Tennis

Jean Carlton Whitaker Ambler was a multi-sport star at Summit School. She was named captain of the basketball team for three years, captain of the field hockey team during the 1946-47 season, a talented member of the tennis team, and founded the figure skating club at Summit.

In basketball, Jean helped the team to an impressive 17-4 victory over Northrop in 1948. In the spring of 1949, she helped her senior class to a 15-15 tie against the seniors from Northrop. 

In tennis, Jean won the Summit singles tennis intramural tournament for three years in a row (1947 to1949) and teamed up with Aleeta Engelbert '49 to win the doubles tournament in 1948.

Ann Luyten Dieperink '53 was a talented multi-sport athlete while at Summit School. She was captain of the girls' basketball team for three years, captain of the volleyball team one year, played field hockey, and was an impressive tennis player. In addition, Ann was the Vice-President of the Summit Girls Athletic Association during the 1950-51 year.

During the 1950-51 field hockey season, Ann and the team defeated Northrop 5-0 and defeated St. Mary's Hall 5-4 in their annual competition. During her junior year, Ann and her classmates defeated the sophomore team 7-0 and tied St. Mary's 2-2. 

In tennis, Ann teamed up with Laura Floan Boone '53 to win the doubles championship in the annual Summit intramural tournament against fellow classmates during their freshmen, sophomore, junior, and senior years. The duo would also travel to play at the Rochester Invitational, the St. Paul Tennis Club and other private clubs in the Twin Cities by invitation. The impressive teamwork and skills that the two showed on the court was noted in The Flame for multiple years. In addition, Ann was a multi-year singles champion on the tennis court throughout her time at Summit School.

Laura Floan Boone '53 played basketball, managed the volleyball team, and was a talented tennis player while attending Summit School. In addition, Laura was an active member of the Girls' Athletic Association. 

In tennis, Laura teamed up with Ann Luyten Dieperink '53 to win the doubles championship in the annual Summit intramural tournament against fellow classmates their freshmen, sophomore, junior, and senior year.

The duo also would travel to play at the Rochester Invitational and at the Tennis Club. The impressive teamwork and skill that the two showed on the court was noted in The Flame for multiple years.

Penelope “Penny” Stout Shanks '58  played field hockey and basketball, but was renowned for her tennis skills during her time at Summit School. At Summit, Penny served as the volleyball team captain and played second singles for the St. Paul Tennis Club, winning the Jr. Whiteman State Tennis Cup in 1957. She was also selected as one of five Widjiwagan campers for their Voyageurs canoe trip in 1957.

Penny attended Middlebury College where she was on the varsity field hockey, volleyball, and softball teams for four years and spent three years on the varsity basketball team. She was also a member of the Middlebury Alpine Ski Team her freshman year. In her words “I was practicing the giant slalom with the team before a meet, I made a turn around a pole, my skis didn’t catch the snow, and I flew off a high cliff. I ended up knocked out and hanging by my stomach over a tree trunk. After this, I decided to ski for fun and to play varsity basketball.”

After graduating from Middlebury, Penny moved to Winchendon, Massachusetts to teach English at Murdock High School. She also competed in the Women’s Volleyball League and was named MVP in 1963. Following a brief return to Minnesota where she taught at Summit School, Penny and her husband moved to Keene, New Hampshire where she taught at Keene High School for twenty years, and was awarded the New England Association of Teachers of English Outstanding Teacher Award in 1997. 

In Keene, she was a member of the Racquet Club, and was selected to play doubles against other teams in New Hampshire and Vermont, compiling a 21-5 record. She also played second base for ten years for the Keene Fast Pitch Softball League, compiling an impressive .400 batting average each year, leading the team in stolen bases and runs scored, and helped her team to state titles in 1980, 1984, and 1985, and went on to play in two national tournaments where her team placed third in 1985.  

