Northern Arizona by Andrea Meyer
Flagstaff residents and guests have had a wonderful summer on court with the Flagstaff Tennis Association. They hosted another successful Flagstaff City Open in June that saw players flock to the city courts to enjoy the beautiful mountain weather. They also hosted several popular summer mixers for adults and juniors, alike. The USTA season has been busy with teams in the 3.0, 3.5 and 4.0 having had success going to Sectionals in both men’s and women’s leagues. Flagstaff also has several mixed teams participating in the USTA Mixed League. NAU is hoping to begin their community programming in the fall. Forest Highlands will be hosting their Annual Team Member/Guest Tournament in the fall, bringing about 56 women from all over Arizona to compete in this weekend event. Director of Racquet Sports and Elite Pro Nicole Chambers is in her 10th season at Forest Highlands and is looking forward to the extension of the Racquet facilities at FH which will include pickleball courts, an expanded Pro Shop and lounge and additional tennis courts in 2022. Larry Lineberry has organized the Oxendale Autogroup Tournament, a USTA- sanctioned event for September 24-26 in Cottonwood that will raise money for junior tennis development in northern Arizona. The event will feature age - level adult and junior categories as well as NTRP events and is directed by USPTA professionals Jake Worseldine and Andrea Meyer. Covid 19 caused cancellation of the 2020 event after a very successful 2019 result. The goal is to make the Oxendale the largest of its kind in northern Arizona and an annual affair. On September 18th, Larry will be in Roanoke, VA where he is being inducted into the inaugural 2020 Roanoke Regional Tennis Hall of Fame. He will play in a pro-am round robin fundraiser that day, then be the guest speaker at the induction ceremonies that evening. Larry spent the first 17 years of his career in
September 2021
Roanoke where he was the USPTA Virginia Pro of the Year 4 times (1982-1985) and the USPTA MidAtlantic Pro of the Year in 1986 and division president from 1986-1987. From 1979 to 1991, Larry and his club promoted and directed 10 professional tennis tournaments, and he earned his Master Professional rating in 1990. Larry is very proud and honored to be a member of the USTA Southwest Tennis Hall of Fame (2017) and the 2020 Roanoke Regional Tennis Hall of Fame. He was also an inaugural inductee in the 2015 Prescott Park of Fame. Elite Pro Jake Worseldine will exchange his Mingus Union HS red and grey colors in Cottonwood for Scorpion purple this year as he becomes the new Sedona Red Rock HS boys’ and girls’ coach. The new coaching assignment, much closer to his home and Jake’s other lesson venues in Sedona, will give him more time with his family. In Prescott, Pro Zach Hackerott is sending his group of 3.5 ladies ( 18+) to compete in August’s sectionals in Albuquerque. He is also teaching at Prescott Lakes and is looking for a great dog to adopt! Prescott HS coach and Pro Sterling Fetty has been busy with an ambitious slate of junior JTT and Level 6 events. With Sterling’s persistent legwork, he and Jake Worseldine recruited about 45 players from Lake Havasu, Las Vegas, Kingman, Sedona, Flagstaff, and
Cottonwood for a July 16-17 Prescott Area Tennis Association tourney. Sterling’s son Camden took 2nd in 16 singles while his twin brother, Leyton, won the boys’ 18’s. Their next junior tournament is scheduled for Aug. 21 at Yavapai College. NAZ tennis players send best wishes to long-time beloved Sedona Elite Pro Claudette Laliberte who has moved to Puerto Penasco, Mexico for a well- deserved rest and change of pace.
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