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Fritz Gildemeister - Director of Tennis / C.E.O.
A former nationally ranked junior with over 15 years of teaching experience, Fritz inspires leadership on the court and beyond. His enthusiasm and love of the game motivates individuals to strive for nothing short of excellence. Coach Fritz is constantly studying and reviewing information necessary to educate his pros, players, and parents to the highest levels of tennis.
Fritz is the son of Diane and Fritz Sr., who were the Directors of Tennis for 20 years at the Dunes Golf and Beach Club. Fritz’ two sisters joined the Grande Dunes Tennis Club in 2023. Fritz’ uncle Hans at one time was ranked as high as number one in the world in doubles and number eleven in singles. The Gildemeister’s tennis pedigree seems to on and on! The family was named “Tennis Family of the Year” in South Carolina in 2008 and had the same honor in North Carolina in 1994 and 1998.
With Fritz’s experience and knowledge of the game, he brings an infusion of fresh energy and an inspiring level of passion for the game to the club’s culture. In his spare time (although he doesn’t have much), he enjoys spending time with family, mountain biking, playing pickleball, paddle boarding, swimming and playing tournaments.
Marissa Gildemeister-Chapin - Head Tennis Professional
Certified as a USPTA Elite Professional, Marissa (at left, seen here with her sister, Katrina at right) started working at the Grande Dunes Tennis Club in 2023. Marissa was previously the tennis pro at The Dunes Golf and Beach Club in Myrtle Beach for 17 years and North Hills Club in Raleigh for 3 years As a junior player, she was highly ranked nationally. She was selected for the prestigious Southern Section Junior Wightman Cup Team. With a full tennis scholarship, Marissa played number one at North Carolina State University while the team was ranked top twenty five in the country. In 2009 Marissa and her father earned the Silver Ball for Father Daughter Nationals. She recently earned her third silver ball as the finalist in the national 30’s Women's Singles.
Marissa was also named South Carolina’s 2013 Adult Female Player of the Year.
In her free time, she’s likes to go to the beach with her kids Emsley & Thompson and her husband Tommy. She also enjoys working out and playing pickleball.
Katrina Gildemeister-Barnes - Head Tennis Professional
Katrina (see video) started at the Grand Dunes Tennis Club in 2023. She was previously The Head Tennis Pro and later Tennis Director at The Dunes Golf and Beach Club in Myrtle Beach for 10 years and North Hills Club in Raleigh for 5 years. Katrina brings a lot of experience in many aspects of tennis programs. In addition to teaching men’s and ladies' clinics, she has developed the junior tennis programs from kids ranging from toddlers to high schoolers. She has also taught private lessons for all ages and skill levels and has been instrumental in developing nationally ranked juniors in the academy program. She coached many adult USTA teams advancing to State championships. Katrina has run special events, USTA tournaments, a WTA professional tournament and various Club programs.
She is certified USPTA – Elite Professional.
Katrina enjoys playing competitive tennis and hanging out with her friends and family. She also enjoys traveling to tennis tournaments with her daughter Elena to watch her play.
Shane Wells - Head Tennis Professional
Shane Wells joins us from Cary Tennis Park where he was a coach at the Cary Tennis Park Academy. Shane has been teaching and coaching tennis for over 30 years. He spent 25 of those years as the Director of Tennis. Shane currently holds a USPTA Elite Professional certification and is a graduate of the USTA High-Performance Program.
Shane has worked with numerous nationally players and coached multiple Gold, Silver, and Bronze ball-winners at National Championships. In addition, he has sent players on to many collegiate schools who have later become all-Americans. He was the Boys and Girls 16s National Intersectional Team coach in 2009 and 2010. He later became the coach for the USTA Boys 18 intersectional team in 2015 and 2016. Shane is also known for his coaching at the Southern Junior Cup and Team NC camps for the last ten years.
Just a couple of accolades that Shane has received over the years including NC Pro of the Year, USPTA NC Pro of the Year, Southern Pro of the Year, Mary Milam Lifetime Achievement Award, and the USPTA Alan Henry Southern Pro of the Year.
Price Stephens - Club Manager & Teaching Pro
Price Stephens has been a Teaching Pro at Grande Dunes Tennis Club for over 25 years! He has a wealth of tennis knowledge and loves getting people into the game of tennis.
Jenna Strickland Lesko - Events Coordinator & Teaching Pro
Jenna first joined the Grande Dunes Tennis Club in 2014 and was excited to return in 2022. Her experience lies mostly within coaching youth tennis but she enjoys sharing her love of the sport with people of any age.
When she’s not on the court, Jenna enjoys spending time with her family camping, hiking, going to the beach, biking, and traveling.