Penny also served as the field hockey and softball coach for fifteen years while at Keene High School. In 1986, the varsity softball team won the only state title Keene softball has won to date and lost in overtime in their second state title game in 1989. Penny and her team were honored in 1989 with a letter from the New Hampshire House of Representatives recognizing their hard work and dedication.

A four sport athlete during her time at Summit School, Hilary Raudenbush Magnuson '59 has been an athlete her entire life. Her nominators, Fritz Magnuson '66, Mike Brown '66, and Ann Dieperink '53 say she was known for her talents and tenacity on the tennis court.

Introduced to field hockey, volleyball, basketball, and tennis by Maxine (“Gunny”) Gunsolly at Summit School, Hilary was part of a talented class of athletes, including her doubles partner Janie (Davis) Bennett '59. The two put together a number of impressive performances, going undefeated an impressive six years, and Hilary would go on to win the singles tournament hosted by the school her senior year.

Hilary attended Smith College where she competed in volleyball, basketball, tennis, fencing, squash, crew, and her favorite soccer. She would be named to the varsity teams for tennis, basketball, and soccer and given the competition limitations before Title IX,  the teams competed between grades and dorm houses. In 1963, Hilary was one of four  seniors to be awarded the coveted “S PIN” in recognition of dedication to the athletic program and other areas of school life. 

Hilary returned to St. Paul Academy and Summit School as a teacher in 1983 and was a member of the Lower School faculty until her retirement in 2004. During this time, she established a summer tennis program which grew to include over eighty students. Hilary would also work with the Lower School Athletic Director, Geri Meyer, to start a jump rope club to help students prepare for the annual Jump-A-Thon in support of the American Heart Association, and partnered with Dr. Tim Elchert to coach the Lower School’s co-ed soccer program for a number of years. Geri and Hilary also worked to include line dancing and step aerobics into the conditioning mini courses which were regularly demonstrated during Lower School Open Houses. Her lifelong passion for athletics has had a significant impact on the entire SPA community.

In recognition of her remarkable achievements and enduring legacy in the world of tennis, St. Paul Academy and Summit School is proud to posthumously induct Lassie Stout Ford '61 into the Athletics Hall of Fame.

Lassie’s journey with tennis began at Summit School, where she was a standout even in her early years. As an eighth grader, Lassie and her partner, Margie Read Byers ’59, clinched the prestigious St. Paul Tennis Club’s Jr. Whiteman State Tennis Cup in 1957. This early success was a harbinger of the stellar career that lay ahead. She was well-regarded amongst her classmates and fellow Summit alumnae for her prowess on the court and natural talent and skill.

Following her years at Summit, Lassie continued to shine in the world of tennis, both in singles and doubles play. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, she garnered national recognition with her doubles partner, Pat Fallon. Together, they ascended into the top ten in the U.S. rankings for women’s platform tennis. Their impressive performances on the professional circuit, coupled with numerous victories at the Coveleigh Club in Rye, NY, underscored Lassie’s skill, dedication, and sportsmanship.

Lassie’s achievements were not confined to the tennis court. At Coveleigh, she was honored with a prestigious award for her contributions of organizing tennis and platform tennis tournaments, along with her exceptional sportsmanship. Her commitment to the sport was recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the club in 1982.

Despite facing personal and health challenges, including a battle with ovarian cancer, Lassie’s passion for tennis never wavered. She continued to play whenever possible, demonstrating incredible resilience and grace. Her battle with illness, which began when she was just 38, was marked by her unyielding spirit and love for the game she cherished. Lassie passed away in 1985 at the age of 40.

Lassie’s life was a testament to her character both on and off the court. Known for her calm demeanor, fairness, and focus, she was a competitor who made her opponents work hard while maintaining her own effortless style. Her friends and family remember her as a quiet, thoughtful individual with a sharp wit and a warm presence. Her legacy lives on not just in her athletic accomplishments, but in the hearts of those who knew her.

