I remember coming back to the Academy to teach in the Leadership Dept and eventually become the 5th Company Officer in the summer of ‘86. I was asked by LT Lisa Yustak (the O’ Rep) if I would coach the Women’s Club Tennis team. I gladly accepted the position and had three wonderful years working with some outstanding athletes, most notably Shelley Laurilla, and helping them develop their games. We played schools like Hood, Washington College and Goucher but also schools like Fordham, Towson, and Mary Washington. I always thought we could have a highly successful Women’s Varsity Tennis team if given the chance. It’s so nice to see that prediction come to fruition. Coach Puryear has done a wonderful job of building the Varsity program as evidenced by taking two lines from the #30 team in the country! Just wanted people to know the Women’s Club Tennis team started well before 2009. BTW, Christine Copper played for Mary Washington when we played them back then.
