2020 Annual Conference and
Hall of Fame Induction and
Awards Ceremony
2020 MEETING OF THE ASSOCIATION AGENDA Welcome - President Lisa Minihan Roll Call and Consideration of the Minutes Secretary’s Report Treasurer’s Report Approval of Slate of Officers for 2021-2022 Consideration of Bylaw Amendment Old Business New Business President’s Closing Remarks Ratification of the Acts Adjournment
2020 OPEN BOARD MEETING AGENDA Welcome - President Lisa Minihan Roll Call and Consideration of the Minutes Executive Director Report District Reports Committee Reports Consideration of Items of Policy Old Business New Business President’s Closing Remarks Adjournment
2020 Hall of Fame and Section Awards Celebration ORDER OF CEREMONY Welcome 2020 Year in Review Video Necrology 2020 Hall of Fame Inductees Daniel Apted Jane Zukaitis Hines Kevin Nebergall
2020 President’s Award 2020 Distinguished Service Award 2020 Section Awards 2020 Junior Sportsmanship Awards
1986
Hall of Fame
2020 Daniel Apted................... St. Louis, Mo. Jane Zukaitis Hines............. Omaha, Neb. Kevin Nebergall.........Cedar Rapids, Iowa 2019 KilmenyWaterman Connor.. Overland Park, Kan. Craig Sandvig............University City, Mo. Pamela Sloan................. Stockton, Calif. 2018 Ken D. Brown........... Independence, Kan. Fred Johnson................ Kansas City, Mo. Mark Platt........................Clayton, Mo. Pat Purcell...................... St. Louis, Mo. Kim Reser....................Springfield, Mo. 2017 Buff Farrow......................Wichita, Kan. Francis P. Lemery........Overland Park, Kan. Richard M. Perry..................Enid, Okla. 2016 Bob Bates................ Prairie Village, Kan. Mark Johnson................ Henryetta, Okla. Wilbur Jones...................Shawnee, Kan. 2015 Richard Hudlin................ St. Louis, Mo. Cornelia Salmon-Robertson....... LeCompton, Kan. Mark Rosewell.................Maryville, Mo. Verne Weber....................Bellevue, Neb.
2020
2014 Stephen L. Gerdes.............. Omaha, Neb. Jim Klouisa...................Springfield, Mo. Ken Veney.................... Sydney, Australia 2013 Ron Cobb....................... St. Louis, Mo. Kevin Hedberg...................Topeka, Kan. Joe McGuire................. Kansas City, Mo. Doug Smith..................... St. Louis, Mo. Bruce Vosburg................... Omaha, Neb. 2012 Judy Dippold................... St. Louis, Mo. Micki Schillig Feldmann.........Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Edmund Serrano............... St. Louis, Mo. Meredith Geiger Walton..... Kingwood, Texas 2011 Rex Coad........................Wichita, Kan. James “Buddy” Fields...........Wichita, Kan. Janet Thomas Griffith............ Tulsa, Okla. Jane Pratt....................... St. Louis, Mo. Kim Steinmetz................. St. Louis, Mo. 2010 Charles Doughty .............. Wichita, Kan. Tommy English ........ Oklahoma City, Okla. Paul Lockwood .............. Norman, Okla. James Wadley ............... Stillwater, Okla.
2009 Nick Taylor ......................Wichita, Kan. Skip Walther ................. Columbia, Mo. Sheldon Weiner ............. Rock Island, Ill. 2008 Gayle David Bradshaw .. PonteVedra Beach, Fla. Patricia Graham ........... Kansas City, Mo. Steve Prosser .................. DeSoto, Kan. Leigh Strassner ................ St. Louis, Mo. 2007 Barbara Fackel ............... Rock Island, Ill. Ken Flach ...................... St. Louis, Mo. Bob McKinley ....... College Station, Texas 2006 Dave Freeborn ................... Tulsa, Okla. Jay Louderback ............ South Bend, Ind. Terry Miller ............ Overland Park, Kan. Dave Riley ........................ Tulsa, Okla. Russell Warner.................... Tulsa, Okla. 2005 John Allen Been.............. Houston, Texas Dr. Harry Clifton Burrus ........Winter Haven, Fla. Jacque Croft............ Overland Park, Kan. Richard Mechem .......... Fredericksburg,Texas Frank A. Thompson Jr. ....... St. Louis, Mo. 2004 John Bregin ................... Merriam, Kan. Don Dippold .................. St. Louis, Mo. Don Gardner .................. Wichita, Kan. Ken Lidie ...................... Bellevue, Neb. Su Oertel ................... Mason City, Iowa 2003 Bill Brown.............Arroyo Grande, Calif. Cliff Buchholz.............Fort Collins, Colo. Bob Green................Atlantic Beach, Fla. Nancy Pearce-Jeffett............ Dallas, Texas Phil Landauer................... Hillard, Ohio
2002 Patsy Rippy-Bond................. Sandy, Utah William Davis................Seminole, Okla. Ralph Hart...................... St. Louis, Mo. Bill Rompf...................... Newport, R.I. Mary Norwood-Rompf....... Newport, R.I.
