| School: Grant | Graduation Year: 1971 |
Year Inducted: 2015
Sports Played: Tennis
High School Honors: 4-year participant, PIL singles champion all four years, State champion, soph. & junior.
Post High School Career: Finalist, Oregon State Championship, 1971 and 1972. Won Portland City Championship. Avon Tour in Europe, 1970’s. Nationally ranked 4th singles 2nd doubles, women 35+; 1st in Pacific NW all age groups. Four national doubles championships 35+. Coached at Irvington Club, 20 years. Irvington Club Championship named in her honor. Head pro, Smoke Tree Ranch, Palm Springs. USPTA. Pro of the Year, 1993. Inducted Grant Hall of Fame, 2014.
Commentary:
I was lucky enough to be raised in a very athletic family. Two of my uncles, Bill and Ron Bottler are both PIL Hall of Famers. My family supported, encouraged, but never pushed me as I played my sports.
In the 8th grade I started playing tennis and immediately loved it–even won a couple of tournaments that summer. I struggled at first against more experienced players my freshman year at Grant, but managed to win all my matches as my competitive DNA kicked in. Winning my first district tournament was the highlight of my young career and the one tournament win I will remember for the rest of my life. My teammates celebrated, my school celebrated, and, yes, my family celebrated. To continue all four years of a perfect PIL record and winning the Oregon State Tennis Championships twice topped a young players dream list and sent me out into the competitive tennis world ready to take it by storm. I knew by the time I won my first PIL Championship that tennis would be my career.
I became Tennis Director at the famous Irvington Club in Portland, among others, and ended up playing all over the world. And it all started with that positive experience I had when I was that skinny, highly competitive freshman at Grant High School and how hooked I became on tennis, winning, and the athletic experience. The lessons I learned helped me be a better instructor, coach, mentor, and person. I have tennis, Grant High, and all who supported me to thank for that.