NEWS

NEWPORT, RI – The International Tennis Hall of Fame has announced that Nancy P. Jeffett, President and Trustee of the Maureen Connolly Brinker Tennis Foundation, is the 2007 recipient of the prestigious Golden Achievement Award. The Golden Achievement Award is given by the International Tennis Hall of Fame and presented annually on a worldwide basis to individuals who have made important contributions to tennis in the fields of administration, promotion or education, and have devoted long and outstanding service to the sport. Presentation of this year’s Golden Achievement Award will be made on September 29 at the Dallas Country Club in Dallas, Texas, the site of the 33rd annual Maureen Connolly Challenge Trophy event to be held September 27-29. Sir James Harvie-Watt, Chairman of the Hall of Fame’s International Council and member of the Executive Committee, along with Tony Trabert, President of the International Tennis Hall of Fame and 1970…

” Little Mo” kids get the chance to play in an exhibition match at the Dr. Pepper Arena in Frisco, Texas before the Sampras/Ginepri match. Carol Weyman and Nancy Jeffett from the Maureen Connolly Brinker Tennis Foundation with Pete Sampras and “Little Mo” players in Frisco, Texas. From left: Ingrid Neel, Karina Traxler, Arman Dave and Titus Strom.

Dallas…The United States defeated the Australian team 24-3 in the 21st BONNEBELL Cup international girl’s team competition held at the Peninsula Tennis Club in Burlingame, California from March 29 – 3, 2007. The event is officially sanctioned by the USTA and Tennis Australia. The competition consisted of six girls who are 14 and under from each country. They each played two matches per day and the winning country is determined by the best of twenty-seven matches. Representing the United States: Ellen Tsay (Pleasanton, CA), Monica Turewicz (Lake Forest, IL), Gabrielle DeSimone (Rancho Santa Fe, CA), Sarah Lee (Los Angeles, CA), Sabrina Santamaria (Los Angeles, CA), and Breaunna Addison (New Braunfels, TX). The USA Team Captain was Kimberly Po-Messerli (Rolling Hills Estates, CA). Representing Australia: Alexandra Nancarrow (Canberra, ACT), Nina Khoury (Hobart, Tasmania), Maddison Tobias (Corowa, NSW), Nicole Hoynaski (Putney, NSW), Jennifer Nguyen (Keiraville, NSW) and Georgina Carswell (Brisbane, Queensland). The…

Carol Weyman (MCB Executive Vice-President) and Nancy Jeffett (MCB President) watching the matches at the Bonnebell Cup in Burlingame, California Left to Right: Sarah Lee, Breaunna Addison, Sabrina Santamaria, Monica Turewicz, Ellen Tsay, Gabrielle DeSimone, Kimberley Po-Messerli (Captain)

Cindy Brinker Simmons (Maureen Connolly’s daughter) presents trophies to Nicole Long (Plano, TX) 3rd Place and Maddy Murray (Denton, TX) 4th Place for MCB Girls’ 14 Championships. Maddy received the Sportsmanship Award.

Dallas, Texas…Haley Martin (#1 seed) from Tulsa, Oklahoma won the 36th annual Maureen Connolly Brinker Girls’ 14 National Championships at T-Bar-M Racquet Club in Dallas, Texas. She defeated Sachia Vickery from Miramar, Florida 6-4, 6-3. The event was held from Friday, March 23 through Sunday, March 25. Nicole Long (Plano,TX) defeated Madeleine Murray (Denton,TX) for Third Place and Fourth Place 6-1,6-3. Tina Jiang (Somerset, NJ) defeated Mimi Fotopoulos (Prairie Village, KS) for Fifth and Sixth Place 6-3, 6-1 In the Consolation Final, Mackenzie Knoop (Albuquerque, NM) defeated Lauren May (Niceville, FL) due withdrawal. The Sportsmanship Award was presented to Madeleine Murray (Denton,TX). Invitations were sent to the top players who are 14 & under from each section of the USTA. This singles-only event is sanctioned by the USTA and is on the National Junior Tennis Schedule. Cindy Brinker, daughter of Maureen Connolly Brinker, presented the trophies to the winner and…

Tara Eckel receives MCB Special Achievement Award at the Dallas Tennis Association Junior Banquet on Sunday, January 28, 2007. Cindy Brinker Simmons, daughter of Maureen “Little Mo” Connolly Brinker, gave a wonderful talk at the banquet about her mom, who was one of the greatest players of all time. After her talk, Cindy was honored to present Tara Eckel with the very prestigious award: MCB Special Achievement Award. Tara is a highly passionate and competitive gal, but deeply compassionate towards others. She exemplifies the ideals of “Little Mo” through her sportsmanship, character and leadership. She has been ranked as high as #22 in the U.S., and as high as #2 in the section and while she has one gold ball and numerous sectional and national titles, her sportsmanship awards of which she has 9, are the most important to her. She is a member of National Honor Society, Mu Alpha…

Nancy Watland, Michal Kuszernko, Brice Polender, Haley Wilcox, Ty Ana Williams, Darnesha Moore, Sylvia Gothard (“Little Mo” Tournament Director for Midwest Sectionals and North Regionals) with Todd Martin and Pete Sampras