MONTGOMERY, Ala. – This past Saturday morning, Oct. 4, Sylacauga native Dima Pacha McCuiston was inducted into the Huntingdon College Athletic Hall of Fame. She played a vital role in helping build the women’s tennis program at the Montgomery school.
McCuiston was named her team’s Most Valuable Player and Best All-Around Player. In 1999, she won her conference’s women’s singles championship, earning the school’s first ever women’s tennis selection to the NAIA National Tournament. She topped that All American honor as an Academic All American, as well.
After the induction ceremony, McCuiston did not want to talk about her tennis career. Instead, she wanted to talk about the help and support of her high school coaches – Randy Carter and Nathan Brown, who attended her ceremony with his wife, Laura.
She wanted to talk about her college coach, fellow Huntingdon Hall of Famer, legendary John “Coach Johnny Mac” McWilliams. Prior to the induction, she was presented with a classic antique “Chris Evert” tennis racquet from her late coach’s son, even carrying it to the podium when receiving her honor.
She wanted to talk about the support she has received from her teammates throughout her tennis career, along with the unwavering support from a family of outstanding tennis players.
“There are so many who contributed to my athletic and academic career at Huntingdon,” said Dima. “It’s one of the things that makes this place so special. I feel very fortunate to have been inspired to be my best.”
Dima reserved her biggest smiles for the non-athletic side of her time at Huntingdon, the role played by Dr. Lisa Olenik-Dorman.
“She was so much more than a professor, an academic advisor, a mentor. She inspired my passion. We worked together to develop a physical activity program for those who had many challenges to overcome in life that would have otherwise limited their opportunities to find the joys of athletic activities that most of us take for granted.”
Competitive tennis was, for sure, a highlight for Dima Pacha McCuiston that earned her a deserved place in the Huntingdon College Athletic Hall of Fame, but it was the Huntingdon Motto – “Enter to grow in wisdom; go forth to apply wisdom in service” – that became the difference-making life lesson that put a “heart” on her time at Huntingdon College.
