H A L Lof FAME 2013
and Section Awards
2013 Annual Conference Sheraton Overland Park Hotel Overland Park, Kansas December 7, 2013
Thank ou... Y Today we celebrate the passionate individuals who work tirelessly to grow the game of tennis all across the USTA Missouri Valley. As we welcome five new inductees into the USTA Missouri Valley Hall of Fame and honor our 2013 section award winners, please share your gratitude for their service to our communities and the game of tennis.
2013 Hall of Fame and Section Awards Ceremony Order of Ceremony Welcome National Anthem Necrology 2013 Hall of Fame Inductees Ron Cobb Kevin Hedberg Joe McGuire Doug Smith Bruce Vosberg Lunch 2013 Year in Review Video 2013 USTA Missouri Valley Section Awards 2013 Junior Sportsmanship Awards 2013 President’s Award 1
1986
Hall of Fame
2013 Ron Cobb..............................St. Louis, Mo. Kevin Hedberg.....................Topeka, Kan. Joe McGuire ..................Kansas City, Mo. Doug Smith..........................St. Louis, Mo. Bruce Vosberg.....................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.
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2013
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. 2001 Junior Coen................... Kansas City, Mo. Dick Gilkey........................Edmond, Okla. Gene Land............ Oklahoma City, Okla. Gerry Perry......................Springfield, Mo. Don McNeil....................Chickasha, Okla. 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. 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.
1995 Jodie H. Adams..............Springfield, Mo. Carol Hanks Aucamp........ St. Louis, Mo. Mary Ann Eisel Beattie..... St. Louis, Mo. 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. 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. 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.
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Ron Cobb
St. Louis, Missouri
Before Ron Cobb arrived at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the newspaper did not have a permanent tennis-writing position and, according to Cobb, didn’t see a great need for one. But Cobb changed that. For the next 16 years, Cobb covered tennis far and wide in the St. Louis area for the paper’s readership of more than 300,000. Cobb persuaded his editors that tennis deserved the same coverage that other sports received. This led to Cobb covering local junior and adult tennis, as well as legendary high-level events like John McEnroe’s 1982 Davis Cup victory over Mats Wilander in St. Louis, a 6-hour, 39-minute affair. Perhaps most impressively, Cobb covered tennis for the Post-Dispatch primarily on his own time. His full-time duties for the paper were as an editor, which consumed most of his on-the-clock hours. So, believing deeply in the importance of covering tennis, Cobb would cover tennis after putting in a full day the office. In addition to writing about tennis, Cobb was an accomplished player as well. He lettered in tennis while a student at the University of Missouri and won four St. Louis district championships in the men’s 35s division as an adult, leading to a No. 1 ranking in the division in 1990 and 1991. His passion for the game as a player came through in his writing and occasionally gave him the rare opportunity to cover events in which he was also a player. Though Cobb was a fan of all major sports, he felt particularly in his comfort zone while writing about tennis. As both a player and fan of the game, he believed deeply in the idea of giving tennis a larger presence. Thanks to that passion, Cobb’s writing provided tennis a prominent platform that helped spread tennis across the St. Louis area and beyond. His 25-year tennis-writing career also included several years at a newspaper in Memphis. Of being inducted into the USTA Missouri Valley Hall of Fame, Cobb says, “Being elected to the Hall of Fame tells me that people who share my love of the game believe that what I did in tennis and for tennis was valuable, appreciated and worthy of recognition. That means a lot to me.”
