(Story courtesy of the Trinity University athletics website)
SAN ANTONIO, Texas - Trinity University head women’s tennis coach, Gretchen Rush, will be inducted into the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Women’s Collegiate Tennis Hall of Fame.
The induction ceremony will be held November 12 in Williamsburg, Virginia, at the College of William and Mary. Joining Coach Rush as a member of the Hall of Fame are tennis luminaries Alycia Moulton, Jane Goodman, and Virginia Brown. The ceremony will be held at McCormack-Nagelsen Tennis Center.
Coach Rush has had an illustrious career in the sport of tennis. As a Tiger player during the 1983-1986 seasons, Coach Rush chalked up a singles record of 117-12 (.906), during Trinity’s NCAA Division I era. Along with Louise Allen, Coach Rush won the NCAA Doubles Championship in 1983. Coach Rush was the NCAA Doubles runner-up in 1985 (with Lisa Sassano) and 1986 (with Ann Hulbert). Coach Rush was the NCAA Singles runner-up both years, as well.
In addition to becoming a four-time All-American, Coach Rush won a number of prestigious awards. She was named the College Women’s Player of the Year in 1984 and 1985, and the ITA Senior Women’s Player of the Year in 1986. That same year, Coach Rush was presented the Broderick Award as the best women’s collegiate player in the nation. Coach Rush was also the recipient of the 1985 Arthur Ashe Award for Sportsmanship.
While a Trinity student-athlete, Coach Rush won a gold medal in singles for the United States at the 1983 Pan American Games at Caracas, Venezuela. She teamed with Allen to bring home the gold in doubles. Coach Rush also represented the U.S. at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, and the World University Games.
Coach Rush advanced to the singles quarterfinals of the 1982 U.S. Open, and the 1983 French Open. Each feat occurred while Coach Rush was enrolled at Trinity. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education from Trinity in 1986, with a minor in biology.
As a professional player, Coach Rush was ranked as high as 13th in the world in Women’s Tennis Association Singles. She reached the Wimbledon singles quarterfinals in 1986 and 1989, and was a Wimbledon mixed doubles finalist in 1988. Coach Rush won four singles and doubles titles as a pro player from 1986-1992. In 1991, she competed for the San Antonio Racquets of World Team Tennis.
Following her retirement from the WTA Tour, Coach Rush extensively played USTA and International Tennis Federation events. As a senior player, Coach Rush was ranked in the top-10 in the world by the ITF.
No stranger to hall of fame ceremonies, Coach Rush is a member of the Trinity University Athletic Hall of Fame. She was inducted into the Class of 2001.
Coach Rush returned to her alma mater in 2014 to become head coach of the Tiger women’s tennis team. Trinity has advanced to the NCAA Division III Tournament each year, and has captured the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Championship on two occasions. Two of her players, Liza Southwick and Marie Lutz, have earned All-America honors, and have competed in the NCAA Doubles Championship. The Tiger tandem also has made two appearances in the ITA National Small College Championships.
Additional information about the Women’s Collegiate Tennis Hall of Fame may be found at www.itatennis.com.