TCU Receives Multiple ITA Texas Region Honors
5/18/2020 9:30:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Stevie Kennedy and Marie Norris awarded individual awards while TCU wins team community service award
FORT WORTH -- The TCU women's tennis team was honored with three ITA Texas Region post-season awards on Monday morning, the Intercollegiate Tennis Association announced.
Rising senior Stevie Kennedy received the Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship Award, Senior Marie Norris was recognized with the ITA Cissie Leary Sportsmanship Award and the 2019-20 Horned Frogs team claimed the ITA Community Service Award for the Texas Region.
"Since first recruiting Stevie Kennedy it was obvious, she came from good values and strong morals," head coach Lee Taylor Walker said. "Her attitude and success here is one of the hallmarks of our program. Stevie is a ferocious competitor who competes with pure class. I'm so proud of her for earning this recognition, because this, like everything else she has gained while at TCU, was earned through hard work and dedication to her craft."
The ITA Arthur Ashe Jr. Leadership and Sportsmanship Award recognizes outstanding student-athletes in all five divisions (NCAA Divisions I, II and III, NAIA and JUCO) at the regional and national level. This prestigious award, which dates back to 1982, is presented to the men's and women's national and regional student-athletes who have exhibited outstanding sportsmanship and leadership, as well as scholastic, extracurricular and tennis achievements.
Norris' journey back to tennis over the past 18 months has been nothing short of fearless. She recovered from an injury and resulting surgery that kept her off the courts for 14 months before rejoining the Horned Frogs in January and leading the team with a 6-1 record in dual singles play, earning a career-best No. 81 ranking in the Oracle/ITA singles rankings.
"Even though she missed the previous year and would miss the fall season, Marie was voted team captain in August at beginning of year," head coach Lee Taylor Walker said. "Much like Cissie Leary, Marie was able to use her hard work and platform in a positive way. The team witnessed how hard she worked in her rehab and fitness before she was able to play. And although she could not practice as much, she would be there in the beginning to support the team. As she got closer to full speed, Marie had many reasons she could have taken the easy route in her work and preparation. But she didn't. Marie has worked hard to get where she is today. It seems with each obstacle she tears down she gains more momentum. I'm deeply grateful for what Marie is to this program and overjoyed she has been recognized in with this award."
The ITA/Cissie Leary Award for Sportsmanship goes to a Division I women's player who displays inspiring dedication and commitment to her team, which has enhanced her team's performance and exemplified the spirit of college tennis. It dates back to 1997 and is in memory of the late and widely admired Penn women's tennis coach Cissie Leary.
Thirdly, the Horned Frogs were honored with the ITA Texas Region Community Service award, given to the team that gives back to their campus and their community through tennis and non-tennis pathways.
The team spent nearly 200 hours doing community service and volunteer work around Fort Worth during the 2019-20 season, committing their time and energy to organizations such as the Humane Society, the Boys and Girls Club, the Make a Wish Program and Team Luke, to name a few.
For more information on TCU women's tennis, visit gofrogs.com and follow the team on social media: @TCUWomensTennis on twitter and Facebook, @tcuwomenstennis on Instagram.
Rising senior Stevie Kennedy received the Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship Award, Senior Marie Norris was recognized with the ITA Cissie Leary Sportsmanship Award and the 2019-20 Horned Frogs team claimed the ITA Community Service Award for the Texas Region.
"Since first recruiting Stevie Kennedy it was obvious, she came from good values and strong morals," head coach Lee Taylor Walker said. "Her attitude and success here is one of the hallmarks of our program. Stevie is a ferocious competitor who competes with pure class. I'm so proud of her for earning this recognition, because this, like everything else she has gained while at TCU, was earned through hard work and dedication to her craft."
The ITA Arthur Ashe Jr. Leadership and Sportsmanship Award recognizes outstanding student-athletes in all five divisions (NCAA Divisions I, II and III, NAIA and JUCO) at the regional and national level. This prestigious award, which dates back to 1982, is presented to the men's and women's national and regional student-athletes who have exhibited outstanding sportsmanship and leadership, as well as scholastic, extracurricular and tennis achievements.
Norris' journey back to tennis over the past 18 months has been nothing short of fearless. She recovered from an injury and resulting surgery that kept her off the courts for 14 months before rejoining the Horned Frogs in January and leading the team with a 6-1 record in dual singles play, earning a career-best No. 81 ranking in the Oracle/ITA singles rankings.
"Even though she missed the previous year and would miss the fall season, Marie was voted team captain in August at beginning of year," head coach Lee Taylor Walker said. "Much like Cissie Leary, Marie was able to use her hard work and platform in a positive way. The team witnessed how hard she worked in her rehab and fitness before she was able to play. And although she could not practice as much, she would be there in the beginning to support the team. As she got closer to full speed, Marie had many reasons she could have taken the easy route in her work and preparation. But she didn't. Marie has worked hard to get where she is today. It seems with each obstacle she tears down she gains more momentum. I'm deeply grateful for what Marie is to this program and overjoyed she has been recognized in with this award."
The ITA/Cissie Leary Award for Sportsmanship goes to a Division I women's player who displays inspiring dedication and commitment to her team, which has enhanced her team's performance and exemplified the spirit of college tennis. It dates back to 1997 and is in memory of the late and widely admired Penn women's tennis coach Cissie Leary.
Thirdly, the Horned Frogs were honored with the ITA Texas Region Community Service award, given to the team that gives back to their campus and their community through tennis and non-tennis pathways.
The team spent nearly 200 hours doing community service and volunteer work around Fort Worth during the 2019-20 season, committing their time and energy to organizations such as the Humane Society, the Boys and Girls Club, the Make a Wish Program and Team Luke, to name a few.
For more information on TCU women's tennis, visit gofrogs.com and follow the team on social media: @TCUWomensTennis on twitter and Facebook, @tcuwomenstennis on Instagram.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
The Roditi Rule
Friday, March 07
#TCU National Champions Day in DC #gofrogs
Wednesday, July 24
Jake Fearnley Talking about his time with TCU Men's Tennis
Tuesday, June 25
TCU Wins NCAA D1 Men's Tennis Championship
Saturday, May 25
