CrossCourt WINTER 2014
MISSOURIVALLEY.USTA.COM
Catching Up with Katrina Adams
Rural Results Spotlight on Sportsmanship
Annual Conference Preview Fall Photo Gallery
CrossCourt
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WINTER 2014
RURAL RESULTS
How smaller communities make strong tennis programs a realit y.
The USTA Missouri Valley publishes CrossCourt quarterly, focusing specifically on the members and events in the section. All material copyright USTA Missouri Valley, unless otherwise noted.
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(913) 322-4801 Fax facebook.com/USTAMissouriValley twitter.com/USTAMoValley instagram.com/USTAMoValley pinterest.com/USTAMoValley Mary Buschmann Executive Director Manon Eilts Director of Marketing, Communications & Membership Emily Steinwart Communications Coordinator Graphic Design and Digital Media Andrew Robinson Communications Coordinator Public Relations For questions about your USTA membership, please contact USTA Member Services at 1-800-990-USTA, or visit www.membership.usta.com.
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SPOTLIGHT ON: SPORTSMANSHIP
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Good sportsmanship is a priority for the USTA Missouri Valley, and each year the section honors those who exemplify it best.
KATRINA ADAMS
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Incoming USTA President, Katrina Adams, stopped by the USTA Missouri Valley office for a chat with CrossCourt.
PHOTO GALLERY
Photos from events, tournaments and community outreach in the USTA Missouri Valley this fall.
How smaller communities in the Missouri Valley make strong tennis programs a reality. By Andrew Robinson Across the five state region of the USTA Missouri Valley, there are large cities like, St. Louis, Kansas City, Oklahoma City and Omaha. But beyond the bustling highways and skyscrapers of the region’s largest cities are places like Hermann, Mo., a town of about 2,400, which sits on the Missouri River west of St. Louis. There’s also Bridgeport, Neb., which rests 400 miles away from Omaha on the Nebraska panhandle and has a population of just 1,500. And in southern Kansas there’s Arkansas City, with a population of about 12,000. But no matter the size of the city or town in the USTA Missouri Valley, it’s not uncommon to find strong supporters of the game of tennis wearing many hats. In Bridgeport, it’s Darren Emerick, who has lead an effort to increase 10 & Under Tennis and Junior Team Tennis. A few hours away in Kearney, Neb., it’s Troy Saulsbury. He’s a teacher in the local school system, the high school tennis coach and oversees the local parks and recreation department’s tennis program in the summer, creating nearly year-round opportunities to play tennis. Rural communities are working to create stronger opportunities for its citizens to play tennis. Some towns have invested in indoor facilities while others are applying for grants to improve a few outdoor courts at a city park.
Results
Rural
Those involved in tennis in smaller communities believe the common threads for successful tennis programs in rural areas begin with a strong base of young participants, as well as civic support and good leadership. -continued on next page-
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Some communities also have a core group of supporters through a Community Tennis Association. When Emerick started the tennis program in Bridgeport two years ago, he became PTR certified before targeting the 6-yearolds through 9-year-olds to start some 10 & Under Tennis programming. He had 24 participants in the first session and was soon hearing from older siblings and parents interested in playing.
“Looking for the adults to drive these programs,” he said. “Finding that person who is willing to be certified or coach. That’s what really drives the potential to grow your program.” The growth of tennis in smaller communities can hinge on one person’s efforts and impact. And it’s not uncommon that if a key person within the tennis community leaves, that the program feels a negative impact.
“The program has been strong ever since,” Emerick said. Bridgeport has just two indoor courts, so for tournaments and Junior Team Tennis its participants must drive 40 miles to Scottsbluff to play. Bridgeport purchased a used school bus to make transportation easier. “Getting kids is the easiest part, facilities are always a challenge, particularly in a rural area,” he said.
