BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Bill Rompf Junior Tennis Foundation Board of Directors is highly experienced and firmly entrenched in the junior tennis world. They “have been there and done that.” Most are former junior tennis players and students of Bill Rompf as well as many of his former professional teaching staff from the OKC days. Many are still involved in the game. All share a common junior tennis experience and knowledge that makes them both qualified and engaged in wanting to help junior players from the OKC area reach their tennis dreams and not be hindered by financial need.

They are a group of committed individuals who understand what the sport of tennis did for them in their lives and how Bill Rompf was a significant part of that process. Rompf states that “these ‘kids’, these former students, these very successful in life individuals, these life long friends, understand well what tennis has given to their lives and the hard work that the sport achieves in building character and life skills. Now they want to pay that back and pay it forward. I am so pleased to have them on our team."

Executive Committee

Bryan Geiger

President

Bryan, from Edmond, was a Oklahoma State and MVTA sectional champion ranking as high as #1. He played college tennis at the University of Oklahoma and then Arizona State University where he reached the final eight at NCAA National Championships. He is in the Commercial Real Estate business in Oklahoma City.

Eric Aanes

Vice President

Eric, from Edmond, was a four time Oklahoma HS champion and top ranked Oklahoma and MVTA junior competing nationally during his junior career. He played Division 1 college tennis at UNLV where he was #6 in single season and #9 in career victories. He owns and operates a wealth management firm in the San Francisco area.

Bill Rompf

Secretary

See About Bill

Krunch Kloberdanz

Treasurer

Krunch, from OKC, was one of Rompf’s best players ranking number one in both singles and doubles in Oklahoma, the MVTA, and the USTA including numerous sportsmanship awards, sectionally and nationally. At age 12 he was named the MVTA Sectional Player of the Year for all age divisions. He played #1 for Vanderbilt where he was an All American and Captain and holds several university records. He is a member of the Oklahoma Tennis Hall of Fame. He is currently a Senior Vice President in wealth management for UBS.

Rob Autry

Rob Autry is a former student, teaching pro and lifelong friend of Bill. He considers Bill one of his life mentors and a factor in his many successes in business and life. He has been an entrepreneur based out of Raleigh since 1995. His professional experiences range from working for Fortune 500 companies to being a successful entrepreneur in many diverse industries including a statewide multi-unit café/bakery chain, a worldwide sports technology platform, and as an investor, mentor, and collaborator. These experiences have led to his current venture and love for tennis: Swing Racquet + Paddle, the world’s largest racquet and sports entertainment facility in the world.

Vivek Varma

Vivek, from Chickasha, was a two time Oklahoma State HS champion and ranked in the top five singles and doubles in Oklahoma and top ten in the MVTA. He played tennis for Swarthmore College where he was a two time All American and D3 National Team Champion. He is a member of the Swarthmore Athletic Hall of Fame. As a senior player he has won several USTA gold balls. He is currently the Vice President of Starbucks, President of the Starbucks Foundation and CEO of the Emes Project.

Steve Stokdyk

Steve, from Wichita, was ranked #1 in singles and doubles in Kansas, was a top 3-5 MVTA junior player and played numerous national tournaments. He attended Stanford University and continued his tennis there and beyond. He is a corporate attorney in Pacific Palisades, CA.

Board Members at Large

Chase Arnold

Chase, from Edmond, was a top ranked junior in Oklahoma and the MVTA before moving to New England, where he was ranked as high as #4 sectionally and top 100 nationally. He attended Dartmouth College playing as high as #3 in singles and #1 in doubles and winning The Ivy League Championship in 1993. He still plays tennis and helps coach his son and is an investment banker in Massachusetts.

Mitty Arnold

Mitty, from Edmond, was ranked as high as #3 in Oklahoma and #5 in the MVTA before moving to New England where he was ranked #3 in singles and #1 in doubles. In national play, he ranked #1 in the USTA in Boy’s 18’s doubles. He is a multi-time USTA Sportsmanship winner. He was an All-American playing for and graduating from Harvard University where he played #1 doubles all four years ranking in the top 20 in NCAA. He played satellite and challenger events worldwide ranking in the top 250 in doubles. He has stayed in the sports marketing business working for Reebok, Adidas and AS Roma.

Jean Baxter

Jean, from Watonga, is the lifelong partner of Francis Baxter and tennis volunteer, player, administrator, and fan. Beside Francis (the “Father of Oklahoma Tennis”) she has spent her life tirelessly working for the Oklahoma, MVTA and USTA tennis associations in every capacity possible. She has traveled worldwide supporting Francis and the game of tennis.

