OUTSTANDING ATHLETE

Induction Year: 2011 | Graduation Year: 1988

Debbie Marshall Minton was born in Dayton, Ohio to Ralph and MaryAnn Marshall.  She was raised in New Carlisle and is a 1988 graduate of Tecumseh High School, a graduate of Wright State University where she received her undergraduate degree (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) and a graduate of Central Michigan University where she received her graduate degree (Master of Science in Healthcare Administration).

Debbie first picked up a “wooden” tennis racket at the age of 8 and was introduced to the sport during the Howard Dredge tennis clinics at Snyder Park in Springfield.  That same summer Debbie entered her first tennis tournament and proceeded onto her first win. With her first trophy, she was hooked. She started hitting tennis balls against the garage and then began battling for garage time with her sister Dianna and soon her brother Jon (who eventually sold his tennis rackets at a garage sale).  Her parents quickly invested in paneling for the garage before they needed to replace the drywall.  Debbie and her sister spent countless times together on the court while their father threw tennis balls at them from the other side of the net.  As Debbie and her sister started hitting the ball harder (hurting their dad’s hands) they were finally given the chance to attend group and private lessons.  The end result was traveling countless miles to practice and endless summers of tennis tournaments. The lessons and tournament play quickly earned her both OVTA (Ohio Valley Tennis Association and USTA (United States Tennis Association) rankings.

Tennis was not the only sport Debbie focused on throughout her childhood.  She was very active in basketball and softball continuing to play all three sports as she entered high school.  As she excelled in all three sports she soon realized the conflicting schedules. Debbie chose to focus on basketball and tennis after her freshman year.

During her 4 years on the tennis team at Tecumseh High School, she was a 4 year varsity letter winner holding the 1st singles spot. She finished her freshman year placing 2nd in singles at the GMVC tournament and received Most Improved Player. Debbie’s sophomore year brought her a 13-5 singles record where she placed 3rd in the GMVC, 2nd in the district doubles and received MVP.  Her junior year brought a 6-1 1st singles conference record with an 11-3 season recorded and awarded THS the Best Girls Tennis Season in THS history. Debbie placed 2nd in the GMVC singles and placed 1st in the districts doubles losing in the regional finals as she rounded out her junior year. She ended her senior year with an amazing 13-1 record, MVP, placing 2nd in the GMVC in singles and winning the sectionals at doubles. Debbie and her doubles partner placed 2nd at regionals which solidified a spot at the state tournament. Debbie and her partner placed 4th in the state and were the 1st Tecumseh team to place in the state tournament. 

Debbie was also a 3 year varsity letter winner of the THS basketball team, played 3 years of AAU basketball and was part of the THS 1988 GMVC winning basketball team, the first Lady Arrows Basketball Camp, and first TV 2’s White Allen Chevrolet/Team of the Week.

Debbie’s high school career earned her: Cable Vision Student of the Month, McDonalds Student of the Month, Outstanding Student Award in Business, News-Sun First Team All-Area in Basketball, the first Rae Burick Women in Sports Award, Springfield News-Sun Player of the Week in Tennis, Springfield Girls Basketball Player of the Week, Division I District Nine Media Team, District All-Star Basketball Team, 1988 Associated Press Southwestern All-District Honorable Mention, Girls Top Ten News-Sun, All-Area Girls Basketball Team, 2nd Team GMVC and Arrow Award.

After high school Debbie continued her tennis career playing for East Tennessee State University. She finished her freshman year at 2nd singles with a 17-10 record and 1st doubles with a 14-9 record.  She placed 3rd in the Southern Conference in singles and 2nd in the Southern Conference in doubles qualifying for the Rolex Regional Tournament. During her sophomore year she held a 13-5 1st singles record and a 12-3 first doubles record. Debbie finished her sophomore year placing 2nd in the Southern Conference in singles and doubles and participated in the Rolex Regional Tournament. Debbie ended her spring season as a junior with a 4-1 singles and doubles record.

After knee surgery and changing majors, Debbie played her last year of collegiate eligibility along side her sister as a Wright State Raider. Debbie finished her final year with an impressive 19-3 1st singles record. Along with Dianna the “Marshall Sisters” as featured by the local news stations placed 1st in the Conference with a 17-2 1st doubles record. Debbie received WSU Athlete of the Week, Newcomer of the Year and MVP.

She had the opportunity to go on and serve as the Assistant Coach of the 1993-1994 WSU women’s tennis team and coach her sister in her final year. Debbie also had the opportunity to assist her sister in the fall of 2008 with the WSU men and women’s tennis team.Debbie started her nursing career at Miami Valley Hospital in 1995 and currently works as a Nurse Manager of Cardiology Services.

She attributes her personal and professional success to her parents, sister and brother, high school and college teachers and coaches.  Through the opportunities, experiences, challenges and life lessons learned as a student athlete, the above have helped mold and shape her life forever.  Debbie currently lives in the Tecumseh local school district with her two beautiful girls Alexis (13) and Abigail. (11).