The induction of Lassie Stout Ford into the St. Paul Academy and Summit School Athletics Hall of Fame is a heartfelt acknowledgment of her extraordinary contributions to the sport and her enduring impact on the community. It is a celebration of a life that was rich with achievement, character, and grace.

Elizabeth “Lisa” O’Brien ’73 was a talented tennis and basketball player at Summit School and was a member of the first graduating class of the merged St. Paul Academy and Summit School. As one of the top all-around female athletes at Summit in the years before Title IX, Elizabeth was a dominant tennis player who competed on both the girls’ and boys’ varsity tennis teams. Classmate Bob Mairs, a member of the boys’ tennis team, says that “Elizabeth motivated the team to play better and she could hold her own against anyone.”

She lettered in all twelve seasons that she competed in athletics and received a boys’ tennis letter her senior year. She was the inaugural Girls’ Athletic Award recipient her senior year, which recognized her for her athletic talents and accomplishments. 

Elizabeth attended Smith College, where her natural gift for athletics made her a strong competitor who played on the varsity tennis, basketball, squash, field hockey, and lacrosse teams. 

Following college, Elizabeth coached multiple high school and collegiate sports. She spent over 20 years as a squash competitor and teaching pro. A lifelong “student of the game,” she obtained a masters’ degree in Physical Education. Tom Doar '69 calls her “a terrific athlete -- versatile, accomplished, an athlete who did it all well.  Her poise, awareness and determination coupled with her terrific athletic ability allowed her to excel on multiple levels and multiple sports. She is clearly deserving of this Hall of Fame induction.”  

Elizabeth “Beth” Lilly '81's induction into the St. Paul Academy and Summit School Athletics Hall of Fame, honors and recognizes her exceptional achievements as a standout athlete and leader in women’s athletics. Throughout her time at St. Paul Academy and Summit School, she played five different sports and showcased both athletic skill and leadership throughout her high school career.

Beth's tennis career at SPA was nothing short of legendary as she played varsity tennis for an impressive five years, achieving remarkable success. During her time competing, her team clinched the State Championship four times, and Beth won the State Doubles Title twice, first in 1979 with Elizabeth Mairs and again in 1980 with Becky Hart. Her leadership culminated in captaining the team her senior year.

In golf, Beth pioneered the first girls' varsity golf team her senior year at SPA where she not only captained the team but also became the first girl from SPA to qualify and compete in the High School State Golf Tournament where her brother Jim, served as her caddy. In basketball, Beth was a mainstay on the varsity basketball team for four years, serving as captain her senior year. She also competed on the varsity soccer team for two years and was a member of the varsity track and field team beginning her freshman year.

Following SPA, Beth continued to excel in athletics at Hobart William Smith Colleges, where she played varsity tennis and soccer, captaining the soccer team her senior year. She also helped begin the rowing program, which has since become a varsity program for both men and women.

Beth’s ability to be a consummate team player is evident in her ability to inspire others as well as lean on her teammates to achieve success. She recalls the invaluable guidance of figures like Coach Cliff Caine in tennis and Coach Tom Doar in basketball, along with the steadfast support of her doubles partners and teammates for helping her reach her goals. Beth’s impressive accomplishments and achievements stand as a testament to perseverance, leadership, and a lifelong dedication to sportsmanship.

For Cathy Paper '85, athletics was and continues to be an important part of her life. A four-sport athlete at St. Paul Academy and Summit School, Cathy was a talented tennis player and member of the basketball, track and field, and softball teams, earning fourteen varsity letters and captain honors five times over the course of her SPA career.

In tennis, Cathy helped lead her team to three state championships, winning the individual state doubles championship as a junior. A captain her senior year, she led her team to an impressive 11-5 record against some of the top schools in the state and a third-place overall finish. She also partnered with teammate Cynthia Wang ’86 to claim the region doubles championship and a state runner-up finalist.