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Kevin Hedberg Topeka, Kansas
In the Topeka area, Kevin Hedberg’s impact on tennis as a player, coach and volunteer is indelible. A native Kansan who was first introduced to tennis in sixth grade by means of a $3 Spaulding racquet, Hedberg graduated from Topeka High School in 1970 after earning two top-4 finishes in singles at the 6A level. He then attended the University of South Florida on a tennis scholarship, where he played for four years while earning a degree in history. Hedberg has served as a teacher in the Topeka schools for over 30 years and during that time has amassed one of the most impressive tennis coaching resumes anywhere. Coaching both boys and girls tennis at Washburn Rural, his teams have won 34 regional titles and competed in 21 state championships, winning 11. He has coached 41 different players who have been named to All-State teams. His favorite coaching memory came in 2005, when Washburn won its third consecutive Kansas state team title, including a first-place doubles finish for his son, Trevor. For his efforts, Hedberg has been named the Kansas High School Coach of the Year 18 times. As an adult player, Hedberg has continued to stay active. He has played in 19 USTA Missouri Valley age division championships over the years, winning 10 of them, both in singles and doubles. He has also served as a volunteer at the local level, including four years on the Topeka Tennis Association board and one term as president. For much of the 1970s, he directed the Jayhawk Adult and Junior tournaments, while also running countless other area tournaments. Of being inducted into the USTA Missouri Valley Hall of Fame, Hedberg says, “Looking at the list of members, I feel unworthy and humbled, as so many are legendary tennis figures. I remember people who helped me along the way, specifically Jimmy Parker, who patiently taught me the ins and outs of the game. I am very grateful and have already ordered my shirt that reads, ‘The older I get the better I was!’”
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Joe McGuire
Kansas City, Missouri
A native of Chicopee, Massachusetts, Joe McGuire began playing tennis with his brother on the local public courts. He played in his first tennis tournament at age 13, finishing second to his brother in the 15-and-under city championships. He played varsity tennis for four years at Cathedral High School in Springfield, Massachusetts, winning the New England Team Championships. In 1973, he graduated from the University of Massachusetts and moved to Orlando, Florida, where he embarked on a professional tennis career. During his pro tennis career, he played in five Satellite Circuit events and ATP events in countries around the world. In 1977, McGuire moved to Kansas City, where he played for more than 30 years. During that time he accumulated over 25 section titles, including four in the Open division. McGuire has been ranked in the top 10 of the USTA national rankings more than 10 times and has one gold, seven silver and four bronze balls in singles and doubles. He has also traveled to compete in ITF tournaments in Europe, winning titles in Austria, Italy, Greece and Croatia. In what McGuire describes as his favorite tennis memory, he has been selected 10 times to represent the United States in international competition with the Gordon Trophy International Team, where he amassed a 16-3 record. Having had the opportunity to play such extensive international competition has given him perspective on the game. McGuire says, “One of the many great things about playing tennis is no matter what country you’re from or what language you speak on the courts, the rules and scoring are the same.” He is currently a teaching professional in the Tampa, Florida, area where he continues to grow the game of tennis by teaching and developing players of all ages. Of being inducted into the USTA Missouri Valley Hall of Fame, McGuire says, “It is an honor to be inducted into the USTA Missouri Valley Hall of Fame and being included with some of the great tennis players from the Missouri Valley, and still be alive to enjoy it.”
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Doug Smith St. Louis, Missouri
Growing up in Aberdeen, South Dakota, Doug Smith first picked up a tennis racquet when his mother presented him and his twin brother with matching racquets for their 13th birthday. Without any tennis background, Smith and his brother turned to the “T” section of the encyclopedia and gathered what little information they could from that entry. From there, Smith was hooked. Following his own successful junior tennis career, Smith embarked on a path that made him instrumental in the development of many junior tennis players across the Missouri Valley section. In 1977, Smith began work at the Sunset Tennis Club in St. Louis, coaching a small group of once-a-week junior players that soon blossomed into a program of more than 250. He created a Grand Prix circuit that offered tournaments to district players in the winter, resulting in tournament trips to Chicago, Memphis, Kansas City and more. In 1979, Smith co-created the section Junior Tennis Council along with Joy Rodenberg. And from 1980-1997, Smith worked as the Tournament Coordinator for the section’s junior circuit, handling records, seeding and scheduling yearround. Smith has also found success as a high school coach. He’s spent the last 15 years as the coach of St. Joseph’s Academy in St. Louis, winning the state championship in nine of those seasons. Smith has received a host of awards in his career, including the section’s Outstanding Contributor to Player Development, the Missouri State High School Coach of the Year and the St. Louis district Teaching Professional of the Year. Smith is also a member of the South Dakota Tennis Hall of Fame. Of being inducted into the USTA Missouri Valley Hall of Fame, Smith says, “I feel that induction into any Hall of Fame is the ultimate testimonial validating a sustained period of achievement. Some people set out with a definite career plan and unwaveringly follow their dream. Never did I think this would be the direction my career, and my life, would go. And never could I have dreamed that it would lead to the honor of induction into the Missouri Valley Hall of Fame.”