1996 Harold “Buck” Balzer............ Buhler, Kan. Justina Bricka.................. St. Louis, Mo. Kate Cushing...................... Tulsa, Okla. Ted Drewes..................... St. Louis, Mo. Phillip L. Edwards............. St. Louis, Mo.
2001 Junior Coen................. Kansas City, Mo. Dick Gilkey....................Edmond, Okla. Gene Land.............Oklahoma City, Okla. Gerry Perry..................Springfield, Mo. Don McNeil.................Chickasha, Okla.
1995 Jodie H. Adams..............Springfield, Mo. Carol Hanks Aucamp.......... St. Louis, Mo. Mary Ann Eisel Beattie....... St. Louis, Mo.
2000 Marilyn Mueller............... St. Louis, Mo. Louis Gerdes.................... Omaha, Neb. Ollie Gresham.................... Tulsa, Okla. Homer Robinson................. Tulsa, Okla. Dr. Bryce Young............Hilton Head, S.C. Judy Levering....................... Stowe, Vt. 1999 David Bryant..........Oklahoma City, Okla. Dr. George Milton............Emporia, Kan. Cliff Price.......................... Tulsa, Okla. J. Hal Surface Jr............. Kansas City, Mo. Dr. Steve Wilkinson......... St. Peter, Minn. 1998 W.E. Steve Broadie.............Wichita, Kan. Dr. Donald Klotz.............Iowa City, Iowa J.C. Louderback.........Arkansas City, Kan. Jim Reed....................... Winfield, Kan. S.L. Shofner.................... Prescott, Ariz. 1997 Lucien Barbour............... Winfield, Kan. Frank Ward........................Jenks, Okla. Anna Guerrant...............Scottsdale, Ariz. Dick Johnson..................... Ballwin, Mo. Nora Prosser.................. Merriam, Kan.
1994 Wray Brown.................... St. Louis, Mo. Earl “Butch” Buchholz Jr. ...... St. Louis, Mo. Beverly K. Buckley........Des Moines, Iowa Joy Rodenberg.................. Lincoln, Neb. Mervyn Webster................Wichita, Kan.
1990 Francis Baxter.................Edmond, Okla. Earl H. Buchholz Sr...............Sedalia, Mo. Charles D. Cunningham......... Tulsa, Okla. Bill Price........................ St. Louis, Mo. Len Prosser.................... Merriam, Kan. 1989 Gerald Perry.................Springfield, Mo. 1988 D. Keedy Campbell........ Kansas City, Mo. Harris M. Coggeshall......... Des Moines, Iowa Marvin P. Richmond......... Leawood, Kan. T.H. “Curly” Vaughan......... Winfield, Kan. 1986 Dwight F. Davis................ St. Louis, Mo. Charles McKinley ............. St. Louis, Mo.
1993 C.J. Hixon......................... Tulsa, Okla. Wally Smith................ Ponca City, Okla. Dave Snyder......................Austin, Texas 1992 Jack Buss....................Des Moines, Iowa Lucile Davidson.......... Independence, Mo. Ed Doane.........................Tustin, Calif. 1991 Clarence Dyer.................. Durant, Okla. The Ward Parker Family...... St. Louis, Mo. Tom McSpadden............Muskogee, Okla.
Nominations are accepted annually by July 31. Nominations remain on file for five years. Visit usta.com/ustamissourivalley for more information.