On the track and field team, as an eighth grader, right as middle schoolers were being allowed to play on Varsity sports, Cathy set the school record in the 3200m and earned All-Conference honors. Outside of St. Paul Academy and Summit School, she set a top-five record at the Grandma’s Marathon with a time of 3:33 for the U18 division.

Cathy was awarded the Girls’ Athletics Bowl for her exceptional performance and leadership, along with the Headmaster’s Bowl, awarded by the Headmaster in consultation with the faculty and given to an individual who makes significant contributions to important aspects of school life. Mr. Harris, SPA’s headmaster at the time, praised Cathy’s athletic and academic achievements, her work on the Student Activities Council and as editor of The Rubicon, and noted her enthusiasm and involvement in all aspects of the school.

Cathy attended Williams College where she earned four varsity letters in tennis and squash and was named to the All-New England Team in Women’s Rugby. She continues to run and play tennis, and has run two additional marathons and competes in USTA tennis programs, where she recently competed at Over 40’s Nationals.

“To know Cathy is to be buoyed by her energy and compassion,” says classmate Peggy Driscoll '85. “She's a fierce competitor, as demonstrated by her accomplishments, and an amazing leader. Her teammates loved her, and she was a great captain. She would be an excellent addition to SPA's Athletics Hall of Fame.”

Kira Gregersen Steiner '89 was one of the best tennis players to attend St. Paul Academy and Summit School. Competing on the Varsity team throughout her time at SPA, she would go on to win the Minnesota Class “A” State Singles Championship an impressive four years in a row from 1985-1989, setting a Minnesota record for the most state championship wins. She also helped the girls' tennis program to a Minnesota Class A Tennis Championships in 1986 and 1987. Kira was recognized for her accomplishments as one of six finalists for the Minnesota State Athlete of the Year as well as in the November 1988 issue of Sports Illustrated. 

During her senior season, Kira, along with her teammates, compiled a record setting 13-5 record en route to their ninth state title for the tennis program. “I was in awe of her ability,” teammate Anita Kuba '90 says of Kira. “We won state twice during my high school years largely because of her. She was phenomenal on court; I could watch her for hours. [Knowing her] was a highlight of my time at SPA and made a tremendous impact on all of us.” 

Following SPA, Kira played tennis at the University of Wisconsin where she continued her impressive career. A member of a Top-25 team all four years, Kira was elected captain of the team her junior and senior seasons, and twice received All-Big Ten Honors. She would go on to serve as an Assistant Coach for two years at the University of Illinois at Chicago while earning her MBA.

Mark Krinsky ’60 was an accomplished three-sport athlete at St. Paul Academy, excelling in football, hockey, and tennis. Known for his strength, speed, and competitive spirit, Mark played varsity football for three years and made a major impact as a halfback, linebacker, punter, and quarterback. In his final game, Mark stepped in at quarterback and led SPA to a dramatic win over Blake. Mark was the only SPA player to be elected to the All-Minnesota Independent School League.

Mark credits his coaches and teammates for shaping his experience, especially Coach Roy M. Rasmussen, who offered encouragement and support that extended well beyond the field. Athletics taught him to work hard, play fair, and respect those who gave their all—values that stuck with him long after graduation.

On the ice, Mark was a standout defenseman, starting in both his junior and senior seasons. He played a key role on the 1958 team that won the Minnesota Independent School League championship, including a landmark victory over Minnehaha Academy that broke their 13-game win streak. In tennis, Mark played varsity for three years, captained the team as a senior, and lost just one singles match in his high school career.

Mark was awarded the Harvard Cup in 1960, recognizing him as SPA’s top student-athlete. Recruited for football and hockey by several Ivy League schools, he ultimately selected Yale, and played hockey into his late 20s. He remained deeply engaged in athletics throughout his life—he played competitive tennis into his 50s and continued golfing regularly into his 70s, achieving a 5.0 tennis rating and a 9.0 golf index, along with multiple club-level tournament wins.

Respected by teammates and coaches for his grit, leadership, and all-around excellence, Mark Krinsky gave SPA a competitive edge and lasting legacy.

