University of Tennessee Athletics
Sean Karl to be Honored by TSHF
April 29, 2015 | Men's Tennis
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The late Sean Karl will be honored by the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame with the Courage Award at its Champion Within Luncheon on June 6.
Karl, a sophomore on the Tennessee men's tennis team, passed away in November after a two-year battle with Ewing sarcoma, a rare form of bone and tissue cancer.
Teammates and coaches will always remember him for his positive outlook on life, how he treated others and how he faced every challenge in his path.
He was also a fierce competitor on the tennis court, earning the No. 1 ranking in USTA 16s age group and claiming three state singles titles for Ravenwood High School. That toughness and resolve was also on display during his fight with cancer, which returned after he completed a five-win fall season for the Vols in 2013.
Karl's legacy will remain visible at Tennessee for years to come. Before the season, court No. 1 inside Goodfriend Tennis Center was renamed Sean Karl Court with his name painted along the sidelines and a banner near the scoreboard.
The Champion Within Luncheon will be held June 6 at 11 a.m. at the Omni Nashville Hotel. Tickets are $40 and must be purchased in advance by calling 615-202-3996.
Tennessee seniors Mikelis Libietis and Hunter Reese, the defending NCAA doubles champions, will be honored during the evening's induction and awards ceremony as one of the THSF amateur teams of the year.
