November 11, 2004
Release courtesy of Dave Blancher, Luther College sports information director

DECORAH, IOWA . . . The United States Tennis Association (USTA) has announced that Luther College women’s tennis coach, Dr. Su Oertel will be inducted into the Missouri Valley Section Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony will take place during the USTA/Missouri Valley Annual Conference, Saturday, December 4, at the Sheraton Hotel, in Overland Park, KS.

“It is always an honor to recognize individuals who have been dedicated over the years and continue to make a contribution to the growth of tennis. The Hall of Fame ceremony gives us the opportunity to bring these outstanding individuals to the forefront,” said Mary Buschmann, Interim Executive Director for the USTA/Missouri Valley Section.

Coach Oertel, is a former Missouri Valley Champion. From 1973-98, She won 14 MVTA championships in singles, doubles and mixed doubles. Oertel continued her dominance from many years, winning District championships in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Minnesota and South Dakota. She also won 16 National Public Parks titles since 1985. She played in 613 singles, doubles and mixed doubles matches during 1972-98 and won 75 percent of her matches and is still an active player in the USTA. She gained experience at several clubs and schools, as well as the Tennis and Life Camp, which is operated by past USTA/Missouri Valley Section Hall of Fame inductee, Dr. Steve Wilkerson.

Oertel also served on the NCAA Midwest National and Regional Tennis Selections Committees, the NCAA National Tennis Committee, the ITA Board of Directors, National and Regional Rankings Committees, Hall of Fame Committee, and Awards Committee. Oertel was honored in 1985 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 to be so honored. Dr. Oertel earned her doctorate in 1995.

Recently, Oertel has been certified by the Professional Tennis Registry, the world’s largest international organization of tennis teachers and coaches.

A comprehensive five-part examination is used to determine each member’s rating. The written and on-court examination was administered by PTR on teaching and playing skills to determine certification rating. Oertel received the Professional rating in all five categories of the test.

Oertel has been the women’s tennis coach at Luther College for 28 years. During her tenure, her teams have posted over 350 career victories. She has led the Norse to four of five AIAW State Championships and more recently, to an unprecedented 21 of 22 Iowa Conference championships. Eleven 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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