Studies show that youth in rural areas tend to participate in sports at a higher level and are often more well-rounded athletes than those in more urban areas who may specialize in one sport. According to statistics in ESPN the Magazine, in rural areas 50 percent of females enrolled in high school participate in sports, while 63 percent of males enrolled in high school participate. Those figures are significantly higher than suburban or urban areas where as few as 28 percent of females enrolled participate, and just 39 percent of males enrolled participate in sports. Additionally, by third grade, 73 percent of girls in rural areas are already involved in at least one organized sport, while 69 percent of boys are already involved by third grade. While participation is certainly key, Emerick believes there is one lynchpin that can’t be overlooked.
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Karen Held in Hermann, Mo., knows how difficult it can be to improve facilities. Held wanted her children to learn the game and Hermann had two courts in a city park, but they were aged and in need of attention. So Held took it upon herself to see how she could make a difference. She joined the local Parks Board, holding a seat for the last six years, and made it her project to see how resurfacing could happen. The city joined the USTA as a member organization and earned grants for equipment early on. “It just kind of snowballed,” Held said. Now two schools in the area have implemented the USTA’s PE program, and the city has also hosted several Play Days and a few tournaments. Hermann also has a teaching pro who lives 30 miles away in Washington, Mo., who comes and teaches once a week. “I think tennis has grown a lot,” she said. “We have kids who have now taken lessons over several seasons and have gone to the Show-Me State Games in Columbia.” Now, it’s Held’s hope that the local high schools will add tennis. Not only does Arkansas City, Kan., have a strong high school program, it also has a middle school program that works as a training ground for players before they get to high school. Aaron O’Donnell, who oversees the high school and middle school programs, also oversees a summer program for kids between the ages of 5 and 18. O’Donnell estimates he has about 75 kids participate each year and he keeps it very affordable with 12 lessons a month costing just $25. With good numbers, O’Donnell has been able to add Junior Team Tennis in Arkansas City, something he believes has been very positive. “For the kids I had play Junior Team Tennis, they’d played more last summer than they had ever,” O’Donnell said. “It was very beneficial in that way.”
O’Donnell started in Arkansas City 18 years ago, and a strong core of a tennis community was already built but he has worked to enhance it. In addition to Junior Team Tennis, he’s a No-Cut High School coach, and also just received a grant to add 10 & Under Tennis lines to four of the high school’s courts, which were built about five years ago as part of a bond issue passed by the school district. “Hopefully down the road, we can start some hosting some tournaments,” he said. In McCook, Neb., Matt Wiemers sees many of the trends that Saulsbury has seen. When Wiemers arrived in McCook 15 years ago, there weren’t many tennis offerings. Now almost 100 kids participate at some point throughout the year and those players who have graduated from high school often come back in the summer to help with camps. After arriving in McCook, Wiemers started offering summer camps. His first session had just 12 individuals. Since then, the local schools began offering a three-week intramural program in which 30-40 students learn the basics of tennis. “It’s been phenomenal. It’s been a great asset to building our program,” Wiemers said. The community has also taken notice of the increased popularity in tennis. Seven years ago, McCook school officials approved a new six-court complex be built. Wiemers has also tapped the USTA’s resources. He’s working to develop the 10 & Under Tennis program next summer after getting ideas for clinics and lessons. He also wants to add more play days next year.
“We’re definitely going to do a lot more,” Wiemers said. “It’s a chance to make things exciting at a younger age.” And while Wiemers has little issue getting youth signed up, he’s finding ways to get parents on the court as well, or at least a grasp of the game. “It’s very difficult to enjoy a sport when you go watch it but you don’t understand the rules,” he said. “Parents want a good grasp on tennis — the ins and outs.” The bottom line is tennis can be supported anywhere with the right leadership, commitment and community backing. However for these communities, beginning with the youngest residents has been a key in developing a strong tennis community from 10 & Under Tennis participants up through adult league players.