Dan Apted’s name has been a staple in the St. Louis tennis community for many years. The tennis heritage runs deep in his family as his father, Steve Apted, instilled a love for tennis and sport in all four of his children. The family bond is very strong between those who share Dan’s last name, but he has also made it a point to invite many others into his circle. Employees, friends, business partners, and many others all proudly consider themselves a part of his wide-reaching tennis family. Though Apted never took a formal tennis lesson in his life, he was fortunate to watch and learn from St. Louis tennis greats such as family friends Larry Miller and Mary Ann Eisel as well as professionals including Ken Rosewall and Jimmy Connors. Their examples carried Apted through his tennis journey, playing as a ranked doubles junior until a severe back injury at 16 years old sidelined him from all sports for nearly a decade. Despite no longer being able to play tennis, Apted spent his summer breaks working in tennis operations and teaching tennis at the family’s local club, Creve Coeur Racquet Club, and teaching hockey at Castle Oak (now known as the Chesterfield Racquet Club). When Dan was still in his youth, Steve Apted and his business partner built the Creve Coeur Racquet Club. Today, Dan carries on the marvelous family tennis legacy through the club. Dan and his family continue to pour blood, sweat, and tears into the club to create one of the best tennis and private club environments in the region. This hard work was recognized in 2013 when Creve Coeur Racquet Club received the Member Organization of the Year award from USTA St. Louis. In 2003, Apted joined the Dwight Davis Tennis Center Board of Directors and took over facility management one year later. Since then, he has selflessly served the facility at all levels, whether by providing staffing or personally hosing off the patio. Under his leadership, Dwight Davis Tennis Center has grown exponentially financially and been recognized for multiple awards. Apted doesn’t do all of this on his own, though. His family has been his support all along his journey. His daughter, Dani Apted Schlottman, gleaned a love of tennis from her dad and has since come alongside him as a business partner. “She likes to compete, she likes to get stuff done,” Apted said. “It’s just great to be around her and see the opportunities she’s taken with the Aces, etc. It’s great to have a fourthgeneration family member involved in the business.” The two, along with Dan’s wife Deb, and Dani’s husband Eric, joined forces to bring the St. Louis Aces World TeamTennis franchise to the city in 2005, which played at Dwight Davis Tennis Center for seven years.
“It was probably one of the neatest and luckiest things I’ve ever been able to be involved with,” Apted said. “Going into a business opportunity with your daughter, her husband, and your wife and seeing each of them taking a leg of the business that I’m not very good at is special.” Apted continues to donate court time, food, events, and more for dozens of local charities, provide scholarships for juniors through his club, and selflessly share the love of tennis with many in St. Louis. “I believe that you’ve gotta pay it forward, you’ve gotta help people,” Apted said. “To see kids who don’t have the opportunity to try something...if I can help, I’ve gotta jump in and help. It’s very fulfilling. If I couldn’t pay it forward, I wouldn’t be whole.” His humble leadership, dedication to his facilities, and commitment to paying it forward earned him the Distinguished Service Award from USTA St. Louis and now will culminate with his induction into the USTA Missouri Valley Hall of Fame.
“It’s humbling. It’s really an honor to be in the same group as so many people who I’ve watched get inducted and be involved in tennis. I thought it was an honor just to even be considered.”
Jane Zukaitis Hines has been instrumental to the growth of the Omaha tennis community and a strong champion for diversity outreach and adaptive tennis. She has grown the game of tennis in many roles, with her tennis resume including playing, teaching, coaching, administrating, fundraising, and marketing tennis. As a player, Hines excelled at high levels. As a junior player, she was ranked #1 in Nebraska singles and doubles. During her career at Omaha Burke High School, she won the Nebraska State and Omaha Metro doubles championships. Hines went on to play college tennis at the University of Hawaii. There she would earn the Most Inspirational Athlete, Academic All-American, and the prestigious Jack Bonham Athlete of the Year awards. During her time as a college athlete, Hines realized her desire to make a career out of her sport. Upon graduation, she quickly soared into a marvelous tennis career. “Tennis provided me with so many opportunities. I just wanted to share those opportunities with others,” said Hines. “Tennis provided me with friendships, fitness, fun, a college education, and my career. I thought ‘Gosh, I have this fabulous recipe for life. Why not share this with others?’” A highly accomplished junior high performance coach, Hines brought in several state, sectional, and national coaching awards. Her tennis influence didn’t stop there. As a USPTA Tennis Professional, she worked as a tennis instructor, programming director, and marketing director at various clubs, schools and community centers in the Omaha area. In these roles, she would build up numerous adult and junior instructional and competitive programs. Outside of her roles of teaching and directing tennis, Hines has used her marketing and website skills to promote the game in big ways. For many years, she has served as the volunteer webmaster for the Omaha Tennis Association, USTA Nebraska, Omaha Tennis Buddies, and USTA National Adaptive Tennis. She created e-newsletters for several tennis organizations, published various adaptive tennis spotlights on the USTA National website, and has written a multitude of tennis publications, guides, articles, curriculums, and more. The list of how Hines has involved herself in local tennis is never-ending; her passion for bringing diversity and inclusion into the tennis community is unmatched. This passion is clear especially in her work with the Omaha Tennis Buddies, a program co-founded by Hines which partners adaptive athletes with local tennis enthusiasts to provide year-round tennis programming for adaptive athletes. Her other local tennis involvements include grant writing, after-school tennis programming, multicultural outreach, non-elimination tennis competitions and more. “Every individual is important! I wanted to make certain that any individual who wanted to learn to play tennis had a way to do so,” Hines said. “I did not want this sport that we love
