2021 Hall of Fame and Section Awards Celebration ORDER OF CEREMONY Welcome Year in Review Video Necrology Hall of Fame Inductees Scott Hanover Alvin Penelton Tara Snyder
Section Awards Junior Sportsmanship Awards Distinguished Service Award President’s Award
MISSOURI VALLEY 1986
Hall of Fame
2021 R. Scott Hanover........... Kansas City, Mo. Alvin Penelton............. East St. Louis, Ill. Tara Snyder.................... Truckee, Calif. 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.
2021
2015 Richard Hudlin................ St. Louis, Mo. Cornelia Salmon-Robertson....... LeCompton, Kan. Mark Rosewell.................Maryville, Mo. Verne Weber....................Bellevue, Neb. 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
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.
2006 Dave Freeborn ................... Tulsa, Okla. Jay Louderback ............ South Bend, Ind. Terry Miller ............ Overland Park, Kan. Dave Riley ........................ Tulsa, Okla. Russell Warner.................... Tulsa, 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.
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.
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.
2004 John Bregin ................... Merriam, Kan. Don Dippold .................. St. Louis, Mo. Don Gardner .................. Wichita, Kan. Ken Lidie ...................... Bellevue, Neb. Su Oertel ................... Mason City, Iowa
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.
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.
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.
Nominations are accepted annually by July 31. Nominations remain on file for five years. Visit usta.com for more information.
Scott Hanover’s love of tennis is contagious to those around him. His closest friends and colleagues over the years agree that his dedication to the great sport of tennis makes him more than deserving of induction into the USTA Missouri Valley Hall of Fame for 2021. Hanover has been the “heart and soul” of tennis in the USTA Missouri Valley and USTA Heart of America for many years, but his tireless work in tennis began in Iowa. His start in tennis began as a junior player in Des Moines with the USTA National Junior Tennis and Learning Program. He was just 12-years old, but Hanover knew immediately that tennis was special and that he needed to give back to the game that had given him so much. “I think the reason I stayed so connected with tennis early on was I just felt such a passion for it, and even at a young age, even in college I decided that I should probably give back to this game in some way,” he said. So began nearly three-decades of involvement with the USTA, probably best-known for his 23 year tenure as Director of Tennis for the Plaza Tennis Center. It’s hard to identify in which ways Hanover has made the most impact, because he has touched almost every aspect of the game with his work - and his play. “He’s just touched tennis in every way, as a player, as a coach, as a teacher, as an organizer of tournaments, as an official. And then of course as a volunteer leader, so he’s touched it in many, many ways,” said Susan True, who has served with Hanover on the USTA Missouri Valley Board of Directors and Awards Committee. Hanover helped found the USTA Heart of America Hall of Fame in 1999, and has served on the Hall of Fame committee ever since. He has served on the USTA Missouri Valley Executive Committee in some capacity since 2002: Vice President (2002-2006), Secretary (2007-2008), First Vice President (2009-2010), President (2011-2014), Delegate, Immediate Past President (2015-2016). He has also served on National committees he has served as the Chair of the USTA Community Development Committee for two terms from 2005-2006 and 2007-2008, he was also the Chair on the USTA Tennis in the Parks committee in 2009 and is currently Vice Chair of the USTA National Competition Pathway. His prowess as a tournament director is also unmatched. In 2018, Hanover was a tournament director of 44 tournaments - a tremendous feat - and a record. The dedication to put on quality play opportunities within USTA Heart of America and USTA Missouri Valley is something that is admired by many. As a player, Hanover has been a No. 1 player in USTA Missouri Valley at NTRP 4.0. But more than that - you can also count on Hanover-captained teams to be well run and
dedicated to sportsmanship and playing well. He has captained numerous teams that have gone on to play in the World TeamTennis Nationals, winning four titles, as well as four teams that have gone to USTA Adult League National Championships - including a Men’s 55 & Over team this year - and one team that went to Tri-Level Nationals in 2018. But what makes Hanover most special is kindness. Shelley George has served on the section board of directors and committees with Hanover and also worked alongside him in Iowa. She said everything he does in giving back to tennis is inspiring because of the way he carries himself each day. To this day, Hanover continues to give back to the game that has given him so much. He currently serves as the Executive Director of the Stephanie Waterman Foundation and the Director of Tournaments and Outreach for the Overland Park Racquet Club, as well as being the head tennis coach at Pembroke Hill High School. For a man who has dedicated his life to the game of tennis and helping others get as much out of it as he has, there is no higher honor than being inducted into the Hall of Fame. “It is truly humbling and such an honor to be inducted into the USTA Missouri Valley Hall of Fame. I really appreciate the history of tennis, not just at the professional level, but the community tennis, and everything that we’ve done as a section.”
