Celebrating the champions who have carried Ryan's legacy forward.
Louisville's Colin Purcell developed into a standout collegiate player at the University of Georgia, one of the nation's premier tennis programs. Serving as a team captain, Purcell helped lead the Bulldogs during a period in which they consistently competed for national championships. He earned NCAA Tournament success in both singles and doubles, teamed with future ATP star John Isner during his Georgia career, and later competed professionally on the ITF circuit.
Eric Quigley of Pewee Valley, Kentucky, enjoyed one of the greatest collegiate careers in NCAA history at the University of Kentucky. A five-time All-American and the 2012 SEC Player of the Year, Quigley reached the 2012 NCAA Singles Championship final and finished his career with 172 singles victories, tying the NCAA record and becoming the winningest player in Kentucky men's tennis history. He later competed professionally on the ATP Tour before returning to Kentucky to coach and grow the game.
Mai Nirundorn developed into one of the top junior players in the world after competing in the Ryan Holder Tournament. She reached as high as No. 20 in the ITF Junior World Rankings and advanced to the Round of 16 at both the Wimbledon and US Open junior championships. She later starred at the University of Georgia, helping lead the Bulldogs to the 2025 NCAA National Championship while earning All-America honors and competing at the No. 1 doubles position.
Eli Stephenson, a Louisville native, emerged as one of the nation's top junior players before continuing his career at the University of Kentucky. Playing primarily at the No. 1 singles position, Stephenson earned All-America honors in doubles, First Team All-SEC recognition, and qualified for the 2025 NCAA Singles Championship. By the end of the 2026 season, he had reached a career-high ITA singles ranking of No. 26.
Meritt Emery followed in her family's tennis tradition by becoming one of Kentucky's top junior players. She won three Kentucky high school state championships, achieved a Top-40 national ranking in the Girls' 16 division, and went on to compete for four years at the University of Alabama, where she represented one of the SEC's premier programs.
Louisville native Ashley Kroh enjoyed one of the most successful collegiate careers in Marshall University history. Partnering with Jessica Johnson, she advanced to the 2004 NCAA Division I Doubles Championship Final and finished as the NCAA Doubles Runner-Up. Kroh concluded her career as Marshall's all-time leader in combined singles and doubles victories with 198 wins and was later inducted into the Marshall Athletics Hall of Fame.
One of the most accomplished players ever to emerge from Kentucky tennis, Matthew Emery rose to No. 1 in the United States in the Boys' 16s and reached No. 2 nationally in the Boys' 18s. Internationally, he climbed as high as No. 12 in the ITF Junior World Rankings and No. 16 in doubles, competing in all four Junior Grand Slam tournaments and representing the United States on the U.S. National Team. Following his playing career, Emery became a successful collegiate coach and was inducted into the Kentucky Tennis Hall of Fame.