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Bruce Vosberg Omaha, Nebraska
Many know Bruce Vosburg from his everpresent role on the USTA Missouri Valley’s grievance committee, which he has chaired for more than 34 years. While handling grievances and complaints may sound like a thankless job at times, Vosburg has enjoyed the impact his role has had. “I enjoy defusing what’s often a volatile situation,” he says. “I try to help the parties involved realize and accept what actions were wrong, contrary to the rules and try to convince them to avoid that problem or mistake in the future. And for juniors, it’s a chance to help them develop character.” But it’s not just a fair and honest handling of grievances that defines Vosburg’s career. The Nebraskan has enjoyed an accomplished life on-court as well. First picking up a racquet as a child to play at a nearby public court, Vosburg’s junior career saw him win the Nebraska state junior and high school championship in singles and doubles, along with earning a top-10 section ranking. From there, Vosburg attended the University of Notre Dame, where he started for three years for the Fighting Irish. After college, he continued to play frequently, winning multiple adult titles and holding top-5 section rankings in various age divisions. In addition to playing, Vosburg has given back by teaching the game. He taught children’s programs for the Omaha Parks and Recreation Department and was the head teaching professional at Happy Hallow Country Club. In 1978, Vosburg founded the Omaha Tennis Association Adult Mentor tennis program for juniors, a program that is still going strong today. Vosburg has also served in other volunteer roles, including as president of the Omaha and Nebraska Tennis Associations. He’s served nationally as well, most recently as a member of the USTA Constitution and Rules committee since 2009. For his efforts, Vosburg was awarded the section’s Distinguished Service award in 1986 and has been inducted into the Nebraska Tennis Hall of Fame. Of being inducted into the USTA Missouri Valley Hall of Fame, Vosburg says, “It’s a great honor, especially when I consider those who have been honored before me in the Hall of Fame.”
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2013 Award Recipients Junior Player of the Year (Female) - Madison Westby (Tulsa, Oklahoma) Junior Player of the Year (Male) - David Liu (Omaha, Nebraska) Junior Recreational Player of the Year - Elizabeth Kirschner (Kearney, Nebraska) Outstanding Junior Tournament - Omaha Missouri Valley Futures (Omaha, Nebraska) 10 and Under Tennis Provider - Kristen Reith (McPherson, Kansas) USTA Jr. Team Tennis Organizer - Kassi Kingsland (Springfield, Missouri) Outstanding Contributor Youth Tennis Programs - Jeremiah Ollison (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) Outstanding Contributor Youth High Performance Program - Troy Bray (St. Louis, Missouri) USTA No-Cut High School Coach - Troy Saulsbury (Kearney, Nebraska) Adult Player of the Year - Rich Slivocka (Hutchinson, Kansas) Adult Recreational Player of the Year - Beth Causey (Chesterfield, Missouri) Outstanding Contributor USTA League Tennis Program - Geri Steckel (St. Louis, Missouri) NJTL Chapter of the Year - Genesis School (Kansas City, Missouri) Outstanding Adult/Senior Tournament - The Greens Country Club US Cellular Summer Open Benefitting the Wounded Warrior Project (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) Tennis Family of the Year - Stevenson Family (Dardenne Prairie, Missouri) Facility of the Year - Koch Family Tennis Center (Omaha, Nebraska) Outstanding Community Tennis Association - Gateway Confluence Wheelchair Sports Foundation (Belleville, Illinois) Member Organization of the Year - The Greens Country Club (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) Outstanding Official - Cynthia Palmer (Blue Springs, Missouri) Media Excellence - Sam McDowell, The Kansas City Star (Kansas City, Missouri) Event of the Year - Bart & Nadia’s Sport & Health Festival (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) Community Service Excellence - Reggie Wesley (Lincoln, Nebraska) Distinguished Service - Scott Hanover (Kansas City, Missouri) President’s Award - Surprise Announcement
