Sport: Tennis
Year of Induction: 2013

Tyson was born in Chatham in 1978 and attended Indian Creek Road Public School through grade seven. His tennis career then took him to Toronto to train with Coach Allan Trivett at the Tennis Canada Centre at York University and later at the Castleman Country Club in Brampton. He then went to Florida for one year to train at the Nick Bolitary Tennis Academy. He returned to finish high school at Chatham Collegiate Institute (CCI). Tyson is Chatham’s most accomplished tennis player, having won five national junior championships along with four runner-up titles.

In 1992 and 1993 he was the best tennis player in Canada for his age group. For several years, while in his teens, he represented Canada internationally and competed in many countries. He was deemed a ‘carded’ (received financial assistance) player by Tennis Canada and also had sponsorship from Prince and Nike.

He received a tennis scholarship to the University of Minnesota where he starred and often played as their number one player. In 1999, he was chosen to the Big Ten Conference team. He went on to play in several professional tournaments including the Rogers Cup and on the Futures Tour which is part of the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP).

• 1990 – at age 12, was on the Ontario Tennis Team competing nationally
• 1991 – finished year as #3 singles player in Ontario and #6 in doubles in the under 14 category – at the age of 13, was chosen to be a member of the National Junior Tennis Team
• 1992 – became a National Champion winning three titles: U14 national indoor singles and doubles along with U14 outdoor doubles championship – represented Canada internationally at the NTT Cup
• 1993 – won two National Titles: U16 outdoor singles and indoor doubles – represented Canada at the World Youth Cup in Japan
• 1994 – was U18 indoor singles finalist – represented Canada again at the World Youth Cup as well as at the Sunshine Cup – at age 16, was given a wild card into the singles and doubles qualifying round of the Players International (presently called the Rogers Cup) in Toronto but lost in first round in both
• 1995 – won an International Tennis Federation U18 Tournament in Burlington
• 1997 – again was given a wild card into the qualifying round of the Players International but lost in the first round
• 1997 – 2002 – attended the University of Minnesota on a tennis scholarship – played all four years often as their #1 player – competed in the Big Ten Championships every year
• 1997 – 1998 – competed in NCAA championships with the top 16 universities in the nation
• 1999 – was chosen as team’s most improved player and was selected as ‘All Big Ten’ meaning he was one of top 12 players in the conference
• 1999 and 2000 – competed in some International Tennis Federation satellite tournaments
• 2000 – was ranked as #111 best adult male tennis player in Canada

Tyson lives in Chatham with his wife Liz and their three children. He teaches at Victor Lauriston Public School.