Derek Gamble, RSPA / IPTPA
Director of Racquet Sports at Cardinal Swim & Tennis
derekgamble10s@gmail.com
Derek grew up playing junior tennis in Charlotte where he had state rankings in the top 10 and sectional rankings in the top 30. He played collegiate tennis on scholarship for UNC-Greensboro (1988-1992). His collegiate tennis included being a four-year starter in singles and doubles. He graduated with two degrees from the Bryan School of Business (marketing & economics).
Derek is the creator, owner and director of Tennis 360 – a full service tennis management company. He started this venture upon leaving Green Valley Park in order to further his tennis career. He has been the Director of Racquet Sports at the Cardinal Swim & Tennis Club since January 2015 when the club started. His past work experience includes the 17-year Director of Tennis at Green Valley Park (February 1997 – February 2014). Derek was also the Assistant Tennis Professional at Starmount Forest Country Club (1993-1997) in Greensboro.
Derek received the 2007 RSPA North Carolina Professional of the Year from the Racquet Sports Professional (RSPA) Southern Division. This award is presented to an individual who achieves excellence in performing the duties of an RSPA Tennis Professional. Areas of achievement might include teaching and coaching, management and administration, competitive play, research and publication, and community service. Derek is a certified member of the RSPA, the world’s oldest and largest association of tennis teaching professionals.
He has coached adult interclub, Gate City and USTA teams at all levels from 2.5 – 4.5 to Greensboro City Championships as well as Piedmont USTA Championships throughout the years. Several of his teams have won USTA State Championships and gone on to do very well at USTA Southern Sectional levels. Derek is passionate about coaching and loves to see the success of the teams from his club and student base!!
Derek was a 15 year board member and a Past President of GRETA (Greensboro Regional Tennis Association ~ USTA).
He also served as the Secretary of the North Carolina RSPA Board from 2004-2008.
Derek’s USTA League play includes:
- Captain – 6-time USTA North Carolina State Champion 5.0 / 5.5 Men’s teams from Greensboro.
- Captain – Greensboro USTA 5.0 Men’s Team won City Championships (2001-2011)
- Captain – 5.0 USTA North Carolina State Champions (2003, 2005, 2006, 2008 & 2009)
- Captain – 5.0 USTA Southern Sectional Runner-Up (2005, 2006, 2007 & 2008)
- Captain – 5.0 USTA Southern Sectional Champions (2009)
- Captain – 5.0 USTA National Champions (2009)
- Captain – 5.5 USTA National Champions (2011)
- Captain – 5.5 USTA National Finalist (2012)
- Captain – OPEN USTA 40 & Up National Finalist (2013)
- Captain – OPEN USTA 40 & Up National Finalist (2015)
- Captain – OPEN USTA 40 & Up National Finalist (2016)
- Captain – OPEN USTA 40 & Up National Champions (2017)
He also provides tennis program management and consulting services for multiple golf and country club organizations in the US. Derek enjoys spending time with his daughter, Lyndsey and playing golf in his spare time. He loves to see his daughter at UNC and watching her Tarheels compete in all sports! Derek is excited about the progress and strong leadership within the Cardinal Swim & Tennis Club and is committed to guiding the racquet sports program toward continued greatness.
Jeff Whisnant
Staff Professional
Jeff.whisnant@triad.rr.com
Jeff Whisnant grew up in Asheboro, North Carolina, where he joined a vibrant tennis community at the age of seven under the guidance of coaches Morris Whitson and Martha Clarke. As a junior, he excelled in USTA tournaments across the state, earning the No. 1 ranking in every age division from 10s through 18s and playing the top spot at Asheboro High School.
Jeff continued his academic and tennis journey at East Carolina University, where he began teaching tennis and tutoring academically. During this time, he discovered his passion for coaching both juniors and adults. In the mid-1980s, he pursued graduate studies at UNC-Greensboro, earning a second major and a Master’s Degree in Education.
In the 1990s and early 2000s, Jeff lived in New York City, where he reignited his love for competitive tennis. He joined a Brooklyn 4.5 men’s team that reached nine consecutive New York City finals, winning five and capturing five New York State USTA team championships. Jeff also found success individually, finishing as a finalist in the Brooklyn Borough Singles Championships and winning the Doubles title with partner Peter Gunter.
In 2006, Jeff and his family relocated to Greensboro, NC. Soon after, his two sons, Eric and Dylan, began training in local junior programs at Oak Hollow Tennis. What started as helping out at practices grew into a full coaching role, including leading the Oak Hollow 14s team. By 2010, Jeff became the head coach at Western Guilford High School, where he transformed the program into a competitive and community-driven team environment, while also mentoring all-academic student athletes.
Around the same time, Jeff began teaching at Greensboro Tennis Program (GTP), where he spent over a decade coaching players at every stage—from orange ball beginners to state, sectional, and national competitors. At GTP, he taught clinics, organized match play tournaments, traveled as a coach to USTA events, and worked with ball-kids for major tournaments like the Columbia Forest State Tournament and the Winston-Salem Open. His focus has always been consistent: helping every player reach their full potential.