to be locked into a box and kept away for only the elite players. I wanted to make certain that if there were a player out there of any age or ability, that we would have a place in which they could come to play in a safe and successful environment.” Hines has served in several roles within the Omaha Tennis Association and USTA Nebraska, including chair of several committees and as President. At both the section and national level, Hines was involved in many committees, workshops, meetings, and events, most notably serving as the Chair of the USTA Adaptive Tennis National Committee and as a coordinator of the USTA Missouri Valley Fred Johnson ALL Stars adaptive event. Her selfless work has been reflected through the multitude of awards that she has received from the Omaha Tennis Association, USTA Nebraska, and USTA Missouri Valley. Other notable recognitions include the USPTA National Star Award, Tennis Industry Adaptive Tennis Champion of the Year, President’s Awards and induction into the USTA Nebraska Hall of Fame. When asked her thoughts on being inducted into the USTA Missouri Valley Hall of Fame, Hines had humble words to share:
“I have to tell you, I was rather shocked and I was even surprised to find myself choking back some tears.When I got off the phone, I had to explain to my little granddaughters that I was shedding tears of joy, and that sometimes people get tears of joy when they are very, very happy. So, I am very, very happy to be inducted into the USTA MissouriValley Hall of Fame!”
Kevin Nebergall, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, has spent the greater part of his life growing the game of tennis and providing tennis opportunities for marginalized communities in the state of Iowa and beyond.
serve multicultural youth in addition to sharing tennis in unique venues all over the section. This diversity initiative took him far and wide across the section, sharing tennis in places such as the Red Earth Native American Festival, Tennis in the Hood events, and Fort Madison Prison.
His start in tennis was different than most as he didn’t pick it up until graduate school when his roommate invited him out to the courts with him.
Since his retirement from teaching English at Kirkwood College, Nebergall has only continued to give back more to the tennis community. He continues to volunteer as USTA Iowa Hall of Fame Committee Chair, a coach at local tennis outreach projects, and stays active as an avid leagues participant.
From then on, he was hooked. “I ended up falling in love with the game and I wanted to pass that love on to other people who may not normally be in it,” Nebergall said. He began to play with friends and local groups in his community and eventually went on to take tennis lessons and become a tennis instructor. He would later become a PTR Certified Tennis Professional and a successful tennis coaching career blossomed from there. As he built up his professional tennis career, he also became closely involved with the Cedar Rapids Tennis Association, eventually becoming President of the association (19841988). His involvement with Cedar Rapids would soon bridge into an involvement with USTA Iowa, starting by helping out with local tournaments and coaching opportunities. This would be the first of many ways Nebergall would give back to USTA Iowa, culminating with his roles as USTA Iowa Vice President (1988-1990) and three-time USTA Iowa President (1990-94; 2013-16). His service extended past the Iowa borders as he would also serve the section at many levels, including USTA Missouri Valley Vice President (2001-02), First Vice President (2003-04), and President (2005-06). He has also served nationally as Delegate 200607, and on four different committees and as a US Open Arthur Ashe Kids Day Volunteer Coach. “It gave me a broader scope of what’s happening in tennis,” Nebergall noted. “When I first got started, I thought the Cedar Rapids Tennis Association was the top of the heap and then I got into USTA Iowa, and then as I occupied office at the USTA Missouri Valley I thought ‘wait a minute, there are 16 other sections all over the United States’ and then working with National was really something. It was an eye-opening experience.” Nebergall’s work is highlighted by an emphasis to include those from diverse backgrounds into the tennis community. He founded a National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL) chapter in Cedar Rapids and served in multiple diversity-oriented programs to better
Nebergall’s years of service have not gone unnoticed. He has had the opportunity to bring home several awards including the Iowa PTR Pro of the Year (2002), Outstanding Contributor to USTA Iowa Tennis (1994), and the USTA Iowa Distinguished Service Award (2004). On being inducted into the USTA Missouri Valley Hall of Fame, Nebergall had a few reflections to share:
“I’m very grateful for that honor. A lot of times I was doing things such as sitting in meetings when other people were playing and taking lessons. I’m very honored that I’m being rewarded for sitting in these meetings.That’s the big thing.”
