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by growing and promoting tennis as a lifelong sport.

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Awards

The USTA South Carolina Annual Awards recognize individuals and organizations who have made outstanding contributions to tennis during the year.  

Congratulations to our 2025 USTA South Carolina Award Recipients! click here

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Local Tennis Hero Recognition

USTA SC wants to recognize local heroes of our sport. Do you know someone who goes above & beyond the norm to promote local tennis initiatives?

Someone who gives their time & energy to support tennis events, mentor players, assist with program logistics, or captain a team?

Join us in celebrating the unsung heroes!

More Information: https://form.jotform.com/ustasc/LOCAL-TENNIS-HERO

Award Descriptions

Presented to an individual (including an athlete, coach, volunteer) or organization who demonstrates sustained commitment to enhancing and growing adaptive tennis programs for intellectually disabled athletes. This person or organization is actively involved in adaptive programming, exhibiting dedication and courage, resulting in an outstanding contribution to adaptive tennis

Presented to a junior tournament, high school, or grass roots player who has exemplified outstanding leadership through tennis, good sportsmanship, academic achievement and extra-curricular activities.

Presented to a Community Tennis Association (CTA), facility or individual who demonstrated strong leadership, outstanding program offerings or volunteer recruitment and community relationships while growing the game of tennis.

The Community Tennis Association of the Year Award recognizes strong leadership, outstanding program offerings, volunteer recruitment and community relationships by a Community Tennis Association while developing the growth of tennis.

Presented to a local adult league coordinator, captain, or volunteer who most contributed to the game of tennis by creating play opportunities through administering, promoting, and/or organizing USTA adult local league programs, flights, teams, or events.

Presented to a USTA sanctioned adult tournament that has best demonstrated the high standards upheld by the USTA in organizing and conducting a sanctioned adult tournament.

Presented to the USTA sanctioned junior tournament that best demonstrates the USTA standards of organizing and conducting a sanctioned junior event.

Presented to an individual in South Carolina who has been outstanding in the coordination of Junior Team Tennis league play

Presented to an individual or organization who has most contributed to the game of tennis by disseminating information about the sport to the general public.

Presented annually to an NJTL Chapter in South Carolina that has demonstrated excellence in administration of its NJTL programs

Presented to a tennis official who has made outstanding contributions to the cause of tennis officiating.

Presented to a junior player who best exemplifies the following traits throughout their junior tennis career: outstanding play, exemplary sportsmanship, positive attitude, dedicated work ethic and community/school support. This award is traditionally given to a player in the 18s who has just completed his/her final year of Junior tennis.

Presented to a high school or college coach who has an outstanding record of producing top players, good students, and successful teams.

Presented annually to a special tennis event in the South Carolina that has been exemplary in the promotion and support of tennis

Presented to a junior/adult player or both who has demonstrated behavior that is considered courteous and exemplary both on and off the court. (Opinions of tournament directors and referees are important for this award).

Presented annually to a South Carolina tennis event that best demonstrates outstanding execution of a team event.

This award is presented to a family that has been outstanding in its promotion of and participation in tennis.

Presented annually to a tennis professional who demonstrates a significant contribution to the game of tennis through their promotion of USTA Tennis Programs and their support of the USTA Mission. All nominees must be either USPTA or USPTR members.

This award is presented to the individual or organization who demonstrates sustained commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion through the following actions: actively champions, visibly embraces and celebrates diversity on and off the court by employing goals and strategies that create an inclusive environment; reaches out to a diverse audience through participation in community activities that celebrate diversity and inclusion; provides leadership opportunities that reflect interest in individual traits, skills, and talents of others; and proactively seeks opinions and gathers feedback from a diverse audience to gain additional perspectives and learn from others.

In Memory

Rivers Lynch
Rivers Lynch passed away unexpectedly in spring of 2019. Rivers was the legendary tennis coach at Myrtle Beach High School, whose boys and girls teams won 12 state championships under his guidance. Rivers was awarded many honors during his carreer, including SC Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame, National Tennis Coach of the Year and High Schools Sports Report Lifetime Achievement Award. His boys team dedicated their 2019 state championship in his memory.
Cam Littlejohn
Cam Littlejohn passed away in July, 2018. Cam served the South Carolina tennis community as a dedicated volunteer for 30 years. He became the USTA South Carolina legal advisor in 1992 and served 19 years in that capacity. During this time he chaired the Bylaws & Policies Committee and served on the Grievance Committee and the Adult League Council. Cam received the Lucy Garvin Volunteer of the Year Award in 1997. He was elected to the USTA South Carolina Board of Directors as a Vice-President in 2010 and served as President in 2014 and 2015 and Chairman of the South Carolina Tennis Patrons Foundation in 2016 and 2017.
Jim Russell
Jim Russell was the referee of the state junior qualifying tournament, the Palmetto Championships, in Belton for 36 years before he passed away unexpectedly in 2012. Throughout the years, Russell also refereed numerous junior, adult and collegiate tournaments and events. He also was a past president of USTA South Carolina and USTA Southern and served a two-year term on the USTA Board of Directors. Joining us on stage for the presentation of this award is Jim Russell’s daughter, Franny, who is also a loyal USTA South Carolina Volunteer.
John Newcomb
John Newcomb was a star athlete at Winthrop University in the early 1980s, playing both soccer and tennis. He later made growing tennis his full-time job by becoming the director of tennis at the Longcreek Plantation Club in Blythewood. In 1996, however, Newcomb was tragically killed in downtown Columbia.
Helen Jeter
Helen Jeter was a tireless advocate for tennis, league programs and the USTA. She gave years of her life to growing the game. She served on various USTA committees and boards, including on the board of directors for USTA South Carolina and USTA Southern.
Mark Hodgin
Mark Hodgin was a top-ranked junior player in his age group for years in South Carolina. He also won nine singles and doubles titles at the Palmetto Championships. In addition to his strong play, Mark’s attitude and composure helped him stand out on the tennis court. In 1990, at 28 years old, Mark’s promising life was unfortunately cut short.
Kimberly Hampton
Kimberly Hampton was named Most Improved Junior Girl in 1992. Kimberly was an outstanding junior player from Easley who went on to play for Presbyterian College, where she compiled an undefeated record in South Atlantic Conference matches. After college, she joined the US Army and rose to the rank of Captain. In 2004, at 27 years old, she was killed when the helicopter she was piloting was shot down in Iraq. Kimberly was a tough competitor, a fine young lady and a brave soldier.
Bill Lindsay
Bill Lindsay dedicated almost 30 years of service to USTA South Carolina and USTA Southern in support of junior tennis. He served on numerous junior tennis committees at the state level, including as Chair of the Boys Junior Ranking Committee and was the Boys District Selector for many years. Lindsay was elected President of USTA SC in 2000-2001. Serving on numerous committees at the Southern level, he was a member of the Junior Tennis Council at the time of his passing in late 2018. Bill Lindsay truly loved junior tennis.
Pete Conklin
The Official of the Year award is named after the late Pete Conklin, who was a popular and highly respected tennis official in the 1970s and ‘80s. His work as an official included college and professional matches, including the US Open. The naming of this award after Pete Conklin is a tribute to his dedication to being the best official possible.