Leslie Johnston Grayson, originally from New Haven, C.T., andnow a landscape designer and living in Royersford, earned a totalof eight varsity letters while at F&M as a member of thewomen's squash and tennis teams. In squash, Grayson was the numberone player for the Diplomats and a participant at the nationalintercollegiate championships all four years. She served as captaintwo years and was named team MVP her senior year. She also joinedcoach Patricia Epps in teaching the sport to new players, andteaching then how to win.
As a sophomore, Grayson helped the Diplomats post the firstwinning record in the team's six-year history and placed 15th inthe Howe Cup Tournament. Individually, she advanced to the fourthround of the consolation bracket before losing to a player fromMiddlebury. Grayson was ranked 16th in the country as a senior, andshe led the Diplomats to another 7-4 overall record and a 5-1record at the national team tournament. It was the first time theDiplomats posted two wins over Johns Hopkins in the sameseason.
She became the first F&M squash player, male or female, toearn first team All-American honors and finished with a 39-22career record. Grayson was just as adept on the tennis courts. Shewas a four-year letterwinner in tennis and participated in thefirst NCAA Division III championships. In a story about the 8-1tennis team qualifying for the national tournament in the CollegeReporter (4/29/82), writer Sue Ridge says, "Tell me what othercoach makes sure there is licorice for Leslie Johnston '82, doublestuff Oreo cookies, M&M's, fruit and granola bars for everyoneon all the road trips."
