OUTSTANDING ATHLETE

Induction Year: 2009 | Graduation Year: 1991

Dianna Marshall Accurso was born in Dayton, Ohio to Ralph and MaryAnn Marshall. She was raised in New Carlisle and is a 1991 graduate of Tecumseh High School and a 1995 graduate of Wright State University. Dianna First picked up a tennis racket at 8 years old and vividly remembers being introduced to the sport by attending summer tennis clinics, alongside her brother and sister at Snyder Park in Springfield. She spent countless hours hitting tennis balls against the garage wall and battling with her siblings for a spot in the garage. Her parents placed paneling on the garage wall in order to prevent them from placing holes in the wall. Because the game of tennis was not popular among her childhood friends, she spent a lot of time on the court with her sister. Before long, summer clinics turned into group lessons and private lessons. The end result was summers spent traveling countless miles to play in tennis tournaments. So on the tournament play along with the lessons earned her both OVTA (Ohio Valley Tennis Association) and USTA (United States Tennis Association) rankings.

Although tennis was the sport she focused on throughout her childhood, she would soon find herself not only playing tennis but basketball and softball as well once she entered high school. Although she excelled in all of these sports she realized that the game of tennis was her true passion and the sport she chose to place the most focus on throughout her high school career. During her 4 years on the tennis team at Tecumseh High School, she compiled an overall record of 89-8, including a 28-0 league record from her sophomore to senior year. Dianna was named Team MVP all 4 yrs, 3 time All Conference selection, 2 time State qualifier, 2 time Dayton Daily News All Area Tennis Team, Springfield News-Sun 1st Team Al Area, Springfield News-Sun Clark County Player of the Year, and Springfield News-Sun Athlete of the Week. Dianna also had the privilege of representing Tecumseh female athletes at the Rae Burick Awards Ceremony honoring outstanding women in sports.

After high school Dianna continued her tennis career playing for the Raiders at Wright State University where she received a 4 year scholarship. She finished her freshman year as MVP with a singles record of 19-3, which placed her in second for all time wins in the history of WSU women's tennis. One of Dianna's most memorable years of her college tennis career was her sophomore year. Her sister Debbie decided to finish out her last year of eligibility as a member of the Raiders tennis team. This gave Dianna one more opportunity to pair up with her sister as a doubles team. Dianna and Debbie soon gained attention when a local news station featured the Marshall sisters. She and Debbie finished first in the conference with a 17-2 record. Dianna finished her college tennis career with an overall record of 129 wins and 49 losses, three time All-Conference Selection, and had six top three conference finishes.

Dianna graduated from WSU with a Bachelor's of Science degree in Nursing. She started her career at Miami Valley Hospital and has been a school nurse for the Tecumseh Local Schools since 2001. In the fall of 2008 she had the honor of being asked to serve as interim coach for the men's and women's tennis team at WSU. After this brief period of coaching, her passion for the game resurfaced and she began playing competitive league team tennis for Schroeder's Tennis Center. Dianna and her husband Johnnie reside in New Carlisle with their two daughters, Alivia, 6 and Addison, 2 . Dianna credits her parents for their time and dedication to the sport and her junior tennis coach Donnie Jackson for helping her mold and shape her life forever. Without them she wouldn't be who she is today.