Gene Highfield
Highfield Home Again on Sugar
S
ince the four-seasons resort of Sugar Mountain opened more than fifty years ago, the public tennis complex has been an important offering during the warm weather months. And this spring, The Village of Sugar Mountain renewed its commitment to excellence with the reconstruction of all six clay courts. “Basically we just rebuilt the courts,” Director of Tennis Instruction Gene Highfield said. “We had rocks popping up through the clay before, but not anymore. The courts look beautiful.” The old clay was removed and 30 tons of new material was rolled onto each court. Laser technology assured the right pitch for efficient drainage, erosion reduction, unwanted indentations and “bird baths” forming after rains. “We straightened the fence posts and installed new black chain link mesh,” Highfield added. “It really pops out.” What “pops out” to most observers since Highfield joined long-time tennis director Leigh Morrison to handle the teaching duties three seasons ago is the new “energy” on display at the courts. Much of the credit for the elevated spirit at Sugar Mountain goes to the indefatigable Highfield, a 47-year-old career club professional and an accomplished tournament player. That he found his forever home in the High Country proved a compelling tale. Highfield was born and raised in Christiansted, St. Croix, in the U.S. Virgin Islands. His father Terry left southern Ohio after visiting his brother for “the
summer.” Terry Highfield married and put down roots on St. Croix—son Gene was raised an Islander, took to the game his dad played—tennis—and was on his way. Growing up on St. Croix, soccer and basketball were the school boy sports, but after the school day Gene gravitated to tennis clubs for their junior clinics and instruction. “There was a big tennis community on the island,” he said. “It was humongous and many of the kids I grew up with on the courts would move on to play in Division One programs in the States. I was younger than most of them and that made me a better player. My dad had me play his friends, too, the older men who taught me gamesmanship. They were always trying to get in my head and mess with my game.” When Gene was seven years old, the Highfield family visited an Islander friend who had just bought a home in Valle Crucis. That same summer the family would find their own summer home in the High Country and for the next decade Gene’s summers were spent in the mountains. Back on St. Croix, the young player, who had played since three years of age, was showing promise. The game became serious when the family sent Gene to New Braunfels, TX, to attend the John Newcombe Tennis Academy. Newcombe was an Australian tennis icon, a disciple of legendary Harry Hopman, and four-time winner of the Australian Open. Legends like Rod Laver, Cliff Drysdale, and Tony Roche colored Newcombe’s career that included seven major singles titles, 17 majors in doubles and five
By Tom McAuliffe
Davis Cup titles representing The Land Down Under. Newcombe’s Academy attracted the best international junior prospects, and the young Islander, Highfield, was headed for a reality check. The daily regimen included cardio vascular workouts at 5:30 each morning, followed by breakfast, then off to the local high school for classes. After school meant four hours of tennis with some of the best junior players in the world. And while students at New Braunfels High School, the academy kids were ineligible for the local tennis team, for good reason. “I had played in national tournaments,” Highfield said, “but in Texas these players were world class and beating me like a drum. But by my senior year, I knew I could play with anybody.” Even so, dreams of scholarship offers from schools like Miami, Clemson, Texas, or USC were unlikely, so Highfield enrolled at Midlands Junior College in Midland, TX. Even here the team was loaded with international players; he was the only American. But he had learned to hold his own. After his lone season at Midlands, he earned one of four at-large berths to play in the University of Texas Invitational, a singles, one-loss-and-you’re-out showcase of the finest collegiate tennis players in America. Gene tore through the field, whipping the best D-1 players in the land, an unlikely JUCO spoiler from St. Croix whose time had come. Continued on next page CAROLINA MOUNTAIN LIFE Summer 2021 —
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