Chris Groer

VANDERBILT ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME – CLASS OF 2010 

Chris Groer (Tennis, 1993-1996) 

It’s no coincidence that the men’s tennis program began to turn around when Chris Groer joined the team. A walk-on with an academic scholarship, Groer rose to become the first Vanderbilt men’s tennis player to be named an All-American in the modern era in 1996. Groer personified the best in Commodore student-athletes with his accomplishments in the classroom as well, becoming the first tennis player in school history to be named an Academic All-American. After a successful professional career, Groer became an intelligence specialist for the Department of Defense and now works as a researcher in the Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

  • Named an All-American (1996)
  • First Team All-SEC (1996)
  • Qualified for singles and doubles NCAA championships his senior year
  • Reached the semifinals of the ITA All-American Tournament (1996)
  • Holds best Vanderbilt doubles winning percentage with partner Krunch Kloberdanz
  • Finished with a No. 15 ITA ranking in singles in 1996
  • Earned Academic All-SEC honors every year
  • Two-time Academic All-American (1995, 1996)
  • Won prestigious SEC Scholar-Athlete Postgraduate Scholarship
  • Played three years on pro tennis circuit, winning 14 doubles titles and one singles title