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Junior Player of the Year (Female)
Madison Westby - Tulsa, Oklahoma • Blue Chip Player ranked #13 nationally in Tennis Recruiting • Currently ranked #20 nationally in Girls 18s • Played #1 for Fed Cup Team in 2013 and was team co-captain • Won three straight State Championships in singles • Full ride scholarship to USC women’s tennis team • Won Sweet 16 Winter Singles and Doubles • Won Sweet 16 Summer Doubles and Finalist in Singles • Won two USTA National Open Doubles tournaments • Two Time Tulsa World Player of the Year
Junior Player of the Year (Male)
David Liu - Omaha, Nebraska • Ranked #13 in the Missouri Valley 16s. • Currently ranked #72 nationally in the 16s • Won both singles and doubles at the Boys 16 Segment 2 Supers in Omaha • Won the Missouri Valley 18s Super and the 16s at Segment 3 Sweet 16 • Undefeated at Millard North High School, winning both Metro and the State championship at #1 singles • Currently a senior and is the team captain
Junior Recreational Player of the Year
Elizabeth Kirschner - Kearney, Nebraska • Started playing tennis a few years ago to fulfill PE requirement for home schooling • Played in Kearney’s Jr. Team Tennis program • Took every tennis clinic available including the University of Nebraska-Kearney tennis camp • Played in multiple sanctioned tennis tournaments throughout the state
Outstanding Junior Tournament
Omaha Missouri Valley Futures - Omaha, Nebraska • Held at Koch Family Tennis Center, July 12-15 • There were 285 entries--120 within the last 24 hours of registration deadline • Website was created to answer questions and provide updates prior to and throughout the tournament. All match results were posted online within 30 minutes of completion • T-shirts were provided for all of the entrants and players and their families enjoyed a cookout on the Koch patio
10 and Under Tennis Provider
Kristen Reith - McPherson, Kansas • Has been the director of the McPherson Advantage Junior Tennis Program for three years and assistant instructor for two years prior to that • Directed a Play Day this past spring which had 40 participants • Was the team tennis director for the month of June and supervised the coaching and play for 40 youth and 10 coaches • Was also the director for five 10 & Under Tennis Tournaments held here in July and taught the group drill sessions to help ready the players for matchplay
USTA Jr. Team Tennis Organizer
Kassi Kingsland - Springfield, Missouri • Plays with the Drury University Tennis on Campus team • Assists the teaching pro with the lower Academy classes at Cooper Tennis Complex • Was a participant in Jr. Team Tennis for four years before being hired this summer to be one of the teaching staff and organizers to promote Jr. Team Tennis for the district • Total of 99 kids in the program
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Outstanding Contributor Youth Tennis Programs
Jeremiah Ollison - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma • Program director for Advantage in Sports Foundation July 2000-present • 38-year educator for Millwood Public Schools • Directed Boys and Girls Club tennis camps in the summers of 2004-2010 and June 2013 • Instructor for Oklahoma Indian Clinic camps in October 2012 and July 2013 • Conducted Jim Thorpe tennis camps in July 2012 and June 2013
Outstanding Contributor Youth High Performance Program
Troy Bray - St. Louis, Missouri • Has coached many high performance tennis players including Jack Sock, Alex and Sydney Lehman, Rachel Stuhlmann and Lindsey Whitehead • Coaches kids in every age group ranked in the top five in the St. Louis District with many holding that same distinction in the Section • Served as Vice President of Junior Competition on the St. Louis District Board of Directors and as a member of the Section Junior Competition Committee
USTA No-Cut High School Coach*
Troy Saulsbury - Kearney, Nebraska • Has been a USTA “no-cut” tennis coach since taking over as head coach at Kearney High School nine years ago • The size of his team has more than doubled in the past decade • Consistently has over 40 girls and 30 boys on each respective team • His girls’ team has never finished outside the top ten at the state tennis meet, while the boys’ team has only finished outside the top ten once • Organizes the Kearney Non-Advancing Local League, which proudly encourages tennis play to over 175 participants from the ages of 7 to 18 • Also organizes the Nebraska District Jr. Team Tennis league
