Mike Gillespie to be Inducted into the Platform Tennis Hall of Fame

January 6, 2016
Pittsburgh, PA

Mike Gillespie of Morristown, New Jersey, has been voted into the Platform Tennis Hall of Fame by the APTA.

Gillespie, the Director of Platform Tennis at Indian Trail Club in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, will join Chicagoan Chris Gambino and Barbara “Bobo” Delaney of Chatham, New Jersey, as this year’s honorees. Gillespie and Gambino will be inducted on March 4 at this year’s Nationals in Darien, Connecticut, while Delaney will be honored in a separate ceremony in Short Hills, New Jersey, on February 5.

Gillespie is being recognized for three decades’ worth of contributions to the sport as both a top player and teacher, earning the reputation of a fierce but humble competitor and becoming one of the true ambassadors of the sport. He has created an indelible imprint on the future of the game, particularly through his efforts to establish the Professional Platform Tennis Association (PPTA) certification process and in building a solid foundation of junior communities throughout the Northeast.

Gillespie was introduced to the sport at an early age and made his mark by winning three junior national titles. He worked under Hall of Famer Hank Irvine for seven years, learning how to play the game at the highest level while also how to provide the level of leadership that would continue to grow the game.

“Mike has been a longstanding contributor to the sport of platform tennis,” said Steve Baird, chairman of the APTA’s Hall of Fame committee. “He’s provided valuable input to standardize the evaluation and certification of pros and has now certified and mentored more than 100 high-profile platform tennis professionals. Teaching professionals who are certified by him develop a long-lasting friendship with ‘Mike the Mentor,’ who embraces the entire certification process while always maintaining its integrity and professionalism.”

In addition to his three national junior championships, Gillespie also owns a mixed national championship with Gerri Viant (1989) and senior national championships in the 45s (2011) and 50s (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015). He was a men’s national runner-up in 1992, 1994, and 2002.