February 23, 2006
Release courtesy of Dave Blanchard, Luther College sports information director

DECORAH, IOWA . . . The Iowa Tennis Association (ITA) has announced that Luther College women’s tennis coach, Dr. Su Oertel, was inducted into the 2005 Iowa Tennis Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony took place during the Iowa Tennis Association Annual Conference, Saturday, Feb. 12, 2006, in the Amana Colonies.

The Iowa Tennis Hall of Fame was established in 1974 to honor individuals who have made outstanding contributions to tennis. Their efforts as Administrators, Coaches, Players, Teachers, and Tournament Directors have earned them a place of honor and gratitude from those interested in promoting tennis in the Iowa District.

As a player in the Iowa District and Missouri Valley Section of the USTA, Dr. Oertel, won District championships in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Minnesota and South Dakota. She also won 14 MVTA championships in singles, doubles and mixed doubles and 18 National Public Parks titles since 1985. She played in over 600 singles, doubles and mixed doubles matches during 1972-98 and won 75 percent of them. She is still an active player in the USTA. Oertel gained teaching experience from various sources including Kansas City tennis clubs, Iowa public schools, and the Tennis and Life Camp, operated by past USTA/Missouri Valley Section/Iowa District Hall of Fame inductee, Dr. Steve Wilkinson. Oertel also directed the Luther College Tennis Camps from 1981-2002.

Oertel also has served on the NCAA Midwest National and Regional Tennis Selections Committees, the NCAA National Tennis Committee; the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Board of Directors, National and Regional Ranking Committees, Hall of Fame Committee, and Awards Committee since 1982. In 1985, Oertel was honored as one of the Outstanding Young Women in America. In 1992, she was voted ITA National Coach of the Year – Division III Women. The Cedar Rapids Gazette named her one of the Top Ten Coaches of the Century in 1999, the only Division III coach honored. Dr. Oertel earned her doctorate in 1995 from The University of Iowa.

In 2004, Oertel was certified at the Professional rank by the Professional Tennis Registry (PTR), the world’s largest international organization of tennis teachers and coaches. In 2005, she received certification in the USTA High Performance Coaching program.

Oertel has been the women’s tennis coach at Luther College for 30 years. During her tenure, her teams have posted over 370 career victories. She has led the Norse to 4 of 5 Iowa AIAW State Championships and more recently, to an unprecedented 23 of 24 Iowa Conference championships. Thirteen times she has been named IIAC Coach of the Year. She has also led the Norse to 10 NCAA Division III National Tournaments and has had the privilege of coaching 12 ITA All-Americans.

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