Jim Criswell Receives GCTA Lifetime Achievement Award

In his senior year in high school, Jim switched sports from baseball to tennis, a sport that he had played to some extent when he was 12 years old. He played 3rd singles on the first Worthington High School Tennis Team. Following graduation from high school, Jim helped organize the Cardinal Tennis Club in Worthington. Over the next several years, he was a club officer and president of the group. He actively promoted play by the formation of tennis ladders and team play for adults and youth.

Jim played college tennis for the Ohio State University and lettered in 1960. His college coach was John Hendrix. After graduation from OSU, Jim became a chemistry teacher and a tennis coach at Columbus Whetstone High School. During his years at Whetstone, his teams won 11 consecutive City League Championships. Two of his players, George Learmonth and Randy McLaughlin, won the Ohio High School Athletic Association's State Doubles Tournament one year and they were the runners-up the following year. During Jim's time at Whetstone, he never cut players from the team. Each year, he would have around 30 players playing in varsity and junior varsity matches. Jim has always felt that it is important that everyone who wants to learn the game should be encouraged to do so.

While at Whetstone High School, Jim was an active member of the Ohio High School Tennis Coaches Association. He served as Secretary-Treasurer for several years. He helped set up the State Coaches Team Championship Tournament. He was twice speaker at the annual Ohio High School Coaches Clinic. For many years, he coordinated the Columbus area high school tennis scene by being the Director of the Central District High School Tennis Tournament for the Ohio High School Athletic Association.

For eleven years, during the summers, Jim was the first tennis pro at Columbus Country Club; he was also the Head Pro at Winding Hollow Country Club for three years and at Olympic Swim & Racquet Club. After 11 years as a teacher and a high school coach, Jim left Whetstone High School to become the Manager and Director of Tennis at the Olympic Indoor Tennis Club. He is still there today. As with the Cardinal Tennis Club, Jim set up Olympic with the same primary emphasis on league and team play for adults and juniors. For over 20 years, Jim and Olympic Tennis have offered free tennis lessons to both adults and young people in a continuing effort to get more players into the game of tennis. His USA-123 Programs have brought over 100 new players into the game each year. The Easter Seal Tennithon at Olympic for Junior players has raised close to $100,000 over the years. Jim was recognized with an "Outstanding Promotion of Tennis Award" by GCTA in 1999.

Three years ago Jim started The Bernard Master Junior Satellite Circuit that is played at all the local indoor clubs. It is a series of six tournaments and a masters tournament played in each age group of 10's thru 18's for boys and girls. Close to 200 juniors participated last winter.

Jim has been a major promoter and organizer of tennis in the Columbus area for over 45 years. During this time he has helped to develop the USTA Adult Leagues and he has established and directed several USTA sanctioned junior and adult tournaments. For many summers, the best players from around the state have played in the Bernard Master Olympic Tennis Classic which Jim has organized. He has also been the co-tournament director of three men's professional satellite tournaments that have been held in Columbus.

Jim and his family have truly supported tennis. Jim has written several articles for local publication in the SNP papers in support of tennis. His wife, Mary, works at the Olympic Indoor Tennis Club; his son, Wynn, is a teaching pro in St. Louis where he was just awarded St. Louis Magazine's award as the top teaching pro in St. Louis. Wynn was a professional player with wins over the Bryan Brothers and James Blake in doubles as well as Sandon Stolle in singles.

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