Greene Ridge Racquet Club tennis article

A PLACE TO GROW. THE WAY TO LIVE.

GREENE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA

2018

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By DONNA MARIE WILLIAMS

6 | GREENE LIVING | 2018

T

he words “tennis” and “Greene County” are synonymous, particularly in Snow Hill.

Chosen as “Best Tennis

Town of America” in 2010, having been the Southern U.S. Adult Tournament of the Year for two out of the past 10 years and containing the 2018 recipient of the Facility of the Year by the U.S. Tennis Association, it is easy to see why.

The rise of tennis popularity in the county began in 1980 during a time when Snow Hill was a large baseball community. “When I arrived in Greene County, the only thing I knew about Greene County was baseball. That’s what it was known for,” said Donald Clark, a former Greene Central High School tennis coach and the former president of the Greene County Tennis Association. Soon, Greene County and Snow Hill would be known for tennis. “We’re known

as the tennis capital down here,” said Kathy Williams, the president of the Greene County Tennis Association.

The rise in tennis popularity began with high school athletics and some networking performed by a local enthusiast.

“I don’t know how (tennis popularity occurred), but a lot of tennis families (helped),” said Bobby Taylor, the owner of Greene Ridge Racquet Club, located in Snow Hill.

Taylor was bitten by the tennis bug and began to attend tournaments in various locations across the state. He was able to recruit other players to attend tournaments with him and the bug began to slowly spread.

While attending those tournaments, Greene County tennis players helped spread the word about the county just by being asked where they were from.

Eventually, Clark joined Taylor and the two began hosting tournaments in the area.

Taylor also began to offer tournaments using the high school’s courts.

The first tournament he hosted was the Snow Hill Classic, sponsored by Coca-Cola.

“We had 50 to 60 people in the first couple of tournaments. All proceeds went to the athletic department, and

Tennis Culture

later it was earmarked for tennis,” Taylor said, adding the funds raised helped to resurface the courts, acquire lights, nets and benches. “Donald Clark and I got together and ran tennis tournaments. The rest is history.”

Adding to the rise of popularity of tennis was the expansion of the courts at Greene Central High School. Originally, Greene Central only had four.

“The courts were 25 years old, and grass was growing up in between cracks,” Clark said.

Parents of Greene Central High School approached the Greene County Board of Education to see if they could improve the tennis courts. However, it was a suggestion made by the school board in November 1997 to form the Greene County Tennis Association that changed the fate of tennis in Greene County.

Within a year’s time, the Greene County Tennis Association had raised enough funds to resurface the four courts. The association did not stop there. Soon, the organization had raised enough funds to expand the number of tennis courts from four to 12.

“Twelve courts is largely unheard of in high school tennis in North Carolina,” said Tim Medlin, a Greene Central tennis coach.

The additional playing courts offered Greene County an advantage over other area high schools in the region.

“All high schools started coming to Greene County because we had the largest hard clay court tennis facility east of I-95,” Taylor said, adding most facilities only consisted of six to nine

tennis courts. With the court expansion, came the expansion of tennis programs.

The association began to host U.S. Tennis Association events in the area. More players from out of town were drawn to the area.

Junior U.S. Tennis Association tournaments were also offered by the Greene County Tennis Association and were held for children, age 18 and under. The tournament allows students to compete with other students around the same age and helps them advance their skills.

The Greene County Tennis Association also helps assist in the early development of tennis enthusiasm and skill by offering free clinics to help children and adults hone their tennis skills.

During the clinics, participants can learn the basic skills and techniques

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The Greene County

Tennis Association also helps assist in the early development of tennis enthusiasm and skill by offering free clinics to help children and adults hone their tennis skills.

Bobby Taylor, the owner of Greene Ridge Racquet club, stands with his 2018 Outstanding Tennis Facility of the Year award.

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of the game in a supportive noncompetitive environment.

“Going to the extra practices with the kids I know has helped a lot,” said freshman McKinsey Harper, a Greene Central tennis player.

The Greene County Tennis Association also established league teams for students. With the leagues, free clinics and U.S. Tennis Association tournaments, students who enjoy playing tennis are provided that opportunity all year.

This adds to the refining of tennis skills, especially since women’s tennis is offered August to October, while men’s tennis is offered February to May.

Since its creation, the Greene County Tennis Association has worked to encourage children of all ages to give tennis a try and build their skills, while providing support for the school systems.

“It helps the school system build the strong program that they have,” Williams said. “The tennis association helps keep tennis alive. We’re such a

small community with so many athletic opportunities, it’s easy for children to get involved in tennis.”

During the same time Greene County Tennis Association was establishing events, Clark was working at the high school level to improve the performance of the men’s and women’s tennis teams.

Clark came to Greene County and coached tennis from 1988 to 2014.

“One of the biggest problems that I had to begin with was a lack of sports discipline,” Clark said.

Slowly, Clark and the tennis teams improved their record.

The men’s tennis team improved quickly, and in Clark’s second year coaching, the team became one of the eight best teams in the state.

“The girl’s program was in really bad shape. They never had a winning record. It was a total rebuilding with the girls. We lost 32 matches in a row. We had our first victory in fall of ‘89,” Clark said.

In 1993, the women’s tennis team began to turn the tables, with the first

winning record and went on to win their first conference championship.