Important links for growing tennis in your community: USTA Missouri Valley Districts Grants and Resources Community Tennis Associations USTA School Tennis Coaches & Organizers USTA Organizational Membership WINTER 2014 2014 MISSOURIVALLEY.USTA.COM MISSOURIVALLEY.USTA.COM 44 WINTER
2014 USTA Missouri Va lley Annua l Meeti ng a nd Conference December 5 - 6 Sheraton Overland Park Overland Park , Kansas
Featuring:
Joan E. Baker USTA Board of Directors
Ginny Levine USTA Director of Marketing for Community Tennis
Hope Tolley USTA National Coordinator, School Tennis
• Learn more about the USTA’s urgent youth imperative and digital strategy • Honor local tennis organizers, players and three new Hall of Fame inductees • Attend the Tournament Director Workshop (mandatory to bid on 2016 USTA MissouriValley junior tournaments)
For registration and more information, visit: missourivalley.usta.com/Home/2014_annual_conference/
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2014 USTA MISSOURI VALLEY
H A L L of FAME anD Section Awards Please welcome our 2014 inductees:
Stephen L. Gerdes
Jim Klousia
Ken Veney
The USTA Missouri Valley is proud to honor the following outstanding recipients: Female Junior Player of the Year Sydney Harlow (Omaha, Nebraska)
Adult Player of the Year Myron Pushyk (Wichita, Kansas)
Male Junior Player of the Year Owen Mulcahy (Kansas City, Missouri)
Adult Recreational Player of the Year Kim Hanson (Leawood, Kansas) Outstanding Contributor
Junior Recreational Player of the Year Thompson Tong (Olathe, Kansas) Outstanding Junior Tournament USTA Missouri Valley Futures (Kansas City, Missouri) 10 and Under Tennis Provider Tyler Brown (McPherson, Kansas)
USTA League Tennis Program Barbara Meigs (Overland Park, Kansas) Outstanding Diversity Achievement First Serve OKC Foundation (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)
USTA Junior Team Tennis Organizer Janet Glaser (Wichita, Kansas)
Outstanding Adult/Senior Tournament Jayhawk Open (Lawrence, Kansas)
Outstanding Contributor Youth High Performance Program Talor Wain (Lincoln, Nebraska)
Tennis Family of the Year Swanson Family (Lincoln, Nebraska)
High School Coach of the Year Aaron O’Donnell (Arkansas City, Kansas)
Facility of the Year T.H. Vaughn Tennis Complex and Lucien Barbour Addition (Winfield, Kansas)
Outstanding Community Tennis Association Pella Tennis Association (Pella, Iowa) Member Organization of the Year The Greens Country Club (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) Outstanding Official Becky Riggs (Tulsa, Oklahoma) Media Excellence Jane Hines (Omaha, Nebraska) Event of the Year Fred Johnson All Stars Event (Wichita, Kansas) Community Service Excellence Scott Hanover (Kansas City, Missouri) Distinguished Service George Milton (Emporia, Kansas) President’s Award Surprise Announcement
SPOTLIGHT ON:
SPORTSMANSHIP
The USTA Missouri Valley is proud to honor these 2014 Junior Sportsmanship recipients:
Girls 10s Girls 12s Girls 14s Girls 16s Girls 18s Boys 10s Boys 12s Boys 14s Boys 16s Boys 18s
Amber Matronia Samantha Remis Janel Dean Claire Martin Makenna Gonzales Kolton Kreisz Hudson Dick Bradley Frye Alex Gray Tyler Raclin
St. Louis, Missouri St. Louis, Missouri Creve Coeur, Missouri Chesterfield, Missouri Arkansas City, Kansas St. Louis, Missouri Broken Arrow, Oklahoma Overland Park, Kansas Edwardsville, Illinois St. Louis, Missouri
as well as recipients throughout the year in these programs:
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Adams also serves as Executive Director of the Harlem Junior Tennis and Education Program, making her a strong advocate for the USTA’s NJTL program, which provides free or low-cost tennis and education programming to more than 300,000 under-resourced youth in the U.S. “It’s about providing an opportunity for these kids to develop further with their life skills, building self esteem, self confidence, building character, dealing with adversity — dealing with all you have to deal with in life,” Adams said. “That’s what the sport offers so to have these NJTL programs in these communities where the kids might not otherwise have an opportunity to engage in tennis, it’s very important and it’s very impactful.”
