Tom Lightvoet (2005) - Hall of Fame - Bowling Green State University Athletics

Tom Lightvoet

Induction:
2005
Class:
1973

A native of Kalamazoo, Mich., Tom Lightvoet was the only BG men’s tennis player ever to win the number-one singles title in the MAC Tournament, capturing the crown in 1973. A four-year letterwinner for the Falcons, he went on to play in the NCAA Tournament where he won his first-round match and advanced to the second round. Lightvoet was the only BG player in history to win a match in the NCAA tourney. Lightvoet won that MAC title despite suffering from ulcerative colitis, an illness that hurt his effectiveness over his final two seasons. He had entered BGSU in the fall of 1969, the first year that freshmen were eligible to play varsity tennis. In that first season, he teamed with senior Dennis Cavanaugh to win the #1 doubles title in 1970. In that freshman campaign, Lightvoet was the runner up in singles in the third flight at the league championships. He was runner up at the top singles flight at the 1971 MAC Championships. Lightvoet went undefeated with doubles partner Bill Oudsema in the 1972 MAC dual play, before the duo was upset in the MAC Tournament.

At BG, Lightvoet had a career record of 41-20 in singles, and was 36-19 in doubles. Following his graduation in 1973, he worked for Campus Crusade for Christ - Athletes in Action for three years, and was a tennis professional for five years.

Tom Lightvoet was elected to the BGSU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2005.