The Southern Tennis Foundation proudly announces that Bonnie Vandegrift of Asheville, N.C., has been selected for induction into the Southern Tennis Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026. Vandegrift, a longtime leader in tennis at the local, state, sectional and national levels, will be honored at the Lucy Garvin Southern Tennis Hall of Fame Banquet on January 24, 2026 in Atlanta.
Vandegrift has been a major force in tennis for more than three decades. After moving to North Carolina in 1994, she and her husband, Mike, purchased the Brevard Health & Racquet Club. Seeing the need for organized play, she launched a USTA local league in western North Carolina and served as its coordinator for nine years while also running junior and adult tournaments. In 2003, she founded the Transylvania County Community Tennis Association and became its first president, laying the groundwork for lasting tennis growth in the region.
Her dedication quickly expanded beyond local efforts. She rose through the ranks of USTA North Carolina, serving on and chairing numerous committees, joining the Board of Directors and eventually becoming President of USTA North Carolina from 2008 to 2009. She later served as President of the North Carolina Tennis Foundation and was inducted into the North Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame in 2024.
At the sectional level, Vandegrift made an equally profound impact. She chaired the USTA Southern League Committee for four years, volunteered at league championships across the section and in 2011 joined the Southern Board of Directors. She advanced through leadership positions, culminating in her service as President of USTA Southern in 2019. She also served as Chair of the Southern Nominating Committee and the Southern Tennis Foundation, and she continues to serve as a Trustee of the Foundation.
Her leadership extended nationally as well. Vandegrift served on the USTA League Committee for 12 years, including two as Vice Chair and four as Chair. She later became Chair of the USTA Adult Council and a member of the USTA Advisory Group on Committees. She currently serves as Vice Chair of the NTRP Advisory Group, where she continues to influence the future of tennis on a broad scale.
Vandegrift’s contributions have been recognized with numerous honors. These include the USTA Barbara Williams Service Award in2024, the USTA Southern Gerrie Rothwell Award in 2006 and 2023, the USTA League Award in 2022 and the USTA Southern President’s Award in 2022.She has also been inducted into the Berkeley Preparatory School Athletic Hall of Fame and received the USTA North Carolina Tennis Family of the Year Award in 2009.
USTA Southern President & CEO Ted Reese praised her as “a stellar nominee possessing significant accomplishments and contributions at all levels: as an active recreational player, volunteer and administrator. With dedicated volunteers like Bonnie Vandegrift, the future leadership of North Carolina, Southern and USTA has a bright future. She also continues to support the local CTA in Asheville and invests in mentoring future leaders. She will remain active beyond the time her various leadership roles run their course because she cares about the game beyond personal recognition.”
The Southern Tennis Foundation congratulates Bonnie Vandegrift on her upcoming induction into the Southern Tennis Hall of Fame, celebrating her decades of service, leadership and passion for growing the game of tennis.