2020 Award Recipients President’s Award - Surprise Announcement Distinguished Service - Kevin Heim (Lincoln, Nebraska) Junior High Performance Player of the Year (Female) - Emma Staker (Sand Springs, Oklahoma) Junior High Performance Player of the Year (Male) - Omar Oudeh (Tulsa, Oklahoma) Junior Emerging Player of the Year (Female) - Eloise Nasr (Nichols Hills, Oklahoma) Junior Emerging Player of the Year (Male) - T.J. Shanahan (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) Outstanding Junior Tournament Omaha Holiday Junior Open (Bennington, Nebraska) USTA Junior Team Tennis Organizer - Janet Glaser (Wichita, Kansas) Outstanding Contributor Youth High Performance Program - Paul Lucas (St. Louis, Missouri) Outstanding Contributor Youth Tennis - Mike Saniuk (Omaha, Nebraska) High School Coach of the Year - Doug Smith (St. Louis, Missouri)
President’s Award Surprise Announcement
Distinguished Service
Kevin Heim - Lincoln, Nebraska • One of 10 certified USTA Net Generation Regional Wheelchair Ambassadors in the country • Member of the USTA Missouri Valley Diversity & Inclusion Committee since 2016 • Has served consistently on multiple section committees since 2009 • USTA Player Development National Wheelchair Coach since 2018 • Previous section awards include Outstanding Diversity Achievement and Outstanding Contributor to Youth Tennis • Serves as a tournament director as well as a USTA Certified Referee and Roving Official • Helped organize, fundraise $6.6 million and design the new six court indoor structure at Woods Tennis Center • Volunteer tennis instructor for Madonna Open Recreation Tennis Program for new patients with head trauma, spinal injuries and illnesses
Female Junior High Performance Player of the Year
Emma Staker - Sand Springs, Oklahoma • Has the highest national ranking of any USTA Missouri Valley player in any age division • Ranked No. 6 in the country in the Girls 18s • Earned a full scholarship to play at the University of Oklahoma next year • Overall record of 76-26 in USTA National Girls 18s competition
Male Junior High Performance Player of the Year
Outstanding Contributor USTA League Tennis Program - Robert Bundy (Topeka, Kansas)
Omar Oudeh - Tulsa, Oklahoma • Ranked No. 1 in the USTA Missouri Valley in Boys 16s • Ranked No. 46 in the nation in Boys 16s • Winner of USTA Missouri Valley L4 #1 Boys 18s in January • Advanced to the quarterfinals of USTA National L2 tournament in February before event was cancelled due to weather • Advanced to the finals of USTA National Indoor Championships with doubles partner Nicholas Heng
Outstanding Adult/Senior Tournament USTA Missouri Valley Section-Level NTRP 18+ Tournament (St. Louis, Missouri)
Female Junior Emerging Player of the Year
Adult Player of the Year, 4.5 & Above - Ryan White (St. Louis, Missouri) Adult Player of the Year, 4.0 & Below - Dylan Geick (Overland Park, Kansas)
Tennis Family of the Year - The Clark Family (Tulsa, Oklahoma) Facility of the Year - Forest Lake Tennis & Swim Club (St. Louis, Missouri) Outstanding Community Tennis Association East St. Louis Tennis Association (St. Louis, Missouri) Member Organization of the Year - Dwight Davis Tennis Center (St. Louis, Missouri) Outstanding Diversity Achievement - Tony Mullican (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) Outstanding Official - John Kelly (St. Louis, Missouri) Junior Sportsmanship Awards
Eloise Nasr - Nichols Hills, Oklahoma • Began the year ranked No.106 in USTA Missouri Valley and nine months later was the No. 1 ranked Oklahoman in the Missouri Valley Standings List • Currently ranked No. 20 in the section • Won four titles while winning 12-consecutive matches in 39 days • Overall tournament record of 31-13, for a winning percentage of .705, primarily in Girls 12s division • Competed in Junior Team Tennis for OKC Elite and compiled a 4-2 record playing both singles and doubles • Captured seven titles in 2020 (five singles and two doubles), and finished runner-up on five occasions (three times in singles and twice in doubles)
Male Junior Emerging Player of the Year
High School Coach of the Year
T.J. Shanahan - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma • Won 23-consecutive matches and six-straight singles tournament titles • Began the year ranked No. 18 in USTA Missouri Valley in Boys 12s and rose to personal-high ranking of No. 10 by September • Won a total of seven tournaments during the first nine months of 2020 (six singles & one doubles) • Won 73 percent of his matches during the initial nine months of the calendar year, compiling a 35-13 mark in three separate age groups (Boys 12s, 14s and 16s)