Since early 2022, Jeff has been on staff at Cardinal Swim & Tennis, where he continues to share his passion for tennis and his decades of coaching experience with both juniors and adults.
Cathie Sexton
PPR Coach Certification
csextondink4fun@gmail.com
Originally from Kentucky, Cathie has proudly called Greensboro home for many years. She earned her degree in Health and Physical Education from East Carolina University and has always had a passion for learning new skills. About 20 years ago, she picked up tennis and quickly fell in love with the sport. More recently, she discovered a new passion—pickleball—and hasn’t looked back!
Cathie loves pickleball because it’s truly a lifelong sport that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. She especially values the social connections the game creates, bringing families and friends together both on and off the court. Since retiring from teaching, Cathie has more time to play, coach, and share her enthusiasm for pickleball with others.
Outside of sports, Cathie enjoys spending time with her husband Steve and their three children—Christian, Noah, and Sophia. Her hobbies include cooking, crafting, gardening, hiking, exploring new classes and activities, and, of course, relaxing with her dog Layla.
John Gabelic
Staff Assistant Tennis Coach
johngabelic@hotmail.com
John Gabelic was born in Linköping, Sweden, where he grew up competing at the highest levels of junior tennis. As a junior, he earned a top-10 national ranking in Sweden and achieved a top-950 ITF world junior ranking. In 2022, he was a two-time runner-up at the Swedish National Championships. Most recently, in the summer of 2025, John represented Sweden and UNC Greensboro at the FISU World University Games in Germany, winning a bronze medal in doubles after defeating highly ranked ATP players.
John committed to the UNCG Spartans in early 2022 and has been a key contributor in both singles and doubles since his freshman year. From 2023 through 2025, he started in nearly every dual match, competing high in the lineup. He is currently a senior pursuing a degree in Business Administration with a minor in Computer Science at the Bryan School of Business and Economics, where he maintains a 3.75 GPA and has earned recognition on both the Dean’s List and the Athletic Honor Roll.
Alongside his playing career, John has developed a strong background in coaching. He began in 2020 at Linköping Tennis Academy, working with juniors and adults, and later coached at Torekov Hotel in southern Sweden during the summers of 2024 and 2025. He also brings five years of experience as a racket stringer. In August 2024, John joined the staff at Cardinal Swim & Tennis, where he continues to share his knowledge and passion for the game with players of all ages and skill levels.
Olivia (Liv) Gallagher
Staff Assistant Tennis Coach
ogally221@gmail.com
Olivia Gallagher, a Georgetown, Kentucky native, brings a standout playing career and passion for coaching to Cardinal Swim & Tennis Club. A former four-star recruit and top-75 national prospect in the Class of 2021, Olivia was a four-time regional singles champion and a 2019 KHSAA state finalist before joining the UNC Greensboro Spartans.
At UNCG, Olivia quickly made an impact. As a freshman, she led the team with five singles victories, followed by a sophomore campaign highlighted by a team-leading doubles record. In her junior season, she broke new ground for the program—earning a national singles ranking of No. 113 in fall 2023, one of only two Southern Conference players in the top 125. This marked the first national ranking for a UNCG women’s player since 2012. She capped her college career competing at the No. 1 singles and doubles positions, recording seven singles and six doubles victories her senior year.
Equally successful in the classroom, Olivia was a two-time CSC Academic All-District honoree, graduating in 2025 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a 3.81 GPA. She was awarded the UNCG School of Nursing Alumni Award and has since accepted a position as a Registered Nurse in the Neuro/Trauma ICU at Cone Health.
Olivia began teaching at Cardinal Swim & Tennis Club in spring 2023. She now channels her focus to her nursing career but also “moonlights” with us at the Cardinal. She still has her incredible playing experience and competitive spirit that she brings to her coaching into developing the next generation of athletes. Her combination of high-level playing experience, academic excellence, and dedication to mentoring players makes her an invaluable part of the Cardinal coaching team.
Turner Johnson
Staff Assistant Tennis Coach
turnerjohnson10s@gmail.com
Turner Johnson is a North Carolina native being born and raised in Raleigh, North Carolina before moving to Oak Ridge in 2014. Turner’s passion for tennis and strong work ethic motivate him to nurture and coach the next generation for love of the game.
A life-long athlete, Turner was a four year letterman in Cross Country and became a newcomer to tennis when he picked the game up as a junior at Northwest High School. He quickly developed his game through strong work ethic and personal commitment as part of the Cardinal Swim & Tennis program. As a senior, he played #2 doubles (going 3-1) for a strong NWHS tennis team before COVID unfortunately ended the team’s season.
He enters his junior year at Guilford College as member of starting roster. He majors in Sports Management with a minor in business. In addition to his academics and athletics, he is an intern with the Durham Bulls AAA baseball franchise where his supports management of game day and special event operations. He is also has accountabilities of Head of Facilities and Grounds Management for Cardinal Swim & Tennis via Tennis 360.
