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- Written by: Vic Ramsey
2025 NC Tennis Hall of Fame Class: Donald Clark, Don Flow, Janet Moseley, Ashley Rhoney
At a lavish ceremony on Saturday, February 1st, capping off this year's Tennis Weekend at Pinehurst Resort, the North Carolina Tennis Foundation inducted Donald Clark into its NC Tennis Hall of Fame.
An avid tennis player himself, Coach Clark began coaching tennis at Greene Central High School in 1988, taking the job "for a year" after being promised a baseball position the following year. The baseball position never materialized, and Donald began a 26-year tenure coaching tennis at the school.
Greene Central was not a tennis powerhouse. His first men's team went 7-14, and his first two women's teams went 0-32 combined. But patience and hard work paid off. In 1994, Greene Central won a women's conference championship for the first time, beginning a streak of twenty straight conference championships.
Coach Clark's 1998 women's team reached the state championship match, the first of seven consecutive second place finishes before finally winning the first of two state championships in 2005. Greene Central's men's team, meanwhile, went to four consecutive state finals from 2002-2005.
In 2013, Clark retired from Greene Central and continued his teaching and coaching career at Arendell Parrott Academy and now, teaching at John Paul II Catholic High School in Greenville, he serves as the women's tennis coach at C.B. Aycock High School. In 2023, Coach Clark celebrated his 700th win, and he's still counting.
Donald Clark and wife, Dela, with members of the Greene Central tennis family
Coach Clark fueled the impressive run of success at Greene Central by helping to build an outstanding USTA program in Snow Hill, serving as both a USTA tournament director and referee for many years. He also helped inspire the construction of a 12-court tennis facility adjacent to Greene Central, the largest high school tennis faciiity in the state.
In 2007, Coach Clark helped found the NC High School Tennis Coaches Association, and served as its initial president for twelve years. He is currently serving as Vice President. In that capacity, Donald has been a consistent advocate for coaches, players, and parents from every corner of the state.
And, in 2020, Coach Clark was inducted into the NCHSAA Hall of Fame.
On behalf of the NCHSTCA, we extend our sincere congratulations to our friend and founder, Donald Clark.
Well done!
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- Written by: Donald Clark
Player School Class
Abigail Brown Burlington Walter M. Williams Junior
Pauline Bui Fayetteville Terry Sanford Sophomore
Ryan Hanes Carrboro Junior
Genesis Gonzalez Southern Lee Senior
Shay Bieniek Cape Fear Senior
Andi Brinker Cape Fear Senior
Loren Galaviz Fayetteville Terry Sanford Junior
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- Written by: Donald Clark
| Player | School | Class |
| Anna Schweppe | Shelby | Senior |
| Lillian McFall | Seaforth | Senior |
| Mallory Aull | Pine Lake Prep | Freshman |
| Braelyn Stillwell | East Burke | Senior |
| Mackenzie Pendleton | Burns | Senior |
| Marissa Pendleton | Burns | Freshman |
| Victoria Zhou | Research Triangle | Sophomore |
| Alexis Zhao | Research Triangle | Freshman |
| Cora Wymbs | NCSSM | Junior |
| Isabella Hocker | NCSSM | Senior |
| Lucy Barr | Salisbury | Senior |
| Meredith Williams | Salisbury | Junior |
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- Written by: Donald Clark
Player School Class
Lucia Neves Bishop McGuiness Freshman
Manya Nallagangu North Carolina School of Science and Math: Morganton Senior
Sasha Korjova Triangle Math and Science Sophomore
Madison Darnell Highland School of Technology Junior
Carrie Marion Mount Airy Senior
Audrey Brown Mount Airy Junior
Ananya Sriram North Carolina School of Science and Math: Morganton Senior
Will Levine. North Carolina School of Science and Math: Morganton Senior
Kendall Herr Bishop McGuinness Senior
Adelaide Jernigan Bishop McGuinness Senior
Ava Darnell East Wilkes Junior
Emerson Simmons East Wilkes Sophomore
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- Written by: Donald Clark
The North Carolina Tennis Association annually gives a North Carolina High School Tennis Coach of the Year Award in honor of former coach Ron Lee.
The deadline for nominations is Monday, August 31, 2024. Applications are available at https://www.nctennis.com/contentdetail.asp?ContentID=101.
Read more: https://nchighschooltennis.webnode.page/high-school-coach-of-the-year/
PAST WINNERS
| Year | Coach | School |
| 2000 | Jeff Holcomb | Wilmington Hoggard |
| 2001 | Linda Collins | Charlotte Myers Park |
| 2002 | Luke Vail | Charles B. Aycock |
| 2003 | Lindsey Linker | East Chapel Hill |
| 2004 | Jim Sheehan | Swansboro |
| 2005 | Calvin Davis | Charlotte Country Day School |
| 2006 | Zachary Crutchfield | Ragsdale |
| Donald Clark | Greene Central | |
| 2007 | Allen Hornthal | Edenton John A. Holmes |
| 2008 | Denny Wesney, Jr. | Southwest Guilford |