Nomination Year: 2022

Nominated By: Melissa White

Nomination Category: Athletes and Coaches

Sport: Tennis

Years Participated: 2001-2003

Career Summary:

A 2003 graduate of Celina High School, Charlotte Clayburn joined the Bulldog tennis team in the spring of her sophomore year (2001) with very little experience, as she had up until that point only played softball.  Clayburn had an immediate impact on the nine-team Class A/AA district with her powerful serve and court coverage.  As a sophomore, she advanced to the region semifinals in ladies’ singles, but she was just getting started.  During her junior and senior years, she dominated all of her regular-season ladies’ singles opponents.  

As a junior, Clayburn was the district champion and the region champion in ladies’ singles and advanced to the State Semifinals in Chattanooga, where she lost to the eventual State Champion.  As a senior, Clayburn repeated as district champion and region champion and advanced to the State Quarterfinals in Memphis, where she was defeated by the eventual State Runner-up. 

At the end of her senior season in 2003, Clayburn was named to THE TENNESSEAN’s Class A/AA All-Midstate Second Team—a much-deserved honor, because several things should be noted about this designation: 1) Two classifications were combined for this team; 2) The five-member first team was composed entirely of athletes from private schools; and 3) Two of the five second-team members were from private schools, and the two athletes from public schools besides Clayburn were from Class AA schools.  

As can be seen, Charlotte Clayburn accomplished much in her three-year high school career.  She remains the only Celina/Clay County High School tennis team member to advance to a State Tournament and is still the lone player to have been named to the All-Midstate team. Clayburn was also recognized by college coaches for her elite ability and signed a scholarship to play at the next level. Unfortunately, circumstances prevented her collegiate career from happening. However, Clayburn continues to have an active tennis career to this day through her participation in USTA-sanctioned tournaments.

Nominator Comment:

“I am happy to nominate Charlotte Clayburn as a candidate for the Clay County Sports Hall of Fame as the most accomplished Celina High School/Clay County High School tennis player and one of the most accomplished individual athletes in any sport.  Not only was Charlotte a tremendous player, but she always represented her school and community with the utmost sportsmanship and kindness to her opponents, qualities that continue to serve her well. It was my honor to be Charlotte’s coach and teacher.”