Julia Lane Weyerhaeuser Heidmann ’77 was a standout three- sport athlete at St. Paul Academy and Summit School, lettering all four years in tennis, basketball, and softball—and serving as captain of all three teams during her senior year. Before softball became a varsity sport, she also competed in track and field. Julia was a key contributor to SPA’s tennis program during its dominant run of independent school state titles in the early 1970s, and in 1976, she helped lead the team to victory in the school’s first-ever appearance in the official Minnesota State High School League tournament.

Known for her athleticism, leadership, and competitive spirit, Julia brought skill and determination to every team she joined. Her coaches and teammates recall her as a consistent top performer and a strong presence on and off the court. She credits mentors like Coach Cliff Caine and Athletic Director Dave Montgomery with providing the guidance and encouragement that helped her thrive. Julia’s time as an athlete also sparked early opportunities in coaching, including teaching tennis and skiing during high school.

After graduating from SPA, Julia was among the first generation of female athletes to compete under the new opportunities created by Title IX. She continued her athletic career at Williams College, competing in four varsity sports: tennis, soccer, lacrosse, and ice hockey. She was part of the early years of women’s hockey at the collegiate level, helping lay the foundation for future growth of the sport. Though she didn’t pursue athletics competitively after college, Julia remained active and continues to enjoy tennis and cycling. Her lifelong commitment to athletics and her contributions during a formative time for girls’ sports at SPA make her a deeply deserving inductee into the Athletics Hall of Fame.

Julia Mairs Weisbecker ’84 was a standout three-sport captain at SPA, excelling in tennis, basketball, and softball. A five-time state team champion in tennis from eighth through twelfth grade, she also earned All-Conference honors in basketball and softball and capped her SPA career with a third-place individual finish in the state tennis tournament as a senior.

At Dartmouth College, Julia competed as a Division I tennis player, where she was a four-year letter winner, senior-year team captain, and team MVP in 1987–88. After graduation, Julia returned to the courts as a coach at Mounds Park Academy and SPA while building her career as a physical therapist continuing to inspire and mentor young players.

Eventually, her competitive drive shifted to triathlon, where she completed six Ironman races, numerous half-Ironmans, and proudly represented her age group at the 2022 Ironman World Championships in Kona. In April 2025, she won her age group at the prestigious Oceanside 70.3 season opener.

Through every chapter—whether battling for match point or pushing through the final miles of an Ironman—Julia has embodied the dedication, resilience, and passion that define SPA Athletics.

Gina Suh Howell ’94 made history as one of Minnesota’s greatest high school tennis players. A fierce competitor and strategic thinker on the court, she became the first five-time singles champion in MSHSL history, capturing the Class 1A title every year from 1989 to 1993. Her first victory—as an eighth-grader—made her the youngest singles champion in state history. Gina also helped SPA claim the 1988 State Championship team title as a 7th grader and was honored with both the SPA Girls’ Athletic Trophy and Girls’ Athletic Bowl her senior year for her skill, leadership, and love of the game. In 2022, Gina was also ranked among the top 50 Minnesota student-athletes of the Title IX era by the Star Tribune.

A standout for her mental toughness as much as her technical skill, Gina was known for outlasting and outthinking even more equally gifted opponents. She played collegiate tennis at Harvard University before an injury ended her competitive career. Beyond her own accomplishments, Gina treasured the camaraderie and mentorship within the SPA tennis program, crediting older teammates for shaping her approach to leadership and sportsmanship—lessons she would carry into her career as a trauma surgeon and her role as a mother.

Gina’s passion for athletics extends well beyond her own achievements. She remains a dedicated sports fan and has encouraged her children to pursue their own athletic dreams. Her legacy at SPA is not only one of record-setting championships, but also of humility, determination, and the ability to inspire those around her—qualities that make her a fitting member of the SPA Athletics Hall of Fame.