ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME
During Belman Gunderson’s four years at the Woman’s College of the University of North Carolina, 1952-1956, few opportunities were available for women to participate in intercollegiate athletics. Nevertheless, her abilities in tennis led to extraordinary accomplishments as an amateur athlete. She is highly ranked among the nation’s tennis players in her age group to this day.
During the 1950s, Belmar was a nationally ranked junior player, winning a national junior indoor doubles title and national runner-up in singles. She was selected to the National Junior Wightman Cup Team in 1954-55 and was captain in 1956-57. While she was a junior at Woman's College, she defeated reigning Wimbledon singles champion Louise Brough on her 21st birthday. Belmar was nationally ranked in women’s singles and doubles for 10 straight years, from 1955-65. She was ranked as high as No. 2 in doubles and No. 11 in singles, and was a U.S. Nationals quarterfinalist in 1955.
*All stats were as of the date of induction.