Doug Smith - St. Louis, Missouri • Has coached tennis at St. Joseph’s Academy in St. Louis for 21 years • Racked up ten state championships • Has coached 12 “individual” titles (singles or doubles) • Stresses the importance of respect: respect all opponents, respect your teammates, respect the game • Insists that all players abide by the mantra “Win with grace, lose with dignity” • Focuses on the mental aspects of the game, especially how to play good doubles • Employed masks, six-foot distancing and sanitized balls to keep everyone safe and healthy during the season
Outstanding Junior Tournament
Adult Player of the Year, 4.5 & Above
Omaha Holiday Junior Open - Bennington, Nebraska • 154 players competed in 267 matches over five days • Hosted at Hanscom Tennis Center • Offered three sanctioned events, allowing juniors opportunities to play in multiple age divisions • Included a Smashers event for ages 10 and under • Certified roving officials provided on each day of the event
USTA Junior Team Tennis Organizer
Janet Glaser - Wichita, Kansas • Grew her summer Junior Team Tennis program to over 112 participants - a 20 player increase from the year before, even before the upcoming winter session • Welcomed players back with many safety precautions and a lot of fun • Has expanded Junior Team Tennis in Kansas in each of the last four years • Involved in all aspects of the product from recruiting coaches and players, securing and working with the host site(s), developing the league models/systems of operation and the actual running of events • Created a timed scheduling format with ultra-minimized shared equipment contact, lots of hand sanitizing at specific intervals, staggered team arrival and court rotations to keep things safe and physically distanced
Outstanding Contributor Youth High Performance Program
Paul Lucas - St. Louis, Missouri • Has 22 years experience as a high performance coach • Director of Junior Development for the Miller Tennis Academy and Forest Lake Tennis Club • USPTA Certified Elite Professional and is Safe Play certified • Worked with Carson Haskins, former No. 1 in the country, and currently works with several nationally-ranked players • Coached several singles and doubles Missouri State High Cchool Champions • Assists with scouting and development of 10 and under tennis at Forest Lake • Parents praise him for his energy, approachability and transparency
Outstanding Contributor Youth Tennis
Mike Saniuk - Omaha, Nebraska • Runs the largest 10 & Under tennis program in the state of Nebraska • Each eight-week session averages over 180 participants • Ran six Challengers with 96 players so far in 2020 • Registered Net Generation provider • Hosted an “End of the Summer Bash,” which included an adult/child play event with over 85 participants • Tennis philosophy is Learn, Practice, Play for players of every level and age
Ryan White - St. Louis, Missouri • Amassed an overall USTA League record of 34-3 record and 15-0 in 2020 competition • Played in every local adult tournament offered in 2020, finishing with a record of 17-5 • Competed in three leagues in 2020: 18 & Over 4.5 Men’s Spring and Fall, 18-45 Flex League and 18 & Over Mixed Doubles • Co-captain of his 18+ Men’s 4.5 team • Played on the University of Alabama Tennis in Campus team
Adult Player of the Year, 4.0 & Below
Dylan Geick - Overland Park, Kansas • Played on four teams in 2020 • Rated as a 4.0 player but competes at 4.0 and 4.5 level • Won 11 of his 13 matches • Known for his “team first” attitude • Lends words of encouragement and support to his teammates and opponents alike • Makes sacrifices for the team and changes his plans to play when no one else can • Restrung a racquet and gave lessons and tips to a new USTA League player for free
Outstanding Contributor USTA League Tennis Program
Robert Bundy - Topeka, Kansas • Boasts 55 years of USTA League involvement • Has captained more than 100 USTA League teams • Taken 20 teams to USTA League Nationals, including this year’s 65+ Men’s 7.0 team • Served as leader of the Topeka Tennis Association • Helped raise significant funds for Kossover Tennis Center • In 1974, he was one of the first members of the Wood Valley Racquet Club • Began playing adult tournaments and leagues after serving in the United States Air Force
Outstanding Adult/Senior Tournament
USTA Missouri Valley NTRP 18+ Tournament - St. Louis, Missouri • Took place four weeks after St. Louis opened back up after the Covid-19 shutdown • Served as a test case on how to run adult tournaments in a pandemic • Demonstrated how tennis is a sport that can be played safely if you follow all the USTA safe play protocols • Boasted two separate player check-in areas - one for temperature and heath check and one for match court assignment and balls • Scheduled sufficient time between matches to avoid congestion and allow players to report their scores and leave the area before the next match on that court began • Made use of masks, sanitizer, partitions and other safety protocols to keep all tournament staff and participants safe
