Former Tribe Tennis doubles standout wins USTA national championship

SHREVEPORT, La. – Where ever life has taken Brandy Smith Hayse, winning tennis has accompanied her.

The Jacksonville High School graduate, Class of 2000, began her victorious ways in the sport by qualifying for state twice in doubles as a member of the Tribe Tennis team.

Her most noteworthy recent win came at the United States Tennis Association Nationals earlier this month in Mobile, Alabama where Hayse and her partner, Megan Schadwinkel, won the title in the Women’s Combo 4.0/3.5 division.

Hayse, who now lives in Shreveport, Louisiana and Schadwinkel were representing Louisiana as its state champions.

Hayse and Schadwinkel cleared several significant hurdles en route to earning their first place finish.

“We beat a team from Lexington, Kentucky, who were the pre-tournament favorites to win the championship, in the first round,” Hayse said. “From there we beat Alabama in the semi-finals and then beat North Carolina in the championship match.”

The match against North Carolina was one Hayse will never forget.

“The [team score] was tied and we were the last ones on the court,” Hayse said. “We had each won a set, which forced a 10-point, win by two, tie breaker. We were able to win the tie-breaker 10-8. Being the last ones on the court, many of the other players and USTA officials had come over to watch our match – a lot of people that would normally not be there; there were a lot of eyes on us. It was a great match.”

Due to weather issues, Hayse and Schadwinkel played two matches on Thursday, three on Saturday and wrapped up with the title match Sunday.

Hayse said that her grand mother, Letha Smith, is responsible for introducing her to the game of tennis when she was an eighth grader.

“We went out to the Lon Morris [College] tennis courts and I was so nervous, just beginning to learn a new sport,” Hayse said, adding with a laugh, “and it didn’t make things any better to see some of the McCown boys were on the courts at the same time.”

Hayse’s tennis skills quickly began to develop under the tutelage of her coach Karen Crumpton.

As a teenager, Hayse knew that one of her goals was to play college tennis.

Although her forte was doubles, Hayse said that her mother (Pamela Bates) drove her to tournaments all over the Metroplex, down to the Houston area and all across East Texas in order for her to compete in as many tournaments as possible in to be able to earn points for a zone ranking; something that college recruiters at that time put a lot of emphasis in.

“She (Bates) did so many things, along with my grandparents, to help me reach my goal of playing college tennis,” Hayse said.

Hayse’s tennis talents were such that she was offered a lucrative scholarship offer with then-NCAA, Division I Centenary College in Shreveport.

Hayse said this was a major accomplishment for several reasons.

“I came from a family of plant farmers; I went to Centenary to play tennis,” Hayse said. “I was not a generational college student. “My scholarship covered everything other than my room and board. I took a job working in student housing at Centenary to help pay for room and board.”

Following her college playing days, Hayse said she took a 10-year break from tennis.

Hayse and husband Bryan, who met in Shreveport, decided to move to the Caribbean island of Barbados during that time.

She said although it started out as a way to meet new people in Barbados, she dived back into tennis and did quite well in the sport.

“I played mixed doubles and women’s doubles and was a part of two winning club teams in the 5-6 years that we lived there,” Hayse said. “They really have a competitive club program down there.”

Hayse and family eventually returned to Shreveport and, once again, as a way to cultivate new friendships, Hayse dusted off her racquet and headed to Pierremont Oaks Tennis Club in Shreveport.

Hayse works as the Executive Assistant to the Chancellor of Louisiana State University-Shreveport.

She said that she enjoys promoting the school’s nationally ranked women’s tennis program and watching the student athletes play the game.

As for the future, Hayse said that since she has a USTA championship under her belt, she “has the itch” again to continue playing tennis and hopes to be able to play her sport in various cities throughout the United States.