Barbara Selden Lynch - Tennis

Year Inducted: 1991

Barbara Selden Lynch was born October 15, 1957 in Port Huron.   A lifelong Port Huron resident, Barb’s first experience in organized sports was a major disappointment.  After hours of successful tryouts, she was denied participation in Little League when her hair fell out from under her cap and they discovered that she was a female.   Barb then pursued a career in tennis, beginning with the city recreation lessons in 1967.  In 1968, at age 11, she won several local and Detroit area tournaments, earning a Midwestern ranking and a “Key to the City” for her achievements.   In 1970, Barb became the first area player to win a state championship.  1971 brought continued success, with Barb winning a Midwestern championship and becoming the youngest player, at age 13, to ever win an adult division in the Francis J. Robinson Memorial Tennis Tournament.

Midwestern and National rankings were achieved from 1968-1976.  During the course of her career, Barb represented Southeastern Michigan as a member of the Junior Wightman Cup team, and won Ontario and Canadian Open titles.   Locally, she enjoyed great success in the Robinson Memorial Tournament, winning 50 of 53 finals matches between 1968-1991, and the Robinson Memorial Sportsmanship award in 1979.

In 1972, Barb and teammate Candace Johnson became the first girls to ever participate on the boy’s varsity tennis team at Port Huron High School.   By her junior year, she played the #1 singles position on the varsity squad.  High school brought other honors, including election to the National Honor Society and the distinction of class valedictorian.

After high school, Barb attended the University of Michigan on an athletic scholarship (the first ever awarded for women’s tennis), where she played #1 singles and won three Big Ten championships before graduating in 1979.  Again, she earned the honor of class valedictorian of her graduating Dental Hygiene Class.

Since graduation, Barb has remained active in the tennis community as a player, coach and tournament director.   She coaches many local youngsters and adults, and is acting director of the Robinson Memorial Tournament.  Barb lives in Port Huron with her husband, Tim, and three children Kellen, Hayley and Brett.