News
Sue Bartlett to Be Inducted into GPS Athletic Hall of Fame
Ceremony to be held during Reunion Weekend
While Girls Preparatory School is known for academic excellence, our students' and coaches' athletic performances have led to a higher than average entrance into the college athletic arena. On average, 20 percent of GPS student-athletes will go on to compete at the collegiate level, while the national average is roughly 7 percent for male and female high school athletes.
Each year, GPS recognizes a select number of alumnae and/or staff for their outstanding accomplishments in and contributions to athletics and who made a significant impact on the GPS athletics program with induction into the GPS Athletic Hall of Fame.
This year, we are honored to announce that Sue Bartlett, longstanding leader in the GPS tennis community, will be inducted into the GPS Athletic Hall of Fame during a Reunion Weekend ceremony.
This year, we are honored to announce that Sue Bartlett, longstanding leader in the GPS tennis community, will be inducted into the GPS Athletic Hall of Fame during a Reunion Weekend ceremony.
Sue is a distinguished figure in the world of tennis, whose career spans from junior achievements to international senior competition. In her junior years, she was a County Champion in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles, representing her county for several years at both junior and senior levels. She competed in all British Junior Nationals across hard courts, indoors, and grass, and was ranked #17 in the country in the U18 category.
Her talent and dedication earned her recruitment to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) in the late 1970s, despite never having visited the city before. During her four-year career at UTC, she helped her team win two AIAW Division II National Championships and was named an All-American in 1979. Sue graduated with a BS in Business Administration with Cum Laude honors and was later inducted into the UTC Hall of Fame, the Chattanooga Sports Hall of Fame, and the Tennessee Tennis Hall of Fame.
After college, Sue became a tennis professional at the Manker Patten Tennis Club while pursuing her MBA and working for H&R Block. However, her passion for teaching tennis led her to become the Head Professional and Tennis Director at Lookout Mountain Fairyland Club. Simultaneously, she served as an assistant coach for the UTC Lady Mocs and continued to work on her own game.
In 1988, Sue accepted the position of Director of Tennis and Head Varsity Coach at Girls Preparatory School (GPS), where she built a renowned tennis program focused on imparting life lessons through the sport. Under her leadership, GPS teams have won five team state championships and eight runner-up titles. Individually, she has coached eight state singles champions, five doubles champions, and numerous runners-up, amassing a total of 33 state titles or runners-up in her 36 years of coaching.
Sue has continuously sought to enhance her coaching skills. She was selected for the USTA High-Performance Coaching Program and has attended numerous coaching symposiums. She has also been chosen to coach prestigious junior events, such as the USTA Junior National Team Championships and the Ozaki Cup. In 2005, she was named the NFHS Sectional Coach of the Year.
As a player, Sue's competitive career is equally impressive. In her 20s and 30s, she won the City Singles Championship 11 times and the State Championship three times. In her senior years, she has won several national singles and doubles titles in both the US and the UK, including a unique achievement of winning national titles on all four surfaces: clay, grass, hard, and indoor courts. Sue's international career flourished when she was selected to represent Great Britain in the Senior World Championships, traveling to places like Mexico City, Turkey, and New Zealand.
One of the most cherished moments of her career was coaching and playing alongside her daughter, Claire '08. Together, they won the USTA National Mother-Daughter Tournament in 2003. Claire went on to win three TSSAA Singles Championships and led GPS to three TSSAA Team Championships. She later played at the University of Virginia and the University of Florida, and both mother and daughter are members of the GPS Hall of Fame.
Today, Sue continues to give back to the sport as a member of the Board of the Tennessee Tennis Patrons and Vice President of the Bucks County Tennis Association. She also competes internationally on the senior circuit and has been a captain and player for numerous national teams. Throughout her career, Sue has remained dedicated to tennis, education, and fostering the growth of the next generation of athletes.
To register for Reunion Weekend, click here.
To register for Reunion Weekend, click here.
