I
n 1969, The Sandspur claimed, “Of the six
She retired in 1986, to be followed by one of her
major sports at Rollins, tennis, golf, baseball,
star players, Bev Buckley. Following the pro-
crew, soccer, and basketball, only in basket-
gram’s move to Division II in 1993, Buckley led
ball has Rollins been consistently unsuccessful.” How
her players to three national championship
did the six sports fare in the next four decades?
tournaments. In 1997, Christie LeMieux was named NCAA Senior Player of the Year and
TENNIS. After placing second in the NCAA
Rolex National Champion.
College Division Championships in 1971, the Tar netters captured the national title in 1972. Coach
GOLF. In 1970, Rollins men won the National
Norm Copeland inspired his players to a string of
Small College Golf Championship, followed by a
SSC titles and frequent competition in the na-
second-place finish in 1977 and third-place
tionals. When Copeland retired in 1993, his teams
sh owin g s in 1 994 a n d 1 997. Th ey sn a g g ed
had played in 27 NCAA tournaments and claimed
another national championship in 2002, with Rob
three national championships, making him the
Oppenheim named NCAA Division II Player of the
third all-time winningest NCAA tennis coach.
Year and Kyle Frakes named Coach of the Year
Seven Tars won individual titles.
(which he reprised in 2003). Twenty-two Rollins
Copeland was followed by Jim Poling, whose
teams have competed in the NCAA tournament
team captured the national championship in 2001,
since 1970, finishing only once outside the top 10.
as well as two individual titles. (In 1994, NCAA in-
Not to be outclubbed, Rollins women golfers
dividual tournaments were replaced by ITA/Rolex
picked up the AIAW National Collegiate Golf
Small College National Championships.) Poling’s
Championship in 1974 and logged back-to-back
successor, Ron Bohrnstedt has won conference
national titles in 1991 and 1992, along with two in-
and region coaching titles; Rollins players have re-
dividual championships for Debbie Pappas, with a
peatedly advanced to NCAA tournaments and
repeat for the team in 1994. Paced by Charlotte
won All-American honors.
Campbell, who captured two individual champi-
The women’s team placed second in the Na-
onships and four national Player of the Year
tional Collegiates in 1970 and 1971, and in the top
awards, the four-year national championship run
10 finishes for the next six years. Coach Ginny
that began in 2003 turned all eyes on Rollins’ lady
Mack, designated one of the top 10 coaches in
linksters. Coach Julie Garner was twice named
the U.S. by Tennis Week in 1978, was also named
national Coach of the Year. In 2008, the Tar
Florida Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
women reclaimed the championship and logged
for Women (AIAW) Coach of the Year in 1980.
a new NCAA scoring record.
“That’s a good serve, they just haven’t designed a court for it.” —Norm Copeland
Championship Women's Golf Team, 2008
Tars meet the Pittsburgh Pirates at the new Alfond Stadium, Harper-Shepherd Field, 1984.
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