UWF HALL OF FAME - CLASS OF 2010-11
Renee Roesch Broxson personified sportsmanship during her four-year stint at UWF as a 
non-traditional student and tennis player, and then as an assistant coach to the women’s tennis team. Roesch Broxson is the University of West Florida’s only winner of the ITA National Arthur Ashe Award. The award honors tennis players from NCAA Divisions I, II and III, NAIA and junior colleges who personify outstanding sportsmanship and leadership.
Roesch Broxson first picked up a tennis racquet at the age of 28. With help from friends and local coaches, her tennis skills improved and her love for the game increased. In the fall of 1992, she enrolled at UWF and joined the women’s tennis team. She was the oldest player ever to earn a UWF tennis scholarship. Roesch Broxson was committed to tennis and doing well academically at UWF. From 1992 through the 1995 season, she played in the top six on the women’s tennis team and never missed a match. In 60 percent of her semesters at UWF, she was named to the Dean’s List.
At the end of the 1992 season, Roesch Broxson was voted Freshman of the Year at the NAIA National Tournament. She was 32 at the time. Roesch Broxson was also honored with the ITA South Region Arthur Ashe Award in 1995. From the men’s and women’s tennis teams, only nine Argonauts have won this regional award. In addition to this honor, she is also UWF’s only recipient of the GSC Sportsmanship Award, which was awarded from 1987-1995. In 1995, she was awarded the NAIA Women’s National Sportsmanship-Leadership Trophy (The Arthur Ashe Award).
During Roesch Broxson’s four years on the UWF team, she moved up on the team each year in singles and doubles. In doubles, she teamed with Robin Bracamonte. Roesch Broxson’s hard work, dedication to fitness and accomplishments in the classroom and on the court were an inspiration to her much younger teammates. Each of her four years, the UWF women’s tennis team made an appearance in the NAIA National Tournament.
Roesch Broxson graduated from UWF with a degree in Physical Education. After completing her degree, she worked as an assistant coach with the women’s team from 1996-2002. Roesch Broxson now works with her good friend, Myke Loomis, as the Head Tennis Professional at Hidden Dunes Beach and Tennis Resort in Miramar Beach, Fla. She has continued to play tennis competitively. In 2003, she won the Florida 40 singles and doubles title and the National 40 doubles clay court title.
In a span of 15 years, Roesch Broxson first picked up a tennis racket, became a college tennis player, earned her degree, became a teaching and coaching professional and became a national champion in her age group.
Hall of Fame Questionnaire
1. What was your most memorable moment in UWF athletics? 
My most memorable moment was being awarded the Arthur Ashe Sportsmanship and Leadership award at the national banquet.
2. Being a former student-athlete, how has it helped you in your life after college?
Being a former student-athlete exposed me to many cultures that I would not have been exposed to in my life as it was in those days. I learned that anything is possible and if someone coming from a different culture and a different language can learn and do well in college that it was possible for me as well.
3. Are you still involved with your sport? If so, in what capacity?
I still play tennis but not as much as I would like to play. I did participate in age group tournaments for awhile and now after three shoulder surgeries I am playing when the opportunity arises on a social level.
4. Please list any other information that you would like to share.
Many people were very instrumental in my years at UWF:
To my former boss and mentor Paul Bruno. I got involved again in tennis while working at the Holiday Inn Navarre Beach. Paul also housed me for a semester while I attended UWF. My aunt Fran Roesch provided me with housing for five years while attending UWF, and she always has been there to support me in my endeavors.
To George Cobia, who taught me how to play tennis working with me for two hours a day for two years for no charge. He taught me to enjoy the game and to overlook the things that you cannot change.
To Retsy Wilson, who played tennis with me for hours continuously beating me 6-0, 6-0, 6-0 just to help me improve. That is patience.
To Scott Harrison for beating me on a regular basis and still does beat me when we play but for most of all introducing me to Coach Carson.
To Coach Carson for taking the chance and giving an old gal at the ripe old age of 32 an opportunity of a lifetime. I hope that he is happy with the decision that he made many years ago.
To Dr. Ash and Emily Graybiel for feeding me, taking care of me, supporting me financially, and for being friends with me still to this day. I know that if I ever needed something they would be there for me.
To Robin Ortega for making my years at UWF the most memorable years of my life even though most of the time we drove Coach crazy.
To my mom and dad for always being there when I needed them. For traveling to the tournaments to clap for the good shots and boo at the bad (that would be dad), but for most of all just being there and giving me the confidence that I could always ask for anything.
To UWF for giving me an opportunity of a lifetime. I now have a true love for learning and continuing education that I had never had before my years at UWF. I now believe that with a little hard work anything is possible if one is given a chance and takes advantage of the opportunities that are presented to them.
