Seattle Pacific University Athletics

Tennis was raised to the next level when Bob Thompson became a Falcon. The native of Vancouver, Wash., arrived on the Langlie Courts already a player of distinguished caliber at the prep and junior regional level. To match the expectations Thompson brought to the SPC program, the tennis schedule was strengthened to include all the Division I schools in the Northwest, including the four Pacific-8 teams and Seattle University.

Playing No. 1 singles from the outset, Thompson won 66 of 86 career matches, and he was 56-23 in doubles. As a senior, Thompson reached the NCAA Division II quarterfinals and earned All-America recognition. He and Wilbert Look a also won the regional title and reached the national quarters in doubles.

Only once did Thompson lose a match that was not against a Division I or NCAA tournament player, and nearly one-third of his losses were against Tom Gorman, the Seattle U ace and future Davis Cup player and captain (although he did take some sets from Gorman).

Since graduating, Thompson has been the Northwest’s No. 1-ranked player in each USTA adult age group at least once. Off the court, he joined his father in an Eastern Washington grape co-op. He became CEO there, and spent 20 years as CEO of Oregon cherry co-ops.

ACOMPLISHMENTS (1966-69)

• Won 1969 NCAA regional doubles title with Wilbert Look.

• All-American and 1969 NCAA quarterfialist in singles and doubles.

• Career record holder for wins in singles and 56-23 doubles.