Southeastern Oklahoma State University Athletics

Tennis (1962-65)

Ike Groce was a super star among a long list of Southeastern tennis greats. Born in Shawnee, Oklahoma on February 18, 1941, he grew up in that community where he established himself as one of Oklahoma’s leading prep tennis players.

Following graduation from Shawnee High School and a year at Oklahoma Baptist University, Groce entered Southeastern and launched a collegiate tennis career that resulted in a 61-8 singles record and 57-8 record in doubles play. He captured three Oklahoma Collegiate Conference singles championships and two doubles titles.

Hall of Fame Coach Clarence Dyer’s Savages won conference championships in the three years Ike was with the team. The team finished third in the NAIA national tournament in 1965 when Ike advanced to the national semi-finals in singles play.

Following graduation from SOSU, he won over 100 men’s singles and doubles titles in Texas. He was a semifinalist in the Texas Open Men’s Singles and a finalist in Men’s Doubles in the Texas Open. He was also a featured speaker at the National Tennis Coached Clinic.

Groce built tennis programs in the public schools of Lubbock, Abilene, and Brownwood, Texas. He coached 125 players to Texas State Rankings. He produced 11 individual state champions, 13 nationally ranked prep players, and coached 77 players who won college tennis scholarships. He was also a featured speaker at the National Tennis Coached Clinic.

Groce became head women’s tennis coach at Oklahoma State University in 1979 where he immediately established the Cowgirls as a national power.

Southeastern’s tennis tradition is rich. Ike Groce took his place at the head of the class on January 30, 1982 when he became the University’s first tennis player to be inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame.