TEMPE, Ariz. – Kelsey Grambeau of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Eugenia Sanchez of the University of Texas of the Permian Basin, are the winners of the 2018 Wilson ITA National Promoter of the Year Award. Grambeau and Sanchez will receive a paid summer internship to work at Wilson’s global headquarters in Chicago, Illinois, in its Grassroots Marketing department.
“We are excited to welcome Eugenia Sanchez and Kelsey Grambeau to the new Wilson headquarters in downtown Chicago,” said Wilson US Grassroots & Promotions Manager, Cy Dofitas. “We had many amazing candidates for this year’s award, but Eugenia and Kelsey exhibited the attitude, energy, and passion that we were looking for in the Promoter of the Year winner. It’s going to be a fantastic summer at Wilson and we are looking forward to having Eugenia and Kelsey join our Wilson ITA family.”
Each year, the Wilson/ITA National Promoter of the Year Award recognizes two student-athletes who advance the game of tennis by devoting consistent time and effort to promotional activities, and by supporting and bringing awareness to their school program and to college tennis in general.
Grambeau and Sanchez will assist with the day-to-day projects for the entire Grassroots and Marketing team. Interns will have an opportunity to work and experience all the different facets of Wilson Racquet Sports from tennis balls, racquets (performance and recreational), promotions/marketing, U.S. tour, indoor (racquetball, squash, badminton and paddle), accessories and apparel/footwear.
“Kelsey and Eugenia are excellent choices for the National Promoter of the Year Awards,” said Mary Edman, ITA Director of Member Programs. “The ITA wishes both student-athletes well as they spend their summer at the Wilson global headquarters in Chicago to take part in an extraordinary internship opportunity.”
Grambeau is a science (biology) major at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, with an anticipated graduation date of December 2018. A member of the Badgers’ women’s tennis team since 2014, Grambeau has served as the president of the Wisconsin Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) for the past two years. She’s participated in over 100 hours of service in the local community through her work as a Badgers Give Back volunteer.
“I’m so thrilled and humbled to have been chosen for such an incredible internship,” said Grambeau. “After finishing up my collegiate tennis career this semester, I’m grateful for the opportunity to be involved in the sport I am passionate about, from a new perspective. I’m looking forward to soaking in as much information as possible and getting the most out of my experience that I can. I’m excited to make connections with people across the tennis community and show them what Wilson is all about.”
Sanchez is the Falcons’ team captain this season. She’s due to graduate in May with a bachelor’s in communications. A three-time ITA scholar-athlete (2015-17), Sanchez has spent the past year serving as a mentor on the UTPB campus, as she counsels individuals to help them understand and overcome personal, social or behavioral problems affecting their educational or vocational situations. Sanchez has also worked as a camp counselor and tennis instructor for Camp Laurel in Readfield, Maine.
”This is a grand opportunity and a dream come true since it is precisely what I want to do in my professional career,” said Sanchez. “I am thankful that I was selected for this competitive position and I am ready to work and learn as much as I can. All the hard work throughout my collegiate career has led up to this, and I am ready to launch into the summer internship and start building a foundation towards my professional goals. Gaining knowledge and experience to practice the theories I read so much about in college, and to work closely with some of the most known professionals in the field, is what I most look forward to of this opportunity”
About the ITA
The Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) is committed to serving college tennis and returning the leaders of tomorrow. As the governing body of college tennis, the ITA oversees women’s and men’s varsity tennis at NCAA Divisions I, II and III, NAIA and Junior/Community College divisions. The ITA administers a comprehensive awards and rankings program for men’s and women’s varsity players, coaches and teams in all divisions, providing recognition for their accomplishments on and off the court. For more information on the ITA, visit the ITA website atwww.itatennis.com, like the ITA on Facebook or follow @ITA_Tennis on Twitter and Instagram.
About Wilson Racquet Sports
Wilson Racquet Sports is a division of Chicago-based Wilson Sporting Goods, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of sports equipment and owned by Amer Sports. Wilson designs, manufactures and distributes sporting goods throughout the world and focuses on making technologically advanced products which help players of all levels perform better. Wilson’s core sport categories include: Football, Basketball, Baseball, Volleyball, Soccer, Youth Sports, Uniforms/Apparel, Golf, Footwear and Racquet Sports (Tennis, Racquetball, Squash, Badminton and Platform Tennis). For more information, visit www.wilson.com/en-us.
