Oklahoma State University Athletics
Johnson Inducted In USTA Missouri Valley Hall of Fame
December 06, 2016 | Cowboy Tennis
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Former Oklahoma State men's tennis player Mark Johnson is one of three inductees into this year's USTA Missouri Valley Hall of Fame class. The Hall of Fame recognizes individuals who have served the game of tennis through their play, dedication to volunteerism and their passion for improving the game.
Johnson was a four-time individual Big Eight Conference champion at OSU as, he swept the singles and doubles tournaments in 1981 and 1982. In total, the Henryetta, Oklahoma, native won 72 doubles matches during his time in Stillwater, which ranks as the sixth most in team history. Johnson's crowning achievement came at the end of the 1981 season when he and his doubles partner Kirk Loomis became the first Cowboys to earn NCAA All-America honors.
After leaving OSU, Johnson served as the women's tennis coach at Oklahoma form 1988-2008, where he compiled a 306-176 career record. Johnson coached 23 conference champions and four NCAA singles qualifiers as well as five NCAA doubles qualifiers while at OU.
As a junior player, Johnson was the USTA Missouri Valley junior singles champion on five occasions and was also a four-time USTA Missouri Valley junior doubles champion.
Johnson hasn't forgotten his roots, either. For three years, the former Cowboy led an effort in Henryetta to repair and rebuild the community's broken tennis courts. In 2016, Henryetta dedicated the courts, which required over $250,000 in fundraising.
"Its been a really rewarding experience, knowing the place where we grew up and played, we were able to go back and rebuild it and now for decades to come there will be kids who will be able to come and use that facility," Johnson said.
Johnson is joined by Bob Bates and Wilbur Jones in this year's class. The three new members of the USTA Missouri Valley Hall of Fame were inducted during a USTA Missouri Valley Annual Conference Awards luncheon on Saturday, December 3 at the Sheraton Hotel in Overland Park.
The USTA Missouri Valley Hall of Fame was created in 1986 with the purpose of recognizing and honoring individuals who went above and beyond for the game of tennis, ensuring their continued involvement in the game and the section.
Johnson was a four-time individual Big Eight Conference champion at OSU as, he swept the singles and doubles tournaments in 1981 and 1982. In total, the Henryetta, Oklahoma, native won 72 doubles matches during his time in Stillwater, which ranks as the sixth most in team history. Johnson's crowning achievement came at the end of the 1981 season when he and his doubles partner Kirk Loomis became the first Cowboys to earn NCAA All-America honors.
After leaving OSU, Johnson served as the women's tennis coach at Oklahoma form 1988-2008, where he compiled a 306-176 career record. Johnson coached 23 conference champions and four NCAA singles qualifiers as well as five NCAA doubles qualifiers while at OU.
As a junior player, Johnson was the USTA Missouri Valley junior singles champion on five occasions and was also a four-time USTA Missouri Valley junior doubles champion.
Johnson hasn't forgotten his roots, either. For three years, the former Cowboy led an effort in Henryetta to repair and rebuild the community's broken tennis courts. In 2016, Henryetta dedicated the courts, which required over $250,000 in fundraising.
"Its been a really rewarding experience, knowing the place where we grew up and played, we were able to go back and rebuild it and now for decades to come there will be kids who will be able to come and use that facility," Johnson said.
Johnson is joined by Bob Bates and Wilbur Jones in this year's class. The three new members of the USTA Missouri Valley Hall of Fame were inducted during a USTA Missouri Valley Annual Conference Awards luncheon on Saturday, December 3 at the Sheraton Hotel in Overland Park.
The USTA Missouri Valley Hall of Fame was created in 1986 with the purpose of recognizing and honoring individuals who went above and beyond for the game of tennis, ensuring their continued involvement in the game and the section.
Friday, June 05
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