Nick Bollettieri

Nick Bollettieri, from Pelham, NY, is considered by many to be the most talented and successful tennis coach in the history of the game, with eleven players ranked #1 in the world to his credit and holder of innumerable awards and accolades in tennis. He and Bill have known each other since 1958 - when Nick gave the Rompf brothers lessons during the summer in Des Moines - and then through the succeeding decades helping Bill's OKC students at the NBTA; Bill working with Nick as his Executive Director of the NBTA in the early 90's; and as close friends in Bradenton since 2008. Bill was instrumental in nominating Nick and lobbying for his International Tennis Hall of Fame induction in 2014.

Nick Bollettieri passed away at his home surrounded by family and friends on December 4, 2022 at the age of 92.

In his memory, Bill Rompf led a small group of close friends in the erection and installation of a permanent memorial tribute display case at the SRQ Airport in Sarasota. The display honors Nick's many tennis achievements, chronicles his life, and pays tribute to the tens of thousands of lives that he touched and helped reach their dreams, both on and off the tennis court. His legacy in tennis and as a pioneer

in the sport and the immense impact on the Bradenton/Sarasota community will be everlasting.

Emeritus Director

Shea Heatherington Barakatt

Shea, from Norman, ranked number one in Oklahoma in singles and doubles, from 1-4 in MVTA sectional play; top 20 in doubles and top 40 in singles in USTA nationally. She played college tennis for Oklahoma State and then the University of Oklahoma; Big 8 Champion in doubles. She is the Therapist/Clinical Director operating several substance abuse agencies in the Dallas area.

Otis Funches, JR

Otis, of OKC, was a top ranked junior in the state of Oklahoma and consistently played the MVTA sectional. He was HS standout at Putnam City North receiving a full scholarship to Fairmont State College in West Virginia. He graduated from UCO in Economics. He is the Project Manager for the Restaurant Concepts Company in Oklahoma City.

Billy Canon

Billy, of OKC, was a top ranked Oklahoma junior and All State Tennis Player; a finalist in Oklahoma HS play going on to play for North Texas State University and then the University of Oklahoma, where he captained the team. Still competing, Billy is nationally ranked in USTA team tennis and squash. He is a practicing attorney in OKC at his own law firm for the last 40 years.

Chris Leap

Chris, from Enid, was ranked as high as #1 in singles and doubles in Oklahoma and the MVTA. He played college tennis for The University of Oklahoma where he was the Big Eight champion at #3. He owns and operates his own wealth management business in Dallas.

Brandon Bethea

Brandon, from OKC, was ranked as high as #2 and #1 doubles in Oklahoma, #3 and #1 doubles in the MVTA, and top 50 in USTA junior singles, reaching the quarter-finals of the Boy’s 18 Grass Courts. He played college tennis at Harvard (with Mitty Arnold) where he was an All American, but constantly hampered by knee injuries. Today, he co-manages a private equity firm in NYC.

Dennis Morgan

Dennis, from Australia, was one of the first teaching pros for Bill and OCTC and then Summerfield. He was a top junior player in Australia playing national and international junior events. He played tennis for OCU at number one making the NCAA on two occasions and professional events in Monte Carlo and the French Riviera where he played Bjorn Borg. He is a Real Estate professional now in Canada.

Paul Kloberdanz

Paul, from OKC, was ranked in the top three in singles and number one in doubles in Oklahoma, top five in singles and number one in the MVTA, and top 25 nationally. He played college tennis at SMU for four years and holds the best win/loss record as a SMU tennis freshman. He owns and operates Arapahoe Oil in OKC.

Gayle Coffey Prejean

Gayle was a Rompf student commuter from Ardmore beginning her last year in 14’s. By age 16, she was #1 in Oklahoma (through the 18’s) and top 3 in the MVTA in singles and #1 in doubles. She played varsity tennis for SMU and has stayed on court ever since as a teaching pro at the Dallas CC and repeat gold ball senior ITF player in the 55’s and 60’s, ranking as high as #1 in the USTA in doubles. Both her children played at the national level. Gayle continues to compete in both intersectional and national play.

David Minihan

David, from Midland, TX, is a life long and award winning tennis player, coach, administrator, facility manager, tournament director, USPTA Master professional and author. He played tennis for Incarnate Word University and is an Oklahoma Hall of Fame inductee. His family was the USTA Tennis Family of the Year in 2020 and his wife, Lisa, is a former USTA/MVTA sectional President. David is currently the Director of Tennis at the new Edmond Center Court.

Barry Richards

Barry, from OKC, was a number one ranked player in the USTA/MVTA and USTA/Texas sections and top 20 nationally throughout his junior years. He was the Texas HS champion winning several sportsmanship awards and then attended Stanford University where he was an All American and captained the team his junior and senior years winning three straight NCAA Team Championships. He is involved in Investment/corporate finance and in the Dallas area.

