Rhodes College Athletics

In the modern era of women's athletics at Rhodes, Laurie Lynn Tinnell stands as the first great multisport athlete at the college. When Coach Sarah Hatgas arrived at Rhodes in 1976 to coach tennis, she was introduced to Laurie Lynn. Much to Coach Hatgas' delight, she quickly learned this 5'5" bundle of energy was a great tennis player. 

Unlike today's Rhodes athletes who compete against peers from other highly selective small liberal arts schools, Laurie competed against the likes of Memphis State, Ole Miss, Louisiana Tech and Middle Tennessee. Perhaps "compete well" is an understatement regarding the quality of Laurie's tennis. During her career for the Lynx she amassed a 95% winning percentage while playing number one singles and doubles. Laurie's tennis was os good she was invited to play in the Regional Tournament at the College of William and Mary, becoming the first Rhodes women's tennis player to compete in a postseason tournament. 

Laurie must have been a little bored her first year because in the fall of 1977 she joined the women's basketball team, where she led the Lynx as a point guard for three years. As Coach Hatgas so fondly remembers, "Laurie was so aggressive and unselfish, she would steal the ball and be so excited she would never shoot."

Besides her involvement in tennis and basketball, Laurie was a member of Chi Omega sorority She graduated with honors with a degree in Economics. For her accomplishments in the classroom and on the court, Laurie received the Seidman Award her senior year. 

As Coach Hatgas so proudly proclaimed, "Laurie Lynn was the epitome of the term student-athlete." For the excellence she achieved academically and the example she set for future Rhodes' students, Rhodes is honored to induct Laurie Lynn Tinnell into the Rhodes Athletic Hall of Fame this 10th day of October, 2003.