Luke Whiteside (Sumter), Christine Cole (Anderson), and Wilson Smith (Greenwood) have successfully completed the USTA Center of Excellence for Chair Officials, a Tier 3 certification program that opens the door to officiating at high-level ITF and USTA Pro Circuit events.
Out of only 12 officials selected from across the country, three were from South Carolina. The intensive four-day program combined classroom instruction and on-court experience during a J200 ITF Junior tournament. Participants were trained by an elite group of instructors, including a US Open Referee, a US Open Chief Umpire, and multiple Gold and Silver Badge officials.
Throughout the program, officials studied USTA’s Friend at Court and the ITF’s Duties and Procedures for Officials, while gaining hands-on experience in solo chair umpiring, ball mark inspections, and match management.
Christine Cole, the 2024 USTA South Carolina Official of the Year, stated, “I am honored to have been selected for the 2025 Spring Chair Umpire COE and grateful for the opportunity to showcase my skills in the classroom, on the court, and during the final exam. The coaching from world-class Chair Umpires was phenomenal, pushing us to enhance our routines and become stronger both on and off the court. Being a great official requires many detailed skills, and I am committed to becoming one of the best and sharing what I’ve learned with others. My goals are to continue shining for USTA SC and at the Pro National Level, and I look forward to seeing everyone on the court soon!”
Luke Whiteside said, “One of my personal goals is to officiate at the grand slams. I am seeking assignments at the national level, and ITF level, and hope to attend an ITF Badge Certification school to earn my White Badge.”
Successfully completing this certification positions Whiteside, Cole and Smith to officiate at USTA National Championships, ITA collegiate matches, ITF junior events, USTA Pro Circuit tournaments, and potentially even the US Open.
“We are incredibly proud of our South Carolina officials for reaching this milestone,” said USTA South Carolina Chief Executive Officer, Jennifer Gregg. “Their achievement reflects the strength and dedication of tennis officiating in our region.”
For about more information about officiating click here: https://sctennis.com/officiating/
