Shreveport native Carol Weyman enters Texas Tennis Hall of Fame

Shreveport native Carol Weyman was one of four inductees into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame over the weekend.

Weyman moved to Dallas in 1979 to begin a career in tennis, a sport she had played and loved since childhood. As a junior competitor, she won the Louisiana State High School Mixed Doubles Championship three years in a row (’72, ’73 and ’74), a record that still holds to this day. In 2009, she was inducted into the C.E. Byrd High Athletic Hall of Fame for her junior tennis achievement. She continued to enjoy playing tennis while at LSU and was head of the Tennis Department at Camp Waldemar in Hunt, Texas for four years.

Upon arriving in Dallas, Weyman's tennis career began as a sales representative for Strokemaster/John Verde Tennis Company selling tennis equipment nationwide. She received her USPTA certification in 1980 and taught clinics and private lessons at the Village Tennis Center. In 1981, she began working for World Championship Tennis (WCT) managing the operations of 22 men’s professional tournaments worldwide, selling sponsorships and marketing the WCT Finals. In 1989, she was recruited by the Maureen Connolly Brinker Tennis Foundation (MCB) to be Tournament Director of its women’s professional tennis event, the Virginia Slims of Dallas. The following year, she was named MCB’s Executive Director. She currently serves as MCB’s Executive Vice President and oversees the management of the foundation’s numerous programs and operations. She recently celebrated her 30th anniversary with MCB.

Her vision, creativity and innovations have had a major impact on the junior tennis world of 8 to 12 year-olds. In 1998, she founded MCB’s signature event, the “Road to the Little Mo Nationals” - a yearlong circuit of sectional, regional and national tournaments for U.S. players. The series begins in the spring with a Sectional tournament held in 20 cities across the United States with the top players from each age division advancing to one of the four Regionals held in the summer. The top 16 players from each Regional advance to the prestigious “Little Mo” Nationals in the fall. The players who reach the “Little Mo” Nationals are the brightest future stars in American tennis.

In 2006, Weyman created the “Little Mo” Internationals as well as the “Little Mo” Slam in 2013 for players worldwide. There are now three international tournaments (California, New York and Florida) for ages 8-12 in addition to the “Big Mo” for ages 13-16. The most recent “Little Mo” Internationals had a record number of players - over 500 competitors from 60 countries. If a player wins all three Internationals in one year, they win the “Little Mo” Slam and receive the tallest trophy in junior tennis - 6 feet! Carol envisioned and implemented many unique aspects of the “Little Mo” tournaments which are enjoyed by the players such as opening ceremonies, player parties, player gift exchange, and “Mo” coins awarded for sportsmanship which are traded in for prizes at the “Little Mo” booth. Another trademark of the “Little Mo” events is that players play others who are their same age which provides an opportunity to be seeded, have competitive matches and possibly win a trophy. All “Little Mo” tournaments emphasize good sportsmanship, fair play, friendship, kindness, gratitude and most of all, fun. Thousands of players have come through the popular “Little Mo” tournaments over the last 23 years.

MCB is one of the largest private junior tennis foundations of its kind in the world. Under Weyman's leadership, the foundation has become one of the most respected for its ability in keeping players interested in tennis, in encouraging players to give back to the sport and in becoming role models as they progress into adulthood. She has touched the lives of many tennis players who have gone on to future success in the junior, college and professional ranks. As she instills in the players the importance of being a champion on and off the court, she has earned the respect of parents, coaches and tennis officials alike.

While continuing to work with the foundation, Weyman also served on the board of the Dallas Tennis Association and on various committees of USTA Texas, all of whom appreciate her dedication and tireless efforts to promote and improve the sport of tennis.