Outside of tennis, he is an Eagle Scout, member of the Order of the Arrow and served as a counselor for two years on the National Youth Leadership program. He is an active volunteer for the Mountains To Sea Trail Committee and enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking, camping and climbing.
Kim-Anne Kleimeier
Assistant Tennis Professional
kleimeierk@gmail.com
Kim Kleimeier was born in Gernsbach, Germany, and moved to the United States with her parents at age 12. Tennis quickly became a family sport and an important part of her upbringing. While attending Cannon School, a member of the NCISAA conference, she competed on the varsity tennis team throughout high school.
Kim continued her playing career at Guilford College in Greensboro, NC, a competitive Division III program in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. She was a two-year team captain, competing at the top of the lineup and playing #1 doubles during her junior and senior seasons.
After graduating in 2013, Kim began her coaching career at Precision Golf and Tennis, where she served as an Assistant Tennis Professional and directed the Junior Academy. She also returned to Guilford College as an Assistant Women’s Tennis Coach, gaining valuable collegiate coaching experience.
In 2018, Kim was named Head Women’s Tennis Coach at Guilford. Under her leadership, the program showed consistent growth and improvement. In addition to her coaching responsibilities, she also served as Compliance Coordinator for Athletics beginning in 2021.
Since 2022, Kim has been an integral part of the tennis program at Cardinal Swim & Tennis, where she continues to share her passion, knowledge, and experience with players of all ages and levels.
Tymofiy (Tym) Khrystyuk
Staff Assistant Tennis Coach
tkhrystyuk@gmail.com
Born in Poltava, Ukraine, Tymofiy Khrystyuk immigrated to Canada in 2010, where he began playing tennis at the age of nine. From that moment, tennis became a defining part of his life. He quickly rose through the Canadian junior circuit, reaching a top-5 national ranking, while also competing internationally on the ITF Junior and USTA tours, achieving a world ranking inside the top 700.
In August 2022, Tym committed to play for the UNC Greensboro Spartans, where he made an immediate impact. As a freshman, he was named UNCG Freshman of the Year and earned a spot on the Southern Conference First Team All-Conference. By the end of his first season, he secured the No. 1 position in the Spartans’ lineup—a role he continues to hold. In 2024–2025, he was recognized again with Southern Conference Second Team All-Conference honors.
Beyond college tennis, Tym trains and coaches at the Aliassime Academy in Quebec, owned by the father of ATP professional Félix Auger-Aliassime. There, he provides private lessons and works with junior players considered among Canada’s future tennis stars.
Off the court, Tym is a multi-talented individual—he speaks four languages and also works as a professional model with Marilyn Agency in New York. He joined the Cardinal Swim & Tennis Club coaching staff in August 2024, where he brings international playing experience, high-level training, and a passion for developing players of all levels.
Eliza Perry
Staff Assistant Tennis Coach
Elizaperry19@gmail.com
Eliza Perry was born and raised in Hendersonville, North Carolina, where she developed her love for tennis at an early age. Competing in junior USTA tournaments throughout the Southeast, she built an impressive record, earning eight state titles during her high school career at Hendersonville High School—four team championships and four individual state championships.
Eliza continued her academic and athletic journey at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, enrolling in the Bryan School of Business in the fall of 2024 as a Finance major. As a freshman, she earned a 3.9 GPA, was named to the Chancellor’s List, and received ITA Scholar-Athlete honors.
With over five years of teaching experience, Eliza has coached players of all ages and skill levels. Eliza started coaching at Cardinal Swim & Tennis in the fall of 2024. She is passionate about helping others grow their game and is available for private and group lessons.
Luke Thomson
Staff Assistant Tennis Coach
Lukethomsonmate14@gmail.com
Luke Thomson was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and grew up playing tennis at an early age. In January of 2021 he began his college athletic career at University of North Carolina at Charlotte before transferring to UNCG for his final 2 years. Luke was a four-star recruit. Ranked the fifth-best senior prospect in North Carolina. Semifinalist for the 2020 North Carolina State qualifier. He has two older brothers and a younger sister who have played Division 1 tennis.
Luke will be graduating in May of 2025 with a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology. He currently has a 3.56 GPA and has been recognized by the UNCG Dean’s and Honor Athletic Roll.
Awards & Accolades
ITA Scholar-Athlete (2023-24)
ITA All-Academic Team (2023-24)
SoCon Academic Honor Roll (2023-24)
ITA Scholar-Athlete (2020-21)
He will be joining the UNCG Spartans tennis team as an assistant coach in the Fall of 2025. Luke has collected years of experience teaching the game of tennis at Wake Forest Tennis Camps, Greensboro Country Club, and part time helping juniors and adults develop in their tennis career. Luke joined the Cardinal Tennis Staff in Spring 2025.
