Valerie Farmer Ercelebi. The friendly smile and self-effacing manner aside, Valerie rarely flinched in the clutch moments on the court. She is thankful for being welcomed into the RTA junior development program at age 12, although she lived in Bowling Green, a fairly long drive away.

“Tennis taught me far more than strokes and strategy — it shaped my character. From an early age, I learned the importance of hard work, dedication, and commitment. I also came to understand sacrifice—not only my own, but the sacrifices my parents made for me. For years, my parents drove me up and down I-95 for clinics and lessons, with weekends spent traveling to tournaments.”

All the miles paid off. Not only was Ercelebi ranked No. 1 in Virginia and the Mid-Atlantic Section for singles and doubles in the 16- and 18-divisions, she climbed as high as No. 63 in the nation in the 18s. She also played No. 1 for Trinity Episcopal, helping them win multiple private-school state championships

Beyond her many wins, Valerie won a Mid-Atlantic Sportsmanship Award and received the RTA’s Ellen Smith Maloney Trophy as the association’s Most Improved Player.

Notably, Valerie made history for winning the 1984 and 1985 state women’s singles titles, becoming—at age 16—its youngest champion. She then moved on to play for the University of North Carolina, where she earned All-ACC honors and won the No. 4 flight ACC crown in 1990.

In addition to her state and collegiate success, Valerie won the Citywomen’s championship in both 1991 and 1992.

Beyond her competitive career, Ercelebi was also thrilled to be invited to play mixed doubles alongside Tricia Holder, Wade McGuire, and Eddie Phillips before an exhibition at the Richmond Coliseum with Bjorn Borg, one of her all-time favorites, and John McEnroe. “The experience of competing in that venue, in front of such a large crowd, just before two legends took the court, was unforgettable,

“Valerie said her ultimate goal had been to play in NCAA Division I and said she’ll never forget receiving the call from UNC coach Kitty Harrison offering a full scholarship. “Playing four years at Chapel Hill was a completely different experience from junior tennis,” she said.”The shift from an individual pursuit to being part of a team broughta new kind of joy — the camaraderie, the shared victories andstruggles, the friendships that lasted long after matches ended.”