Garrett Gardner

Garrett was a four-year starter for the Poland Boys Tennis Team, compiling a career singles record of 90-9 and was a three-time State qualifier, placing 4th his senior year. In 2013 and 2014, Garrett was a two-time Sectional and District Champion and a two-time Vindicator Tennis Athlete of the Year. He was named 1st Team Ohio Tennis Coaches Association All-Ohio Division II and also received the Diane McNeal Jr. Sportsmanship Award in 2014 from the Midwest Northeastern Ohio USTA.

A four-star recruit, Garrett was ranked No. 136 nationally among U.S. high school seniors and No. 6 in Ohio. He played on scholarship at Valparaiso University, where he helped the Crusaders reach the Division I NCAA Tournament in both his sophomore and junior seasons. Garrett secured Valpo’s conference-clinching victory at the 2016 Horizon League Championships, sending the Crusaders to the Men’s Division I NCAA Championships for the first time in program history. Valparaiso repeated as conference champions in 2017. Garrett also received the Horizon League Herb Foster Sportsmanship Award in 2016 and ranks sixth in Valpo program history in both career singles wins (74) and doubles wins (67).

Garrett continues to teach professionally and compete. In 2022, he was a member of the Oxford Athletic Club 5.0 men’s team in Wexford, Pennsylvania. His team captured the USTA Men’s 5.0 Middle States Championship, qualified for the USTA League 5.0 National Championships, and finished fourth at the national championships in Scottsdale, Arizona.