Tennis Family of the Year
The Clark Family - Tulsa, Oklahoma • Father Tobin is 2008 inductee into the Holland Hall Athletics Hall of Fame as a threesport captain in tennis, soccer & football (1982-1984) • Tobin currently coaches all levels of tennis at Riverfield Country Day School • Mother Julie coached son, Zeke, through the quarterfinals of the Boys 14s Orange Bowl and into the Australian Open main draw, which included a doubles win over the ATP tandem of Tsitsipas/Karimov • Son Tim was a twosport 2015 Oklahoma Coaches Association All-State selection in tennis and soccer • Son Zeke recently completed a stellar four-year career at the University of Illinois, compiling an overall singles record of 83-42 • Daughter Grace played No. 1 singles from 2015-18 for Riverfield’s varsity girl’s tennis team • As of March 2020, Daughter Lily was Oklahoma’s No. 1 ranked Girls 12s singles player and No. 6 in the USTA Missouri Valley rankings
Facility of the Year
Forest Lake Tennis & Swim Club - St. Louis, Missouri • Offers extensive programming for all ages and levels including junior programs, tournaments, USTA Leagues, and the Miller Tennis Academy • Nine tennis professionals provide skilled instruction to novice as well as experienced players • Hosted numerous one day Smashers, NET’s and L7 junior tournaments • Boasts eight climate-controlled indoor tennis courts and five outdoor tennis courts • Renovated and updated clubhouse offers excellent viewing of the indoor courts • Re-surfaced all eight indoor tennis courts • Designed new programs to get individuals and families involved in playing tennis while social distancing, including BYOF (Bring Your Own Friends) and the Tennis Pods Program
Outstanding Diversity Achievement
Tony Mullican - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma • Has increased the number of students served by First Serve OKC over 50% since May 2019 • New partnerships with the Chickasaw Nation and OKC Public Schools provide tennis, life skills, and nutrition programs to an additional 1,000 students • Supports 16 public school teams and physical education classes • Instrumental in securing over $75,000 in new funding, 25 new volunteers, and over 600 hours of volunteer time • Organized First Serve OKC students to march in OKC’s MLK Jr. Holiday Parade and created a forum for students to discuss racism in America
Outstanding Official
John Kelly - St. Louis, Missouri • Even in the COVID shortened year, has already worked over 150 hours on the court as an official at USTA junior and adult tournaments • ITA certified • Refereed at over 80% of the St. Louis tournaments played so far in 2020 • Serves as President of St. Louis Association of Tennis Officials • Worked with the USTA St. Louis Junior Coordinator to develop unique officiating protocols to allow St. Louis to have a certified USTA official at all sanctioned junior tournaments in 2020
Outstanding Community Tennis Association
East St. Louis Tennis Association - St. Louis, Missouri • Utilize the three courts at Lincoln Park to build community partnerships with the local high school team, several neighborhood associations and the East St. Louis Parks District • Formed in 2018 after four years of building relationships in the community and receiving grants to renovate the courts in Lincoln Park with three new post-tension courts • Efforts include instruction, equipment, transportation, mentoring and general support • Provides indoor instruction at nearby Kings Point Racket Club during the winter months • Stocks a Little Tennis Library at the park with racquets, balls and foam balls for all who just want to play
Member Organization of the Year
Dwight Davis Tennis Center - St. Louis, Missouri • Its 18 post-tension courts are home to schools and community programs • Created protective barriers on both sides of the tournament desk, removed court score tenders and much of the available seating, and closed the clubhouse in efforts to keep staff and players safe in 2020 • As tournament dates kept being pushed back and restrictions on sports in St. Louis County held fast, Dwight Davis was there for USTA St. Louis • Offered free beginner clinics for kids ages 5-12 with orange balls and ages 12-18 with green and yellow balls • Participation was restricted to no more than four on a court, but interested players showed up for the no commitment drop-in arrangement and all donations received went to the Gerber Wheelchair program
