Jim Van Gerpen
Rapid City, SD -- Tennis

Jim Van Gerpen, a self-taught tennis player and Rapid City native, began making a name for himself among South Dakota tennis enthusiasts when he first stepped onto the court in a Braves uniform. Jim served as a team leader for Sioux Falls College’s new tennis program and completed his collegiate career with three conference and National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) District 12 singles championships. He also competed in two national NAIA tournaments in Kansas City. Upon graduating with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, Jim remained at SFC to obtain a minor in education in 1969. He then accepted a teaching position at Brandon Valley High School, where he taught business and accounting courses until 2001 (32 years). Jim currently serves as a part-time instructor at Southeast Tech and as a part-time business administrator for his church. By his own accord, Jim has never held an official coaching position, preferring to volunteer. Jim’s backyard includes his own private tennis court, and that court and Jim’s tennis expertise have attracted dozens of top high school players, including state champions, to his home for private instruction. For years Jim sacrificed his Saturday mornings to instruct youngsters at the Woodlake Athletic Club, and he also taught young players through junior clinics, even traveling from time to time to small South Dakota communities. Jim became certified by the United States Professional Tennis Association in 1990. Jim has remained an active player since his college days. He is a past singles and doubles champion of the Black Hills Open and Rapid City and Sioux Falls city championships. He won several South Dakota Closed open doubles titles with Randy Kochenderfer, John Waltman, and Marty Jacobson. He teamed with Chris Dummermuth to win the 35 and over mixed doubles in 1995 at the National Public Parks Tournament and with Carol Stewart to win the open mixed doubles at the South Dakota Open. These feats, as well as Jim’s dominance of most of the men’s 35 and 45 age division doubles fields in the mid-1980s and 1990s, have truly established him as a South Dakota tennis legend. In fact, Jim was inducted into the South Dakota Tennis Hall of Fame in 1997. Tennis is a lifelong game, and Jim continues to play it and assist with various tennis events. Jim and his wife, Sandy, a 1968 SFC graduate, make their home in Sioux Falls.

Family: Wife - Sandy