Meet the five female officials from USTA Missouri Valley who together have worked a total of 52 years at the US Open
Click here to read about all of the USTA Missouri Valley locals who played a part in this year’s open!
How does officiating local events within USTA Missouri Valley aid you in your work at the US Open?
Sheila Conway (USTA Oklahoma) — 5th US Open
I am always asked rule questions when I rover at the junior level. It always keeps me learning and re-learning the rules of tennis.
Kim Kilgore (USTA Missouri) — 15th US Open
Local events are always a great way to come back and work events within your section and give back to where your career started. It keeps me grounded and makes me appreciate the opportunity to be able to work the US Open.
Cheryl Lady (USTA Heart of America) — 8th US Open
Preparation for an event, time management and decisionmaking skills that are required at local events are all necessary for working the US Open.
Diane Lawrence (USTA Kansas) — 19th US Open
We use the same main principles as an official, no matter what the level of play. All experience is good experience.
Cindy Ritchie (USTA Oklahoma) — 5th US Open
It’s the grassroots; it’s where tennis begins. Local USTA events and working as a rover are like knowledge checks. You are constantly being asked questions about rules and procedures. It keeps you well-rounded and grounded in the basics of officiating. I believe a good official does all levels: roving, line umpiring, college, pro circuit, match assistant.
Casey Ratzlaff - front
Nick Taylor - far right
US OPEN ARTICLE
Roll with it: US Open Wheelchair Championships celebrate 20th anniversary
READ HERE!
USTA Missouri Valley has wheelchair tennis programs throughout the section.
BROWSE HERE! USTA MISSOURI VALLEY WHEELCHAIR NEWS
Read about the impact wheelchair tennis has had in USTA Missouri Valley in 2025.
LEARN MORE!
Hispanic Heritage Month
USTA Oklahoma coach
Marianella Padron
USTA Missouri coach/ provider
Thiago Santos
USTA Heart of America coach
Armando Espinosa
USTA Iowa former coach
Cristian Pensavalle
2025 RALLY IN THE 2025 RALLY IN THE
The section’s elite youth competitors converged upon central Oklahoma for closed junior tournament rich with talent and tradition. Rally in the Valley—formerly Court in Edmond, Oklahoma.
Singles
Boys 12s: Damien Robinson (USTA Oklahoma)
Boys 14s: Andrew Beltran (USTA Heart of America)
Boys 16s: Lennart Hammargren (USTA Heart of America)
Boys 18s: Anish Poojari (USTA Heart of America)
Girls 12s: Ghillian Harper (USTA Oklahoma)
Girls 14s: Sarah Katherine Goodwin (USTA Oklahoma)
Girls 16s: London Evans (USTA St. Louis)
Girls 18s: Skye Madatali (USTA St. Louis)
Doubles
Boys 12s:
Damien Robinson (USTA Oklahoma) & AJ Williams (USTA Iowa)
Damian Gutheil (USTA Heart of America) & Lennart Hammargren (USTA Heart of America)
Boys 18s: Arjun Reiland (USTA Heart of America) & TJ Shanahan (USTA Oklahoma)
Girls 12s:
Allison Brown (USTA St. Louis) & Madison Evans (USTA St. Louis)
Girls 14s: Penelope Reed (USTA Heart of America) & Kynsey Smith (USTA Heart of America)
Girls 16s:
Madeleine Bridges (USTA Heart of America) & Adelyn Gross (USTA St. Louis)
Girls 18s: Skye Madatali (USTA St. Louis) & Mia Yin (USTA St. Louis)
THE VALLEY RESULTS
THE VALLEY RESULTS
for the USTA Missouri Valley Rally in the Valley Championships, a Level 3 Valley—formerly called the Sweet 16—took place June 12-15 at Edmond Center
Sportsmanship
Boys 12s: Miles Markham (USTA Heart of America)
Boys 14s: Gus Geubelle (USTA Oklahoma)
Boys 16s: Taytum Jones (USTA Oklahoma)
Boys 18s: JohnPaul Huston (USTA Oklahoma)
Girls 12s: Ghillian Harper (USTA Oklahoma)
Girls 14s: Eliya Ward (USTA Heart of America)
Girls 16s: Sophia Gooch (USTA Oklahoma)
Girls 18s: Shelby Smith (USTA Heart of America)
Click to watch the 2025 Rally in the Valley recap video!
Click here to watch the champions sign the camera!
Click here to view the
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The USTA Missouri Valley Valley Cup is a new prize-money series consisting of seven district-level (Level 5) tournaments offered throughout USTA Missouri Valley in 2025.
The series provides open-level players the opportunity to win prize money as they play their way through the 2025 USTA Missouri Valley adult tournament calendar.
2025 WINNERS
WOMEN
Gabi Fleming (Robins, IA) - Champion
Heather Fleming (Robins, IA) - Runner-Up
MEN
Erik Weiler (Springfield, MO) Champion
Anthony Schulte (Cedar Rapids, IA) Runner-Up
*Each first-place winner will receive a $1500 check and the Valley Cup trophy from USTA MV. Each runner-up will receive a brand-new Diadem tennis bag, courtesy of a donation from Diadem.
NET NOTES
Heartland Classic in USTA Heart of America
The Level 4: USTA Heart of America Heartland Wheelchair Classic took place at the end of April bringing wheelchair players throughout the country to Northland Racquet Club to compete.
