Net Notes

NET NOTES - NEWS NEAR YOU

MEET OUR DIGITAL ASSISTANTS

In a geographically large section with five states and seven districts, there are many exciting tennis events and stories happening every week. That’s why USTA Missouri Valley has a team of three digital assistants to assist with local content.

Jerod Fox is the Digital Assistant for USTA Heart of America and USTA Kansas. Fox started playing tennis competitively in the seventh grade and played tennis at Hastings College in Nebraska. He resides in Kansas City, Mo.

Andrea Gallagher is the Digital Assistant for USTA Iowa and USTA Nebraska. Gallagher started playing tennis as a teenager and has loved the sport ever since. In high school she played both tennis and softball. She resides in Lincoln, Neb.

Josh Sellmeyer is the digital assistant for USTA Missouri and USTA St. Louis. Sellmeyer was a standout on the tennis court during college. He has worked as a Junior Team Tennis coach and has led tennis lessons for all ages. He resides in St. Louis.

Got a story idea? Contact us at communications@movalley.usta.com

ACEING AUTISM CLINIC A SUCCESS

Around fifteen people took part in a free USTA Iowa ACEing Autism clinic at Lifetime Fitness in Urbandale on Sunday, Feb. 21. The clinic was put on by the USTA Iowa District and was for any tennis pros and volunteers who were interested in learning about working with people with the Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Founder and ACEing Autism Executive Director, Richard Spurling, presented at the event, as well as John Terpkosh, USTA Missouri Valley Tennis Service Representative for Iowa.

For more on ACEing Autism and tennis, contact Jaren Glaser at glaser@movalley.USTA.com.

ACE HUNGER TENNIS TOURNAMENT

Close to 100 tennis players from Omaha and Lincoln took part in the Ace Hunger Tennis Tournament December 19-20 to raise donations for the Food Bank for the Heartland in Omaha. Local player Sreedhar Marupudi organized the mixed-doubles event and paid for court time at local tennis facilities in Omaha. As a result, $2,000 and 3,000 pounds of food were donated.

Left to right: Danielle Helm (Food Bank of the Heartland), Kim Miksich and Brittni Redding

The event was a great example of how the love of the sport can support an even bigger cause - fighting hunger,” said Kim Miksich, one of the participants. “This event took a lot of time, effort and planning and we are all thankful for such a great inaugural charity tournament!

Scott Slezak, a tennis professional at Happy Hollow Country Club, helped direct the event and served as an emcee. Tennis pros Mike Saniuk and Warren Rohmfeld also helped organize the tournament. Matches were played at Happy Hollow Club and Genesis Westroads. Organizers hope to make this event an annual fundraiser.

HEIM TABBED NET GENERATION WHEELCHAIR AMBASSADOR

Kevin Heim

To facilitate the growth of wheelchair tennis at the junior and grassroots levels, the USTA has appointed 13 wheelchair tennis providers in the inaugural Net Generation Wheelchair Ambassador program. Kevin Heim, Executive Director of Woods Tennis Center in Lincoln, Neb., has been tabbed as the representative for USTA Missouri Valley.

This group will assist the USTA in fostering the next generation of wheelchair tennis players by collaborating with current providers, creating new programs, and increasing outreach to associations affiliated with adapted sports.

They will also work alongside the organization’s national wheelchair staff and committee to enhance communication across the wheelchair tennis network in pursuit of growing the game.

Heim began working at Woods in 2008 as the Head Pro. In 2009 he added the position of General Manager and in 2010 was named Executive Director. Under his direction, Woods Tennis Center has expanded its wheelchair, club and USTA leagues, partnered with Lincoln Parks & Rec to bring tennis lessons to City Rec Centers and CLCs, and significantly increased its junior tournament participation. He is currently one of 10 USTA Wheelchair Net Generation Regional Providers in the country serving the Missouri Valley section and is a Team USA National Wheelchair Coach assisting with camps and coaching at tournaments around the country.

NICK TAYLOR COMPETES AT AUSTRALIAN OPEN

Nick Taylor was not expecting to go to Australia. The Wichita native has not played in a Grand Slam event since 2015, and had already been informed that the wild card spot for this year’s Australian Open Quad Wheelchair draw would be given to the world’s numbereight player, Rob Shaw. Then, as COVID has shown is possible time and time again, things changed.

(Shaw) sent me a personal message saying that he couldn’t play and that the spot would be opened up,” Taylor said. “About 48 hours later I got the email that they had given me the wildcard spot.

Exciting as the news was, Taylor was left scrambling. He had just eight days to complete his paperwork, organize travel plans and produce a negative COVID molecular test - a task which was not easy. In the doubles event, Taylor and partner Koji Sugeno advanced to the semis where the team bowed out to American David Wagner and the United Kingdom’s Andy Lapthorne. In singles, Taylor advanced to the quarterfinals.

Congratulations to Taylor on a great tournament.