Adult Player of the Year
Rich Slivocka - Hutchinson, Kansas • Has won a gold ball the last two years in the USTA National Husband & Wife Mixed Hard Court Championship in Kansas City in July • Is a member of 5.0 Men’s team that went to NTRP Nationals in Indian Wells,California in September 2013 • Supports and excels in USTA tournaments and leagues
Adult Recreational Player of the Year
Beth Causey - Chesterfield, Missouri • Started playing leagues in 2003 as a 3.0 and now is a 3.5 and plays 4.0 across several leagues • In 2013, she played on nine teams and co-captained three of them • Played in three tournaments and helped recruit other players for tournaments to fill draws • Volunteered at the 2013 St. Louis Adult Sectionals
Outstanding Contributor USTA League Tennis Program
Geri Steckel - St. Louis, Missouri • Started playing leagues over 20 years ago • Has captained teams ever since and has been to Sectionals every year since 2003 with at least one team • Has been instrumental in helping grow the Adult 18 & Over Day league for 3.5 women and 4.0 women • Took her senior 3.5 women to Nationals in 2012
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NJTL Chapter of the Year*
Genesis School - Kansas City, Missouri • Full-time physical education teacher, Robert Harrison, is strictly a tennis coach • Thanks to strong partnerships with key businesses in Kansas City, construction has begun on new tennis courts to serve 250 students and the hundreds who attend the Boys & Girls Clubs, as well as the entire neighborhood • Coach Harrison held a Play Day at the end of the school year with more planned
Outstanding Adult/Senior Tournament
The Greens Country Club US Cellular Summer Open Benefiting the Wounded Warrior Project - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma • Held August 2-4 at The Greens Country Club • Sanctioned event included doubles and singles • A fitness/tennis boot camp incorporating Cardio Tennis and drills was offered the week prior to the event • Multiple sponsors participated and donated food and gifts
Tennis Family of the Year*
Stevenson Family - Dardenne Prairie, Missouri • Mother, Diana, currently holds No. 1 district ranking in 3.5 women doubles and played on four USTA teams for a total of 37 matches in 2013 • Six children, ages 7 to 22, all home-schooled, play tennis • Sons Cole and Conner both have tennis scholarships to Missouri Baptist University • Son Devon plays USTA tournaments and USTA Jr. Team Tennis, daughter Dani Jo is in the C.O.R.E. Tennis Academy on a partial scholarship and volunteers at tennis events and clinics • Daughter Carly began playing tennis in 2013 and started playing St. Louis Gateway Junior tennis tournaments in October • Youngest son Dayton has just started hitting on 10 and Under Tennis courts • Father, Aaron, just started playing last year and currently plays once a week in a men’s league in addition to open court doubles and couples’ events when available
Facility of the Year
Koch Family Tennis Center - Omaha, Nebraska • Boasts 27 full-sized hard courts, six of which are lighted and oversized to meet Grand Slam event standards, and three with blended lines • Also features four dedicated 10 and Under Tennis courts • Amenities include new microphone and speaker system, courtside canopied benches and clubhouse • Programs include: 10 and Under Tennis program, Learn to Play programs, officials training, USTA League play, adult and junior drill sessions and Tennis Buddies/Special Olympics
Outstanding Community Tennis Association
Gateway Confluence Wheelchair Sports Foundation - Belleville, Illinois • The Gateway Confluence started in 1999 to offer sport opportunities to wheelchair athletes in the St. Louis metro area • Runs the US Open USTA Wheelchair Championships, the only wheelchair Super Series event in the United States attracting both domestic and international athletes • Conduct wheelchair tennis clinics throughout the year at Dwight Davis Tennis Center
Member Organization of the Year*
