Reflecting on 50: Honoring a Legacy of Teamwork, Sacrifice, and Helping Future Players Build Something Special

Reflecting on Greatness: The Legacy of UGA Women’s Tennis (1992–1996)

After spending over 33 years in college athletics—as a player, coach, and now recruiter—I’m beginning to fully appreciate just how special it was to be part of the University of Georgia Women’s Tennis team from 1992 to 1996.

During that time, we achieved something extraordinary. We won three national team titles—one outdoor NCAA Championship and two National Indoor titles. We were the first UGA women’s team to win the NCAA team title, and we had the privilege of doing it right at home in Athens, in front of more than 3,000 fans chanting “Go Dawgs!” It’s a moment that still gives me chills—a sound and a feeling none of us will ever forget.

Our success went far beyond team accomplishments. We also won two NCAA doubles titles—Angela Lettiere and Michele Anderson took the National Indoor title, and Stacy Sheppard and myself claimed the National Clay Courts crown. Angela Lettiere added an NCAA singles title to her incredible résumé, and we captured one SEC team title as well. At one point, all six of our starting players were ranked in the top 100 nationally, with two doubles teams ranked in the top five.

When you're in the thick of it—grinding day after day—you don’t always realize you’re part of something bigger. You’re focused on the next game, the next drill, the next challenge. But hitting 50 has given me a rare moment to pause, reflect, and truly take in what we built together.

It wasn’t always perfect. Far from it. There were hard days—setbacks, sacrifices, moments when the weight of it all felt unbearable. There was real blood, sweat, and tears poured into this journey. But that’s what makes it real. That’s what gives it meaning.

What we accomplished wasn’t just about wins or trophies. It was about character. It was about resilience. It was about showing up for each other day in and day out, no matter the circumstances. And none of it—absolutely none of it—would have been possible without every single person who stood alongside me: my teammates who gave their all, the coaches who never stopped believing, the strength and conditioning team who pushed us to our limits, and the athletic trainers who kept us going when our bodies tried to quit.

Hopefully, I have—and can continue to—help future players find a place where they too can build something special. You don’t have to win titles to walk away with the experience of a lifetime. The trophies are great, but the real memories are found in the people and the journey—the highs and the lows, the bonds forged through adversity, and the moments that shape who we become.

We didn’t just build a program—we built a legacy. One rooted in loyalty, grit, and heart. And no matter where life takes us, that legacy lives on in every single one of us.