the 1980 Moscow Olympics…. she was going to be the talk of the swimming world…. but, yes, she never got the chance to dominated because Jimmy Carter decided the US would boycott the Olympics. Jill still swam in the 1984 and 1988 Olympics….the First American swimmer to quality for 4 consecutive Olympics!!!!! But as awesome as she was in the pool, Jill is a better mom and human being! Her greatness should never be overlooked. ????????????????????????????????????????‍????‍????‍????‍???????????? by Jim Deitrick

Lucie Ludvigova’s mental toughness helped her reach the Longhorns by a circuitous route. In her early years, she was barred from playing in U.S. tournaments by the Czech government, but she still managed to receive a world ranking as 28th in the juniors bracket. In 1991 she won the Czech National Indoor Championship. A year later, she was playing at Midland Junior College and won the flight II national championship. She then transferred to Grand Canyon University in New Mexico, where she won the Division II national championship. Her success piqued the interest of the UT Tennis coach Jeff Moore, and a year later, she joined the Longhorn team.

Lucie hit the ground running. In college tennis team matches are played in the spring. Most coaches view individual tournaments in the fall as an extension of practice. It was one hell of a practice schedule for Lucie. Lucie dominated by nearly sweeping all three major college tournaments. She advance to the finals the clay court championship then wins both the All-American an indoor championships.

Just three months after joining the Longhorns, Lucie Ludvigova grabbed the nation’s #1 ranking in women’s collegiate tennis. Coach Moore said, “Lucie could be the best player in Lady Longhorn tennis history.” “She competes at another level mentally.”

She was ITA singles All American 1994 and 1995, Conference Player of the year in 1993, and All-Conference in singles and doubles in 1993 and singles in 1994. Below is her acceptance speech as a 2016 HOH inductee.

Kelly Pace

She’s still the winningest player in school history (152 career victories and a 42-4 record in singles finals), was the team’s MVP in 1992, ’94 and ’95, was named Southwest Conference Player of the Year and the NCAA’s National Senior Player of the Year in ’95.

Kelly is in the Longhorn Hall of Honor.

Kelly was a gifted athlete with a disciplined work ethic. In tennis, she was An All-American and one of the top 150 players in the world. Kelly was also a good recreational golfer. Two years after retiring from tennis she was competing in golf tournaments defeating LPGA Tour veterans.

Kelly Pace is the only player to start in the singles lineup for two Longhorn NCAA championship teams. She is a Longhorn Hall of Honor inductee. Her tennis style was that of a grinder who beat down her opponent. As a freshman, she was #3 in singles on a team that advanced to the finals of the NCAA championship. As a sophomore, she was #2 in singles on the first Horns national championship team. In her junior year, she was scheduled to be the #1 singles player when she injured her left wrist.

The doctor said she would no longer be able to use her left wrist on her two-handed backhand. The strength of her tennis game. Instead she would have to resort to a one-hand backhand. This decision dismantled the strength of her power game. Many people would have viewed this development as career-ending. Instead, Kelly and her coach chose to view this dilemma as a setback with upside opportunity. With the help of Coach Moore, Kelly was able to transition her game from back hand power to forehand power. She learned to use her backhand as the volley to set up her weaponized forehand.