Liisa Ullman, tennis coach at Billings Central High School, has been nominated for a rare honour — Montana’s tennis coach of the year. Ullman’s Central Rams team did exceedingly well at the State Class A tennis tournament held in Miles City on May 26, with the boys winning the team championship and the girls coming second. The achievement was all the more remarkable as the Rams had only three girls and four boys representing their school. Central’s Jordan Hatzell won the boys single state title and the senior doubles team of Zarah Zimmerer and Whitney Wilbert also became state champions,
Photo caption: At the Montana State Tennis Championships, May 26. From left assistant coach Mary Housinger, her daughter Laura, who came 3rd in girls singles, Liisa Ullman, and Zarah Zimmerer and Whitney Wilbert, who won the girls doubles championship.
Their coach noted that Zimmerer and Wilbert share a unique bond. “They read each other really well. They work together really well,” Ullman said. “But what puts them ahead of everybody else is that they’re such good friends and, seriously, soul mate players. They’re always so positive,” Ullman added.
Liisa Ullman has been involved in Central tennis for 10 years. On June 9th she received a letter informing her that she had been nominated as Tennis coach of the year! Only six coaches are nominated in the whole State of Montana. All Montana coaches cast a vote to decide the winner, with the final decision announced in July. Liisa wrote that she feels “honoured and shocked”; this is a career first for her to be even considered for the award.
