2023 USPTA Intermountain Annual Award Winners
USPTA Intermountain Elevate Award recognizes a new USPTA member, of less than 5 years, who has demonstrated commitment and initiative in growing and serving tennis.
BILLY CRAWFORD
• Head Tennis Professional (5 years) at Anthem Country Club, Henderson, NV
• Started journey as a tennis teaching professional at age 16 working with juniors
• Committed to the USPTA 5 years ago to make an impact on those he coaches and his ultimate goal is to be the most influential coach globally
USPTA Intermountain Star Award recognizes a member who has dedicated many years to volunteering. Their giving spirit has made them stars in their own communities.
AMANDA PARSON-SIEGEL
• Pro and Manager - Spanish Oaks Tennis Club, Las Vegas, NV
• Coaching for 25 years
• Volunteering for 12 years making tennis accessible to everyone
• One of her initiatives is working with children with autism
USPTA Intermountain Laurie Martin High School Coach of the Year Award recognizes a member who has stellar results as a team coach. Individual coaches may be considered as well.
JOHN ARMSTRONG
• Coaches at the Boise Racquet & Swim Club, Boise, ID
• Head Men’s and Women’s Coach 19 years - Bishop Kelly H.S.
• Women’s Team - went undefeated in dual team matches and won the District and State Titles for the fourth consecutive year
• Men’s Team - won Districts and placed 2nd at State
• John also serves as USPTA District President of Idaho
USPTA Intermountain Steve Wilkinson College Coach of the Year Award recognizes a member who has stellar results as a team coach. Individual coaches may be considered.
ROELAND BRATEANU
• Head Men’s Coach—University of Utah
• 17th season including 7 years as an assistant
• 42-6 record, #17 in the nation, Pac-12 Regular Season Champion
• His team earned their first top 10 win over #7 Harvard. Other ranked wins over UCLA, Stanford, Cal, Arizona, Oregon, ASU, Memphis and Princeton
• Ranks 3rd all-time with 157 wins in Utah history
USPTA Intermountain Manager of the Year Small Facility Award recognizes a USPTA member or non-member who need not be a General Manager by name but must function in the position of Manager of a facility. The facility itself is not eligible for the award.
JOSH COSSITT
• Owner/Manager (14 years)—Frontier Park Tennis, Cheyenne, WY
• Increased membership by 13.5% this year.
• Replaced old fluorescent lighting with new LED system
• Josh never turns away any juniors for financial reasons and many volunteer in programs in exchange for lessons and court time. Three juniors will sign this spring to play in college
• Josh also serves as USPTA District President for Wyoming
USPTA Intermountain Manager of the Year Large Facility recognizes a USPTA member or non-member who need not be a General Manager by name but must function in the position of Manager of a facility. The facility itself is not eligible for the award.
MARC KNUTILA
• 9 th year as Director of Tennis for the city of Colorado Springs, CO
• Owner/Manager of Springs Tennis
• Runs programs, lessons, and leagues on over 50+ courts across the city including Memorial Park and John Venezia Park
• Marc began his career in Colorado Springs with 70 kids at one site and this number has now exploded into the hundreds. Marc also Coordinates adult programming.
• Aside from all the great work he does as a manager, Marc also coaches at two high schools
USPTA Intermountain Bob Ryland Diversity Award recognizes a USPTA member who has demonstrated an outstanding ability to unite diverse populations within their community through tennis.
KENDALL CHITAMBAR
• Founder and Director of Tennis - Rocky Mountain Tennis Center
• He has coached all levels and all ages for over 30 years
• Kendal is a Wheelchair Tennis Certified Coach, USTA National Wheelchair Committee Member for 2 years, and USTA Net Generation Junior Wheelchair Regional Provider
• Kendall has a wonderful way of making an individual comfortable in a challenging situation
USPTA Intermountain Industry Excellence Award recognizes teaching professionals who take both an altruistic and entrepreneurial attitude toward their jobs. They use their own resources and those offered by the industry to build programs that bring tennis to more people. At the same time, they are successful in growing their tennis business.
PEG CONNOR
• USTA Wyoming Executive Director
• She became USPTA Certified in the late 1980’s in Omaha where she was Director of Tennis at Oak Hills Country Club and the Assistant. Men’s and Women’s Tennis Coach at Creighton University
• Peg arranged USPTA National Headquarter tours for Wyoming players and coaches while attending World Team Tennis Junior Nationals in Orlando. This led to two of the players becoming USPTA professionals
• She has impacted Wyoming with 5 newly USPTA certified professionals in 2023 while there were only 12 certified in 2018
USPTA Intermountain George Bacso Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes a member who, over a career, has demonstrated exemplary achievement in seven areas, including: contributions to the USPTA and USTA; as a teaching professional, player, and coach; in education, research, and publications; and with other organizations, achievements, and contributions. The Lifetime Achievement Award is not necessarily awarded every year.
BRAD FERREIRA
• Builder, owner, operator—Eagle Ridge Tennis & Swim Club, North Salt Lake, UT
• Played D1 at Weber State Univ, year-end NCAA Doubles ranking #11 in 1989
• Coaching for 34 years - USTA High Performance Coach, Early Developmental Lead Coach, Regional Training Camp Coach, member of the USTA Coaches Commission, ITA Coach for Zonals, Nationals, and Team Utah, and has also coached an ATP #6 ranked player
• Brad helped start “Of Love Tennis Tournament” that has donated over $1 million to Juvenile Diabetes.
USPTA Intermountain Alex Gordon Award for Professional of the Year Award recognizes a certified professional who, over a calendar year, demonstrated exemplary achievement in these seven areas: USPTA Involvement; allied organization involvement; club achievements; career development; volunteerism; coaching achievements; playing achievements.
ANDY ZODIN
• Director of Racquets (13 yrs) - Columbine Country Club in Littleton, CO
• Teaching profession for 40 years.
• Andy was our USPTA Intermountain President for 3 terms and has played a tremendous role regionally and nationally. Andy has been instrumental in putting together, through his incredible networking and connectedness, the lineup of speakers/presenters at our conferences both in person and virtually
• Produces the podcast Kickserveradio.com featuring tennis legend Mats Wilander & Kevin Cronin with REO Speedwagon.
• Andy recently emceed the Colorado Tennis Hall of Fame Gala for the 11th time. • “Andy has devoted his career to the game of tennis and goes above and beyond with regards to his support of his club, members, and community
