ITA Women's Hall of Fame
McCormack-Nagelsen Tennis Center

Pam Richmond Champagne

 

An exemplary scholar-athlete at Arizona State University, Pam Richmond Champagne (b. 1950) captured three national collegiate titles while earning her B.A. degree in psychology, summa cum laude. Only 5 feet, 1/2 inch tall, Champagne powered her way to the Top 10 in national junior competition in the 1960s, after taking up tennis at age 11 in her native Kansas City. As an ASU freshman in 1969, she reached the singles final of the national collegiate championships, playing against Hall of Famer Emilie Burrer Foster.

In 1971, her junior year, Champagne won a remarkable set of victories, sweeping the singles, doubles and team championships in national collegiate competition. She repeated her doubles victory the following year with teammate and Hall of Famer Peggy Michel, was a singles finalist, and again helped lead the ASU Sun Devils to a national title. After graduation, Champagne competed on the Virginia Slims satellite circuit, worked as a teaching professional, and later became a top sales manager. She now coaches business executives as owner of The Champagne Group.

 

A tenacious competitor, Champagne once played a four-hour match in 100-degree heat - at age 13!

 

Champagne with mixed doubles partner Joe Zesbaugh at the Kodel championships in 1972. The trophy presenter is May Sutton Bundy, 1904 U.S. women's champion.

 

Champagne in 1962 (first row, far left). Then only 4'8", she developed a two-handed backhand, a novelty at the time

 

Circa 1965: "My eagerness to learn tennis rejuvenated my father's interest from his college days when he played on the Harvard tennis team," Champagne recalls. Her father, Marvin Richmond, later became USTA president.

 

The Arizona State University women's tennis team in 1970, with Champagne in the first row, far left, and her doubles partner Peggy Michel at the opposite end. Hall of Fame Coach Anne Pittman is standing at the far right.

 

Champagne with mixed doubles partner Joe Zesbaugh at the Kodel championships in 1972. The trophy presenter is May Sutton Bundy, 1904 U.S. women's champion.

 

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS


U.S. Collegiate Singles Champion 1971; Singles Finalist 1969, 1972


 U.S. Collegiate Doubles Champion 1971, 1972


 Greater Kansas City Girls' 14, 16, 18 Singles Champion 1964


 Ranked No. 10 nationally in Girls' 14 and under singles, No. 5 in doubles 1964


 USTA/Missouri Valley Section Girls' 16 and 18 Singles Champion 1966


 Ranked No. 9 nationally in Girls' 16 and under singles, No. 6 in doubles 1966


 Knute Rockne Tennis Player of the Year Award 1967


 Ranked No. 6 nationally in Girls' 18 and under singles 1968


 U.S. Junior Hardcourt Doubles Champion 1968


 Delaware Grasscourt Girls' 18 and under Singles Champion 1968


 Writer of "Junior Jargon" column for Tennis Magazine 1968


 Ranked in Top 20 nationally in women's singles 1969


 U.S. Amateur Doubles and Mixed Doubles Champion 1969


 U.S. Indoor Singles and Doubles Finalist 1969


 Member, U.S. Junior Wightman Cup Team 1969­70


 Member, U.S. Collegiate Championship Team, Arizona State University 1971, 1972


 B.A., summa cum laude, Arizona State University 1972


 Arizona State Women's Singles Champion 1972


 Competed on Virginia Slims Professional Satellite Tour 1974­75


 Ranked No. 4 on Missouri Valley Professional Satellite Tour; Tour Director 1976


 Teaching professional in Phoenix and Los Angeles 1973­1982


 Inducted into the Arizona State University Sports Hall of Fame 1977


 U.S. No. 1 Freshman Sales Producer Award, Mutual of Omaha 1991


 Owner of The Champagne Group, Business and Sales Coaching 1994­present


 Master Coach Certification through International Coaches Federation 2000

 

 

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