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Two earn USPTA Master Professional

Two members of the United States Professional Tennis Association were recognized for achieving Master Professional status in the association, the highest professional rating within the tennis profession:

• Mark Centrella, Wilmington, Del.
• Gary Trost, Nichols Hills, Okla.

The two honorees were recognized during the USPTA’s annual awards breakfast on Sept. 19 at the USPTA World Conference on Tennis at the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa in Monterey, Calif. They join an elite group as only about 1 percent of USPTA’s more than 15,000 members worldwide have achieved the Master Professional designation. Members must hold USPTA’s highest certification rating (Professional 1) for more than 10 years before becoming eligible for the Master Professional designation. Then, each must fulfill a broad spectrum of requirements, including making significant achievements in areas such as tennis teaching and coaching, business, education and volunteer work. Biographies of the new USPTA Master Professionals follow.

Mark Centrella, Wilmington, Del. - Master Pro

Mark Centrella is the director of racquet sports at Greenville Country Club in Wilmington, Del. He has been a certified USPTA professional for 18 years. He served as president of USPTA Middle States from 2003-2008 and has served on the division Board since 1994. In addition, he has also been the USPTA Middle States Head Tester since 2009. He was honored in 2004 as USPTA Middle States Pro of the Year and in 2007 and 2011 as USPTA Middle States Tester of the Year.

Gary Trost, Nichols Hills, Okla. - Master Pro

Gary Trost is the director of tennis at Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club, in Nichols Hills, Okla. He has been a certified USPTA professional for 25 years. He has served as a USPTA Missouri Valley Board member since 1997, including USPTA Missouri Valley President from 2006-2010. He has been the USPTA National Vice President since 2011. In 2006 he was honored as the George Bacso National Tester of the Year and is a five-time Missouri Valley Pro of the Year.

Posted on September 25, 2012
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