Jim Loehr

Jim, from Denver, CO, is a world-renowned sports and performance psychologist, inventor of “mental toughness training in sports”, Co-Founder of the Human Performance Institute, author of 16 books including The Power of Full Engagement and The Only Way to Win, and lifelong friend of Bill Rompf, together serving on many USTA boards and committees. He is a former USTA nationally ranked player and holds several USTA gold championship balls and numerous awards, titles, and accolades. He was a frequent supporter and visitor to Rompf’s academy in OKC in the 80’s and 90’s and partnered with Bill to bring sports psychology to IMG Academies. He continues to lecture, consult and write about achieving your personal best in sport and life.

Phil Lancaster

Phil, from Red Cliffs, Victoria, Australia was a top Aussie junior playing the Victorian Shell Squad u16 before attending David Lipscomb College where he played number one. A former National USPTA Board Member and USPTA Texas Pro of the Year, his family was the Texas Tennis Family of the Year and all his kids played college tennis on scholarship. He is the 1st V.P. of the First Serve Foundation in OKC helping young people achieve character in tennis and education and currently, the V.P. of Corporate Development for Mammoth Energy Partners LP in OKC.

Doug Smith

Doug, from Aberdeen, S.D. did not play tennis as a junior, but was a top adult player, ranking as high number two in doubles and four in singles. He attended the University of Nebraska and then transferred to Northern State University where he captained and played number one singles and doubles and won the S.D. Intercollegiate Conference in singles and doubles. Doug served consistently as a board member in the Northern and then the MVTA sections. He was a contemporary and fellow coach of Bill’s throughout the 80’s and 90’s, coaching several top junior players from the St. Louis area. He and Bill are lifelong friends. He is in three tennis Hall of Fames including S.D., St. Louis, and the MVTA HOF’s. He continues to volunteer and coach tennis at the HS level in St. Louis.

Mary Norwood Rompf

Mary, from OKC, was one of Rompf’s and Oklahoma’s best players ever, undefeated and 4 time Oklahoma HS Champion for McGinnis HS. She was ranked #1 in both singles and doubles in Oklahoma and the MVTA in every age division and in the top four in singles and number one in doubles nationally. In her career she has won over 55 USTA gold balls in junior and adult USTA national play. She is an NCAA champion and All American playing for USC and the former Head Pro at the International Tennis Hall of Fame. She is currently the Senior Head Pro at the Birch Racquet and Lawn Club in Dallas.

Lance Snyder

Lance, from OKC, was a top 10 Oklahoma junior player, HS champion, and MVTA doubles champion. He played college football at the University of Kansas where he was an All American and Aloha Bowl champion. He graduated from the University of Oklahoma Medical School and is an Orthopedic Surgeon specializing in Sports Medicine in Jacksonville, FL.

John Winteringer

John, from Shawnee, was a top 5 Oklahoma and MVTA junior player, ranking as high as number one in doubles. He was a HS State Champion and then played for Oklahoma Baptist University where he also coached the team after graduation. He is a Real Estate developer in Shawnee and owns and operates numerous Sonic Drive-In franchises throughout the S.W.

Ed Warren

Ed, from OKC, was Rompf’s first MVTA singles and doubles champion, ranking consistently at #1 in both Oklahoma and the MVTA in the 12’s and 14’s and top 25 nationally. Ed won two Oklahoma State HS championships in doubles and coached 9 Oklahoma State Championship teams for McGinnis HS. Ed graduated from Texas Christian University and UCO. He is long time teaching tennis pro and now a HS math teacher and tennis coach in the Dallas area.

Lee Wright

Lee from Cedar Rapids, IA is a boyhood friend and tennis peer of Bill Rompf. He was ranked in the top 3 in Iowa in singles and doubles and top 5-10 in MVTA sectional play in juniors and adults. He played tennis for the University of Iowa and was an All American, team captain and NCAA qualifier. Lee traveled to South America with Bill in the early 70’s, winning several national titles in singles and doubles and coached many of Colombia’s national junior players. He was critical in the success of the Rompf Academy in OKC and is still in the game at the Houston Country Club where he runs the adult tennis program.

Meredith Geiger Walton

Meredith, from Edmond, was one of Rompf’s and Oklahoma’s best players winning numerous Oklahoma, MVTA sectional and USTA national titles, including the USTA Junior Sportsmanship Award. Meredith played college tennis for Arizona State University and was an All American and reached the final eight at the NCAA. She is a member of the Oklahoma and MVTA Sectional Tennis Hall of Fames and Billy Talbert National Sportsmanship award winner. A former junior academy director and D1 college coach at William and Mary, she is currently the Head Pro at the Austin CC still teaching our game.

Kavita Varma-White

Kavita, from Chickasha, was a four-time Oklahoma State HS finalist and MVTA doubles champion. She played college tennis for Oberlin College where she was an All American and is inducted into their Athletic Hall of Fame. She is the Senior Editor for TODAY Parents, Digital.