2020 Junior Sportsmanship Award Recipients Girls 10s Boys 10s Girls 12s Boys 12s Girls 14s Boys 14s Girls 16s Boys 16s Girls 18s Boys 18s
Hope Gempel Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Timmy Curran Collinsville, Illinois Angela Chen St. Louis, Missouri Avi Patel St. Louis, Missouri Skye Madatali St. Louis, Missouri Owen Kizer St. Louis, Missouri Flora Eidson St. Louis, Missouri Trenton Kanchanakomtorn Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Aubrey Bailey Claremore, Oklahoma Amit Kadan St. Louis, Missouri
Celebrating 100 Years of Growing the Game 1920: • Missouri Valley Tennis Association is founded and admitted as part of the United States Lawn Tennis Association, encompassing five states: Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma 1922: • Arkansas joins the Missouri Valley Tennis Association, now known as USTA Missouri Valley 1923: • Dwight Davis of St. Louis, Missouri becomes president of the United States Lawn Tennis Association 1928: •Davis Cup held in Kansas City, Missouri at Rockhill Tennis Club: USA 5, China 0 1947: • USTA Missouri Valley leads all 14 sections in increased memberships from previous year, up over 100% 1960: •Arthur Ashe wins USTA National Indoor Junior Championship while attending school in St. Louis, Missouri
1961: • Arkansas leaves USTA Missouri Valley to join USTA Southwest 1963: • Jimmy Connors of Belleville, Illinois is ranked No. 3 in country in Boys 12’s division 1968: • World Championship Tennis, Inc. brings professional tournament to Des Moines, Iowa; includes Earl “Butch” Buchholz as a member of the “Handsome Eight”
1972: • Yellow tennis balls approved on a trial basis by USLTA at the request of Kansas Citian Lamar Hunt to televise World Championship Tennis (WCT) 1976: • WCT Doubles Championships held in Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri 1986 •Section office moves from Des Moines, Iowa to Kansas City, Missouri
1991: • Davis Cup semifinals, featuring St. Louis native Ken Flach, held in Kansas City, Missouri: USA 3, Germany 2 1993: • Wichita Advantage wins World TeamTennis championship 1996: • First year of “Tennis in the Hood” program brings to tennis to inner cities • St. Louis Aces win World TeamTennis championship 1997: • D. A. Abrams becomes the first African American to serve as the executive director of a USTA section office by becoming the USTA Missouri Valley executive director 1998: • USTA logo is updated at the national and section levels 2002: • Fed Cup held in Springfield, Missouri: USA 5, Israel 0 • Davis Cup held in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: USA 5, Slovak Republic 0 2006: • USTA logo is updated at the national and section levels
2010: • Kansas City Explorers win World TeamTennis championship
2012: • Nick Taylor of Wichita, Kansas wins third consecutive Paralympic gold with quad partner David Wagner at the London Paralympics 2014: • USTA logo is updated at the national and section levels • Fed Cup held in St. Louis at Chaifetz Arena: France 3, USA 2 2015: • Nathan Han of Tulsa, Oklahoma, won the USTA Boys 14s National Championships in August, earning a coveted USTA Gold Ball • The 18 & Over, 4.5 women’s team from Edmond, Okla., captured the USTA League National Championship in Rancho Mirage, Calif. This year was also the 35th anniversary of USTA Leagues 2016: • Tennis Industry Magazine names USTA Missouri Valley as its Section of the Year 2017: • Rock Island, Illinois native Madison Keys finishes as runner-up at the US Open to Sloane Stephens
2018: • Jack Sock teams up with Mike Bryan to win the Wimbledon gentlemen’s doubles title, and the US Open men’s doubles title 2019: • Springfield Lasers win their second-straight World TeamTennis championship, bringing the King Cup to Springfield for the second time in franchise history
2020: • USTA Missouri Valley celebrates its 100th Anniversary • Casey Ratzlaff plays in his first ever US Open • Global pandemic gives USTA Missouri Valley the chance to get creative with introducing Tennis at Home
Today we celebrate the passionate individuals who work tirelessly to grow the game of tennis all across the USTA Missouri Valley. As we welcome three new inductees into the USTA Missouri Valley Hall of Fame and honor our 2020 section award winners, please share your gratitude for their service to our communities and the game of tennis. We also recognize the hard work of our Awards and Hall of Fame committee members throughout the year: Awards Susan True, Chair John Kelly, Vice Chair Ken Brown Stuart Dusenberry Chaz Kuper Kathy Loepp Peter McCorkle Pat McCormick Alex Lee, Board Liaison Hall of Fame Judy Dippold, Chair Terry Miller Kim Reser Doug Smith Nick Taylor Alex Lee, Board Liaison
Thank You