Click here to view the Facebook photo album.
L2 Wheelchair in USTA St. Louis
The fourth annual St. Louis Indoor Wheelchair Tennis Championships took place July 25-27 at Chesterfield Athletic Club. The Level 2 tournament grew in participation, as it drew 45 competitors from 17 different states this year.
Click here to view the Facebook photo album.
All Comers Camp in Oklahoma
Both adult and junior wheelchair players traveled to Tulsa, Oklahoma for a USTA All-Comers national camp where they received on-court instruction from national-level coaches as well as the organizer and standout wheelchair player, Anthony Meadows.
Click here to view the All Comers Camp Facebook album.
Pro Circuits recap and look ahead
USTA Missouri Valley has hosted six USTA Pro Circuits so far this year giving spectators the opportunity to watch up and coming tennis pros compete. Remaining this year are:
Lincoln Men’s $75K
Norman Men’s $30K
Norman Women’s $30K
Stillwater Women’s $30K
Lincoln Women’s $15K
Click here to learn more about Pro Circuits.
Welcome USTA Missouri Valley’s
NET NOTES
new hires!
Susan McClain Casey McKenzie Sam Owoo-Battlet
USTA Missouri Valley rounded out their Junior Team Play team with the additions of Casey McKenzie, Regional Manager of Junior Team Play for Missouri and Oklahoma, and Sam Owoo-Battlet, Regional Manager of Junior Team Play for Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska. The section also added Susan McClain as Finance Director and HR.
TVS grant recap
USTA Missouri Valley has been fortunate to see court improvements and new courts constructed throughout the section this year thanks to Tennis Venue Service grants! 134 courts have been affected to date and 35 brand new courts built with projects totaling $1.6 million so far.
Click here to learn more about Tennis Venue Services.
SuperSport: Charlie Felker
Junior player Charlie Felker was named our 2025 SuperSport winner and got the chance to go to the US Open this year.
Click here to learn more about our SuperSport Initiative.
Tennis On Campus Fall Invite
16 teams traveled to the Plaza Tennis Center in Kansas City, Missouri to compete in the USTA Missouri Valley Tennis On Campus Fall Invite. University of Kansas’ “A” team placed first, Washington University- St. Louis placed second and Oklahoma State University placed third at the end of the weekend.
Ar o u n d t h e Va l l e Y
Click to view all of our Facebook albums from events around the section.
When coaches thrive, tennis thrives
USTA Coaching offers a connected, inclusive community with the benefits, services, and education to help you stay at the top of your game, on and off the court. No matter your coaching role today or in the future, you belong here.
District News
Congratulations to USTA Heart of America teams competing in USTA 2025 National League Championships
● 18 & Over 5.0 Women – Captain Michelle Gifford
● 18 & Over 4.0 Men – Captain Travis Heintzelman
● 18 & Over 5.0 Men – Captain Paul Knoflicek
● 40 & Over 3.0 Women – Captain Maria Andrew
● 40 & Over 4.5 Women – Captain Phyllis Norman
● 55 & Over 9.0 Men – Captain Roy Allen
Upcoming
Junior Tournaments *dates and locations are subject to change*
Oct 4 L6 G12-14, B12-18
Oct 11 L7
Oct 25 L6
Nov 1 L7
Nov 1 L7
Nov 8 L6
Nov 8 L6
Nov 15 L7
Nov 29 L6
B12-18, G12-14
Noyes Tennis Complex
Genesis Health Clubs Clayview
BG12-18 Doubles Only Overland Park Racquet Club
BG12
BG14, 18
BG12, 18
BG14, 16
BG12-18
B12-18
Nov 29 L6 G12-18
Dec 6 L7
Dec 13 L6
Dec 13 L6
Oct 4 Jr. Circuit
Oct 18 Jr. Circuit
Nov 8 Jr. Circuit
Nov 22 Jr. Circuit
Nov 29 Jr. Circuit
Dec 6 Jr. Circuit
Dec 13 Jr. Circuit
BG12-18
B12-18, G16-18
G12-14
BG10&U, BG12-14, B18
Genesis Health Clubs KCRC
Overland Park Racquet Club
Blue Hills Country Club
Genesis Health Clubs KCRC
Genesis Health Clubs Clayview
Genesis Health Clubs Lawrence South
Genesis Health Clubs Clayview
Genesis Health Clubs Lawrence South
Overland Park Racquet Club
Genesis Health Clubs Clayview
Genesis Health Clubs Lawrence South
BG10&U, BG12-14, B18 Blue Hills Country Club
BG10&U, BG12-14, BG18
BG10&U, BG12-14, BG18
Genesis Overland Park
Genesis Health Clubs KCRC
BG10&U, BG12-14, BG18 Jayhawk Tennis Center
BG10&U, BG12-14, BG18
BG10&U, BG12-14, BG18
Genesis Health Clubs KCRC
Genesis Health Clubs Lawrence South
$763,650 TVS Grants Help USTA Iowa Facilities
11 applicants applied and were approved for USTA Tennis Venue Services in 2025. These projects totalled $7,009,830 with 11% of their building costs coming from TVS. Congratulations!
*Madison Keys (native of Rock Island, IL) and her foundation (Kindness Wins) worked with the TVS process to have the tennis courts at McKay City Park resurfaced. The courts pictured below are the tennis courts just completed this September by McConnell & Associates (STL).
