DEDICATION OF DON GREBIN COURT & OPEN HOUSE – OCTOBER 28 FROM 7-9 PM
Leaving a legacy of sporting excellence throughout the state, Don Grebin spent his life sharing his passion for tennis with people of all ages. As recognition of his achievements, GreatLIFE Woodlake Athletic Club will be dedicating on of its tennis courts in his honor on October 28 at a public dedication ceremony, followed by an open house from 7-9 p.m.
In addition to the dedication of the Woodlake court, the new Community Indoor Tennis Center (CITC) will also have a court that bears Grebin’s name, thanks to a pledge of $125,000 from GreatLIFE Malaska Golf & Fitness. According to Thomas Walsh, Sr., President of GreatLIFE, “Don impacted the lives on not only tennis players in the state, but the entire community. He passed his love of the game on to generations of athletes and was a role model for young people on the court and in the classroom.”
Don was born in 1932 in Sioux Falls, S.D. and became a champion tennis player while attending Washington High School and Augustana College. A career teacher, Don also coached tennis at his high school alma mater and served as the city tennis director for 17 years. He served as co-director of the South Dakota Open for 15 years and was the tennis pro at Westward Ho Country Club. He continued to compete and won 25 sanctioned amateur men’s doubles titles including nine state titles. His dedication to the game of tennis earned him numerous honors throughout his lifetime. Don Grebin died in February at 82, but not without impacting the lives of many people in Sioux Falls and the entire state.
- South Dakota Tennis Hall of Fame – 1992
- Augustana’s Lefty Olson Award – 1997
- USTA North Section Hall of Fame – 2002
- Washington High Athletic Hall of Fame – 2007
- Distinguished Service Award (South Dakota High School Activities Association)
GreatLIFE Woodlake Athletic Club is proud to host this dedication ceremony and to keep the tradition of tennis excellence, embodied in Don Grebin, alive for future generations.