Jeannie Craney Norwine

                                                    By Terry Nielsen

Jeannie Craney Norwine grew up within blocks of the tennis courts at McKennan Park in Sioux Falls.  And she has been a Southern California gal for the past 35 years or so.  But the fond memories of her playing winning tennis while a teenager in SD still ring true in her mind. 

A 2019 South Dakota Tennis Hall of Fame inductee, Jeannie recalls her early start in tennis, using  the family garage door as a bang board.  By honing her game on the courts at McKennan Park, she then  led her team to a state high school title at Washington High, claiming a singles title along the way.  She won  several  junior  singles titles at  Northwestern Sectional tournaments in the Twin Cites (MN).    In 1971, the Sectional yearbook lists her ranked #2 in the girls 12 singles based on the previous summer’s play.  And in the 1976 Sectional yearbook, she held a #5 ranking in girls 18’s, plus a #2 ranking in girls’ 16’s singles.

After graduating from WSHS, Jeannie played  #1 singles and doubles in tennis while attending  South Dakota State University  in Brookings.

“I started tennis through my parents   John and Daisy at age six,” said Jeannie.  “Brother Mark and I hit often, but older sister Annie was having lots of success and I looked up to her so much.  I really liked how she got to go to tournaments and win trophies!  I recall taking a couple of her trophies to  St. Mary elementary school and claiming that I had won them!  I clearly needed to spend more time memorizing the Ten Commandments!”

“Looking back, McKennan Park represents so much to me now as a middle aged adult.  I spent every summer at the courts and every winter on the ice skating rink,” said Jeannie.  “At 8 years of age, I played my first tournament and I recall liking the chance to win and really thriving on the competition a lot!  From there I began to play local, state and regional tournaments.  My mother was my faithful driver, match watcher and mascot.”

She has many memories of competing against Kari Sandvig, Nancy Hougland, Nancy Rost, Karen Bernard, Linda Kopriva, Chris Dummermuth and Theresa Bell.

As a sophomore at Washington High, her team was undefeated and she beat Dolly Paluch of Rapid City Central  for the state #1 singles title.  Her doubles partner was Karlee Grebin and team members who placed high at the state meet won by the Washington Warriors were:  Jane Nelson, Debbie Hopewell  and Deanna Darr.  Other team members were Nancy Musso, Jenny Hoehl and Cindy Psychos. 

As a junior in the  fall of 1976, at the state meet,  Jeannie was a finalist for another state title before losing to Nancy Rost in what would be the first of five straight championships for Nancy.

Jeannie recalls teaching tennis for the city of Sioux Falls in 1979, and taking lessons over the years from Dave Weber at Westward Ho and Randy Stolpe at Woodlake.  In that group with Stolpe were other junior players Jay Lauer, Mark Wakey, Mike Hoeger, Dick Hahn, Kari Sandvig and Nancy and Pat Rost.  Her coaches at Washington High were Dick Day, Dave Dummermuth and Chris Dummermuth.

Tennis then became a big part of her life after moving to California.  Five years in a row she was the singles champion in the top women’s section at Griffith Park, a noted public 12 court facility in Los Angeles on Riverside Dr.   No one had ever won five in a row.  She currently works as a cashier at  Weddington Golf  and Tennis in Studio City, CA .

Her sister Anne Craney Olson says Jeannie has held several prestigious jobs in the business and entertainment world of LA.  “She became a production manager for Johnson Edwards Entertainment Co, and produced the entertainment for events like Bob Hopes 90^th birthday party.  There she had a funny conversation with President Ronald Reagan.”

 Anne said Jeannie’s confidence in competing in tennis has given her sister determination and professionalism, to build a long and impressive resume in the entertainment world.  At Weddington,  there is a constant stream of A-list celebrities  daily, such as Bradley Cooper, Will Ferrell, Cameron Diaz and others.

 In earlier years, other events Jeannie produced while working for  the Beverly Hills production company included Barbara Streisand’s wedding to James Brolin, the 70^th Annual Oscar Awards Governor’s Ball, the Emmy’s Governor’s  Ball, the “Grammy” Awards Governor’s Ball, the Fire and Ice Ball, the Braveheart premier and other celebrity weddings.

Many of the early California connections started through her brother Mark Craney.  Mark got his start with the drums in Sioux Falls, but his skills really developed in CA.   He died Nov 26, 2005 at age 53 from complications from diabetes and pneumonia.  He was a world famous American rock and jazz drummer, having toured with Jethro Tull and other noted performers.  Sisters   Jeannie and Anne were in Sioux Falls in 2011 when Mark was posthumously inducted into the SD Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.