Catching Up with Katrina Adams By Andrew Robinson Katrina Adams, first vice-president and incoming Chairman of the Board and President of the United States Tennis Association, keeps a lot on her plate. As Adams prepares to become President of the USTA, she also just started as a panelist on CBS Sports’ new show “We Need to Talk,” a weekly sports talk in which the panelists are all women. “It was a historical moment for the industry, for all the women involved, not just those of us who are hosts but for the entire production crew,” Adams said of the show. “It’s an all female cast all the way around. It took a lot of hard work, a lot of sweat from the production side. I commend CBS for going out on a limb and doing it and making a statement…I think it was a very powerful opening show, very impactful.” In October, Adams visited Overland Park, Kan., to lead a clinic at Midtown Athletic Club. She also stopped by the USTA Missouri Valley office. “I’m focusing on speaking with section leaders,” Adams said. “What they’re doing, what their needs are and to see how we can enhance some of the areas we’re looking to grow.”
At the pro level, Adams believes the U.S. is close to a breakthrough with its developing talent. The U.S. just won the Junior Fed Cup and Junior Davis Cup Titles last month. “I think right now we have a good group of juniors coming up. And so that’s very promising and inspiring to not just the juniors themselves, but to those of us running the programs. I don’t think it’s going to take too much longer. With the women, we have a strong, steady core coming up. We can get these boys going, and get them out there with Jack Sock and the others.” Adams attended Northwestern University where she was an NCAA All-American in 1986 and 1987 before turning pro, and believes playing in college before turning pro can be a successful route. “I think it’s successful because it’s a way for individuals, especially with the guys to continue to develop physically, mentally, emotionally. It’s a demanding world out there on the tour and you need time to mature to handle the pressures that are there. It’s no secret females mature quicker than the males, so sending an 18 year old boy across the world is much different than sending an 18 year old girl across the world. I think for those guys to have a year or two under their belt in college can really make a difference in the long run.” With developing that talent in mind, Adams will serve a two-year term as President beginning in January 2015.
Preparation to become president of the USTA started several years ago, when Adams became first-vice president. Now, she’s just months away from assuming her role as president. “As first vice president, it’s really president in training,” she said. “And Dave Haggerty, the current president, has been a great mentor in keeping me in the loop on a lot of things so I’m not coming into this blind.”
Adams discussing the future for the USTA.
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USTA Missouri Valley NET NOTES IN PHOTOS View a collection of photos from events, tournaments and community outreach within the USTA Missouri Valley this fall. To view more photos, visit MissouriValley.USTA.com and click on Photo Galleries.
Two of the four USTA Missouri Valley League Section Championships took place in Kansas City and Springfield. Kansas City hosted the weekend of September 11-14, and Springfield was September 25-28.
Net Notes
The 55 & Over 8.0 men’s tennis team from Chester field, Mo., finished second at USTA League Nationals.
Net Notes Upper left, middle right and middle left: The 18-andUnder Intermediate Junior Team Tennis team from Kansas City finished third at the 2014 USTA Junior Team Tennis National Championships, held at the Cayce Tennis and Fitness Center in Cayce, South Carolina.
Lower left and right: The Little Dragon Tennis Clinic was held October 4 at Indian Creek Trail Park in Overland Park, Kansas. It aimed to introduce tennis to youth ages 8-18 in the Asian and Asian-American community.
Net Notes The USTA Missouri Valley hosted the Tennis on Campus Fall Invitational at the Plaza Tennis Center in Kansas City, Missouri, September 27-28. Washington University from St. Louis, Missouri, took home the championship.
Net Notes
summer in photos
The Quad Cities Adaptive Sports Association hosted its 2nd annual Adult Wheelchair Tennis Tournament on August 23 at the Quad Cities Tennis Club.
Special Olympics Iowa gave a ROGY Pathway coaches training at the North Dodge Athletic Club in Iowa City on October 11.
Millennium Tennis and Fitness Club in Joplin, Missouri, held a Youth Play Event in September.
Net Notes
Left and above: Section staff members attended the Missouri Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (MOAPHERD) convention, November 14-16, in Lake Ozark, Missouri.
In August, the city of Aurora, Missouri received a Public Facility Assistance grant for resurfacing and lining its four tennis courts.