27th Annual Evening of Champions

Award Winners, Events / January 15, 2015

The Annual Evening of Champions banquet, fundraiser and Chicago Tennis Hall of Fame induction is held each year to honor tennis program achievements, raise funds for future CTP grants and to connect with the tennis community.

The 27th Annual Evening of Champions was held on Saturday, February 27, 2016 at Fountain Blue Banquets.

This year, we inducted a great Chicagoan and an incredible tennis playing family into the Chicago Tennis Hall of Fame.  Joining the Hall of Fame were Richard Bradley and the Karzen family.  See each inductee’s bio on the Hall of Fame page.

Awards were given to the Chicagoans that finished #1 in a Midwest section USTA category.  Other awards went to Chicagoans in the following categories:

Organization of the Year – CrossCourt News Award

Barrington Area Tennis Association

Coach of the Year   – Vegosen Family Award

Barb Rueth

League Player of the Year – Trudy Brahin Memorial Award

Georgene Ross

League Player of the Year – Shostrom Family Award

Anthony Balzano

Tennis Official of the Year

John Coleman

Tournament Director of the Year – Mary Seelig Award

Morrie Marino

The fundraising portion of the Annual Evening of Champions event helps generate funds to support the junior tennis program grants awarded within the Chicago District including Cook, Lake and DuPage counties.  During the evening we held mobile pledging campaign.  Thanks to donations from our guests, we raised over $10,000.  A big thanks to everyone for their support.