Every year, USTA Georgia recognizes the outstanding accomplishments made by tennis players, coaches, tournaments directors and other professionals across the state. Below you’ll find the list of award winners for 2024. They were officially recognized at the 2025 Community Tennis Development Workshop at the JW Marriott Buckhead. Congratulations to all of them on their achievements in tennis across the state of Georgia! (photos courtesy of Dane Sponberg – Raftermen)
Special thanks goes to Sam Crenshaw of 92.9 The Game for being our Master of Ceremonies.
Special recognition goes to the Macon-Bibb County Tennis Division (Adaptive Tennis Award), Kala McNair (Local League Coordinator of the Year Award), Sharon Wright (Mac MacDougal Tennis Official of the Year Award) and Sam Crenshaw (Marc Kaplan Media Excellence Award) for also receiving the USTA Southern award in their respective category.
Not pictured: Ellery Mendell (Al Parker Junior Player of the Year Award), Blake Hilsen (Hardie Family Award for Junior Sportsmanship), Jennifer McCoy (Junior Team Tennis Captain of the Year) and Harlon Matthews (Wheelchair Excellence Award).
Ruth Ryner Lay Award
for Lifetime Achievement
Dave Neuhart
John Callen
“Excellence in Leadership” Award
Fiona Hatton
Adult Tournament of the Year
Banana Challenge
(Jekyll Island)
Charles H. Cox, Jr. Award for
Adult Player of the Year
Carolina Blouin
Dr. Robert Bunnen Community Tennis Association of the Year
Macon Area Tennis Association
First Horizon Bank
Tennis Professional of the Year
Karen Atkins
Janet Louer Junior Team Tennis Coordinator of the Year
Wanda Morpeth
Jerry Baskin Scholar
Athlete of the Year
Alex Hamlin
Junior Tournament of the Year
South Georgia State Junior Open
Kathleen & Cannon Carr
High School Coach of the Year
Kenny Moore
Local League
Coordinator of the Year
Kala McNair
Mac MacDougal
Tennis Official of the Year
Sharon Wright
Marc Kaplan Media
Excellence Award
Sam Crenshaw
NJTL Chapter of the Year
Macon Area TA NJTL
Randy Stephens Award for
State Volunteer Service
Bill Thornton
(accepted by daughter
Suzanne Clontz)
Richard C. Botsch
Educational Merit Award
Amber Conoly
Signature Courts Award for
Tennis Director of the Year
Bobby Walker
Special Tennis Event of the Year
MATA Back to Tennis Bash
Team Tennis Event of the Year
USTA Atlanta JTT Qualifier
USTA League Female
Captain of the Year
Terry Gattiker
USTA League Male Captain of the Year
Hunter Cole
Adaptive Tennis Award
Macon-Bibb County Tennis Division
Outstanding Parks & Recreation Department
City of Snellville Parks & Recreation
James Kincaid Family Award for Family of the Year
The Robbie Bedgood Family
