Athletics. Men's and Women's Tennis Records
The Wake Forest men's and women's tennis teams began as extracurricular club sports for students. Both teams have since developed into successful and competitive teams. The inaugural season for the men's tennis team bgean in 1954 and the women's team started intercollegiate conference play in 1971. The materials in this collection originated in the office of the Director of Women's Athletics for administrative purposet so coverage of materials begins with the formation of the women's tennis team. Materials in this collection include end of season statistics, schedules, media guides and souvenir programs, as well as rosters, administrative files, and promotional materials.
Biographical and Historical Note
Men's Tennis Men's tennis has been played in Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) competition since 1954, and Wake Forest has fielded a team each year since inception. In the early years of the program the position of head coach changed frequently. Early head coaches were James Nicholson (1954), Pride Ratterree (1955), Harry Chaffin (1956), A.I. DePorter (1957-60), and Charlie Bryant (1961-62). Each of the next four head coaches had a tenure of more than a decade. Jim Leighton was head coach from 1963 through 1984, and was named ACC Coach of the Year in 1981. Ian Crookenden was head coach from 1985-96, and Jeff Zinn served as head coach from 1997-2011. The current coach, Tony Bresky, has served since 2012; he was named ACC Coach of the Year in 2013 and 2016 and the ITA (Indoor Tennis Association) National Coach of the Year in 2018.
The team won the ACC regular season three times (2017, 2018, 2019) and also won the ACC championship tournament three times (2016, 2018, 2019). In over 60 appearances in the NCAA tournament, the team won the national championship in 2018, reached the finals in 2019, and reached the final four in 2024. The team also won the ITA National Fall Championship in 2018.
In 2018, player Petros Chrysochos won the NCAA individual championship in singles play as well as the ITA National Fall singles championship. Wake Forest doubles teams won the ITA National Fall Championship in 2008, 2016, and 2017. Two Wake Forest players have been named ACC Player of the Year: Noah Rubin (2015) and Melios Efstathiou (2023). Dozens of Wake Forest tennis players have been named as All-Americans in singles and doubles play, and received all-ACC recognition.
Women's Tennis The Wake Forest women's tennis team began intercollegiate play in 1971. Early head coaches were Nora Lynn Finch (1971-73), Dot Casey (1973-74), Pam Weighart (1976-77), Stewart Smith (1977-78), and Sylvia Gilley (1978-1981). The women's tennis team began competing in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) in 1977.
Head coaches during the era of ACC competition include Dede Allen (1981-87, named ACC Coach of the Year in 1987). She was followed by Lew Gerrard, who was the head coach from 1987 through 1998 and was named ACC Coach of the Year in 1995 and 1997. Brian Fleishman was the head coach from 1999 through 2005, and was named the ACC Coach of the Year in 2000 and the Indoor Tennis Association (ITA) National Coach of the Year in 2002. Chad Skorupka was head coach from 2005 to 2010. Jeff Wyshner has served as head coach from 2010 to the present.
The team has not won an ACC Championship but has made 10 appearances in the final round of the league tournament, which has been held since 1983. The team has made 21 appearances in the NCAA tournament, reaching the quarterfinals in 2000 and 2002.
Player Bea Bealik was the NCAA singles champion in 2002, as well as the ITA national indoor singles champion in 2001 and 2002 and the national clay court singles champion in 2000. She was named the ITA National Player of the Year in 2002. Adria Engel was named the ITA Rookie of the Year in 2000. Two players have been named the ACC Player of the Year: Adria Engel (2000) and Bea Bealik (2002).
The doubles team of Janet Bergman and Bea Bielik was the national clay court champion in 2000. Multiple Wake Forest tennis players have been named as All-Americans in singles and doubles play, and received all-ACC recognition.
Collection Overview
This collection documents the Wake Forest men's and women's tennis teams. Both teams began as extracurricular club sports for students but have since developed into successful and competitive athletic programs. The inaugural season for the men's tennis team bgean in 1954 and the women's team started intercollegiate conference play in 1971. The materials in this collection originated in the office of the Director of Women's Athletics for administrative purposet so coverage of materials begins with the formation of the women's tennis team. Materials in this collection include end of season statistics, schedules, media guides and souvenir programs, as well as rosters, administrative files, and promotional materials.
Common abbreiviations found in this collection include NCAA the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW), the North Carolina Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (NCAIAW), the Atlantic COast Conference (ACC), and the United States Tennis Association (USTA).
Collection Arrangement
The materials in this collection are arranged into three series. Series 1: Administrative and season materials, Series 2: Publications, and Series 3: Student-athlete and coach materials.
Files in Series 1 and Series 3 are arranged in alphabetical order, filed in Series 2 are arranged in chronological order.
Administrative Information
- Publication Information
- Processed by Ashelee Gerald Hill, 2025 February
- Access Restrictions
- This collection is open for use.
- Copyright notice
- The nature of the WFU Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine despite reasonable efforts. The Archives and Special Collections of ZSR Library claims only physical ownership of most materials. The materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to the U.S. Copyright Law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source.
- Preferred Citation
- Athletics. Men's and Women's Tennis Records (RG 21.17), Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.