The Greens Country Club - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma • 2013 member events include club leagues, mixers, socials, USTA adult and junior teams and various social functions such as club meetings, card groups and adult/junior socials • Coaches and staff are USTA members and participate or coach USTA teams as well as play in tournaments • In addition to 12 US Open Blue tennis courts (6 indoor and 6 out), recently added two professional grade Ping Pong tables
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Outstanding Official*
Cynthia Palmer - Blue Springs, Missouri • Has worked tournaments from Juniors to the pros’ including 2013 Sweet 16, numerous adult tournaments in the Kansas City area, and multiple college conference events • Chosen to work the 2013 National Indoor and the first round of the NCAA Division I Women’s Tournament • Fourth year working World TeamTennis matches • Provides mentoring to individuals who are beginning their umpiring work. • Instructor at 2013 Texas Section Chair Academy and umpire at 2013 NJCAA Men’s National Championships for the second year
Media Excellence
Sam McDowell, The Kansas City Star - Kansas City, Missouri • The Kansas City Star did an excellent job in relaying tennis articles to the public • Two articles featuring Olivia Sneed and Trey Daniel, respectively, during Sweet 16 tournament • Provided coverage of Northland Racquet Club Wheelchair Event and Kansas City Junior Tennis League
Event of the Year
Bart & Nadia’s Sport & Health Festival - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma • Held February 15-16 at Cox Convention Center • Over 1,000 kids went through the tennis booth as part of the festival’s “Perfect 10” challenges • Volunteers to help run the booth came from Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club, Oklahoma University, Westwood in Norman and many other individuals • A 10 and Under Tennis court was set up in the booth along with targets to hit and eye hand coordination exercises
Community Service Excellence
Reggie Wesley - Lincoln, Nebraska • Named Community Outreach Director at Woods Tennis Center in 2012 • Organized and provided a new after-school tennis lessons program at 17 sites across Lincoln, including Community Learning Centers, Boys & Girls Club, Lighthouse and other nonprofit community centers • Directed Woods Tennis Center’s community programming across the city during the summer months; organized all of the instructors, equipment, and scheduling of 16 sites across the city • Organized scholarship program for children excelling in city recreation center programming to attend Woods Tennis Center lessons during the school year
Distinguished Service
Scott Hanover - Kansas City, Missouri • Currently in his second term as president of the USTA Missouri Valley • Member of the USTA Missouri Valley Board of Directors since 2000 and has served on various USTA National committees since 2001 • As a Heart of America district past president, strives to attend quarterly Board meetings to help in leading the District • Current member of the USTA National Tennis in the Parks committee • Manages the Plaza Tennis Center by promoting various tournament play both in Juniors and Adults, at the local, section and National levels • Organizes, conducts and competes in World Team Tennis League, USTA Flex Leagues, wheelchair training, 10 and Under Tennis workshops, development workshops for certified coaches and interested players and participates in after-school programs
President’s Award
Surprise Announcement
*Also in consideration for USTA National Awards
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2013 Junior Sportsmanship Award Winners Girls 10s Girls 12s Girls 14s Girls 16s Girls 18s Boys 10s Boys 12s Boys 14s Boys 16s Boys 18s
Gabriella St. Jean Sarah Streller Joie Beth Freirich Kimmie Koors Lindsay Terry Noah Hinni Nathan Han Matthew Dubuque Nick Funches John Nogalski
O’Fallon, Missouri Edmond, Oklahoma Prairie Village, Kansas Tulsa, Oklahoma Tulsa, Oklahoma Ballwin, Missouri Tulsa, Oklahoma St. Louis, Missouri Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Leawood, Kansas
A junior sportsmanship award winner exemplifies the finest qualities of sportmanship in competitive play including tournaments, USTA Jr. Team Tennis, Junior Novice and 10 and Under Tennis tournaments.