“A group of freshman girls really turned things around. They put some enthusiasm into the program,” Clark said.

Since gaining the title of 2A conference champions, the Greene Central women’s tennis team has not given it up.

Now under the direction of Medlin, the women’s tennis team is celebrating its latest victory, which landed them their 25th conference championship title.

“I think it’s quite remarkable what the kids accomplish here. We’re the first conference (women’s) champions in school history. The girls continued getting better. They wanted to keep the tradition going,” Clark said.

The state record for maintaining the conference championship title is 28 years.

Along with programs designed to help foster youth enthusiasm and skills offered by the Greene County

(clockwise from top) GC3 Elite players (front row: L-R) third-grader Caroline Medlin, sixth-grader Coley Dyer, third-grader Charlotte Medlin, (back) Greene Central varsity tennis players Madison Holloman, Logan Wilson and Allana Head all played an influential role in inspiring tennis coach Tim Medlin to create the GC3 Elite Youth Development Initiative. Tennis players (front row: L-R) freshman Venancia Miller, senior Madison Holloman, senior Allana Head, sophomore Kaylee Tucker, sophomore Shayna Cox, (back) senior Logan Wilson sophomore Alli West, Coach Tim Medlin, sophomore Hinson Britt and freshman McKinsey celebrate a game victory. Lauren Haslip serves the ball in a doubles match at the 2018 Snow Hill/ Lenoir Community College Golf and Tennis Tournament. Christopher Lambert serves the ball. Mark Phillips prepares to attack.

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Kathy Williams, president of the Greene County Tennis Association

Tennis Association, Greene County Middle School also contains one of the only middle school tennis team programs.

New head coach Kaylee Bell is excited for girl’s tennis in the upcoming year.

“So far, they’re starting off good. We had 11 players transfer from seventh to eighth grade. They are learning, and the talent is there,” Bell said.

Bell participated in Greene County Middle School tennis program when she attended the school.

“They’re really great girls. As long as we have fun and do our best, it should be a really great season,” Bell said.

The creation of the 2016 Greene County 3 Elite Youth Development Initiative helped further the schools’ and Greene County Tennis Association’s ambition of developing youth tennis skills early on.

“We were basically searching for athletes as early as second grade and encourage them to come try tennis. Once a year in May, we announce up to three boys and three girls, and we recognize them, and they become part of a special club and coaching. When we locate them, we start

nurturing them and doing everything we can to progress them, so by the time they get to middle school they are already great,” Medlin said.

The Greene County Tennis Association not only wants to enhance students’ tennis skills, but they also want to provide students withscholarship opportunities. Students must play tennis their senior year of high school and be a member of the association to be eligible.

Students must also volunteer for at least 10 hours a year at tennis programs or events. By just playing as a senior and volunteering for 10 hours, students will receive $100 after graduation.

The association offers students the ability to earn more scholarship money, beginning as early as middle school. The scholarship amount received by the student is based on a point system, with the amount of points varying based on involvement.

Students can earn scholarship points for playing in tournaments and volunteering, according to Williams.

“We’ve given away $75,000 to senior tennis players since 1997,” Clark said.

Community service within

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the tennis community does not end with the Greene County Tennis Association.

In 2000, tennis culture grew with the opening of Greene Ridge Racquet Club. This 2,400-square-foot facility features nine lighted tennis courts, a swimming pool and a newly updated gym. Greene Ridge also offers a store inside the clubhouse that supplies needed tennis essentials, such as shoes, racquets and tennis balls.

Since its opening, Greene Ridge maintains the record as having one of the largest clay courts east of Raleigh.

Greene Ridge is also affiliated with the U.S. Tennis Association.

As an affiliate, Greene Ridge hosts U.S. Tennis Association tournaments and events throughout the year.

In August 2018, the facility garnered the coveted U.S. Tennis Association Facility of the Year award.

“It’s good to see a small town beat out Charlotte and Boston to win. The smaller communities have a hard time competing with the bigger guys, so we’re very happy with it,” Taylor said.

Greene Ridge also has a record of community service. The record began

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Tennis popularity has attracted many people to the region and attracts more than 10,000 people to Snow Hill per

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year.

in 1982 when Taylor began hosting tennis tournaments to raise money and provide support for the high school tennis programs.

Taylor partnered with Lenoir Community College, and the pair established the Snow Hill/Lenoir Community College Golf and Tennis Tournament.

In August 2018, Taylor celebrated his 36th year hosting tournaments in Greene County.

The tournaments help provide scholarships to Greene County students

who plan to attend Lenoir Community College. This year, the tournament raised more than $20,000 in scholarship funds.

Funds raised by the tournaments only benefit students who live in Greene County.

While the popularity of tennis was increasing among Greene County youth, parents began to also become involved in the sport. Parents became Greene County Tennis Association members and began participating in tournaments, according to Taylor.

Tennis popularity has attracted many people to the region and attracts more than 10,000 people to Snow Hill per year, according to Taylor.

“It does speak volumes in bringing people to the community,” Taylor said.

With humble beginnings, tennis culture has slowly embedded itself within the culture of Greene County, transforming the way that outsiders view the area.

It has helped bring many people into the area, provided scholarship opportunities and improved athletes, for both adults and children alike.

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