The late Alvin ‘Al’ Penelton is considered by many to be one of the greatest service line umpires of all time. Penelton loved many things: his family, tennis and helping the community. Although a talented participant of many sports as a child, including cross country and gymnastics, and later basketball at Vashon High School in St. Louis, where he graduated in 1958, Penelton didn’t take up tennis until 1974. He picked up tennis because he wished to remain active as he got older. He picked up the game quickly, winning scores of local tournaments, and during his career with Anheuser-Busch won the national company olympics three times. He even got to play on occasion with Arthur Ashe. While he was an excellent tennis player, he was just plain special as an official. Behind the scenes in the tennis world was where his light shined brightest. He began his career as an official at the urging of a friend, and in 1978 was an official at his first tournament, just four short years after he first picked up a tennis racquet. That same year he would be an official in his first professional tournament - the WCT Classic at the Checkerdome in St. Louis. It was clear almost immediately his attitude towards life would take him far in the profession. Penelton was one of the handful of African American umpires on an international scale within the sport. His cool, calm and collected demeanor was what made him great. His life philosophy and key phrase: “It’s all good.” Former Chief Umpire of the US Open Woodie Walker knew Al since the 1970s and made sure to use him as an official at any chance she could. “Al epitomizes what a professional tennis official should be like. He was a consummate professional. He was the best, and I would call him the greatest of all time, the GOAT of service line umpires,” Walker said. He was able to work the US Open in 1982 due to this attention to detail, then proceeded to work 37 consecutive US Opens. Penelton worked the world’s most prestigious tournaments - Wimbledon from 1997-2001, six Australian Opens and tournaments in Indian Wells and Rome, Italy. Penelton also worked numerous Fed Cup and Davis Cup events, as well as the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Ga. and the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia. It was as a line umpire that Penelton particularly excelled. If a player thought to question a line call, then looked to see Penelton on the line, they often changed their mind.
He was so admired by his peers that he won the 1996 John T. McGovern Award, the USTA’s highest umpire award. Because of the respect he garnered, he also appeared on the cover of a USTA umpire manual and on a Wimbledon postcard. Of his many awards as an official, perhaps one of the biggest honors was being named to the Black Tennis Hall of Fame in 2021. Community and family were also really important to Penelton. Perhaps even more important than his work on the service line was his work in the community. He was instrumental to improvements of the tennis courts at Lincoln Park in East St. Louis. Penelton often played the game on those very courts in the beginning. The courts had become unplayable and a grant, as well as community leaders, worked to get the courts resurfaced and lights added. The courts are the only playable ones in the city. He even set up a foundation in East St. Louis to get local kids involved in tennis. With such a passion for tennis and life, it makes Penelton’s induction into the Hall of Fame an easy decision. As his wife says, this is something he’s always wanted and the honor is not lost on his family. Penelton passed away May 23, 2020. “It means that a wish has been fulfilled. It may not have been around for him to see it, but it was something that he wanted and it was something that he wished for. And we’re fulfilling that wish for him. So thank you very much.”
USTA Missouri Valley 2021 Hall of Fame Inductee Tara Snyder is one of the best players to come out of the section. She was introduced to tennis by her father, Darrel, at the age of five on city courts in Wichita. As a junior, Snyder was coached by her father and Brent Fields. Snyder quickly rose up the ranks as a junior, becoming USTA Missouri Valley’s No. 1 player and climbing as high as No. 3 nationally. She won the U.S. Open Junior Singles title in 1995, and began playing ITF events in 1994. She was a member of the US Junior National team in 1994 & 1995, then a member of the USTA Pro Team from 1996-1999. Snyder’s dedication and drive to continue improving helped her take the next step in her junior career as she would put in anywhere from three to five hours of practice each day honing her skills. It was this tenacity and drive that really drove Tara throughout her career, from junior tennis up through her professional career. She refused to give up or stop practicing until she felt something was perfect. Snyder spent over a decade on the WTA Tour with her brother Darren by her side as her coach. Later in her career, Tara’s husband, and former ATP pro Brent Haygarth, also joined her coaching team. Her first career professional tournament title came at ITF/Delray Beach in 1997. In that same year, Snyder reached the second round at the US Open. In 1998, Snyder had her best year as a pro. She won her first WTA event singles title at Quebec City, where she defeated Chanda Rubin. The victory helped propel her ranking to a career-best No. 33. She also picked up a win over world No. 11 Irina Spirlea at Amelia Island before bowing out in the quarterfinals. Snyder had another stellar year in 1999, this time reaching the semis in Quebec City where Rubin avenged her loss to Snyder the year prior. At the Quebec City event, she defeated then world No. 10 Amanda Coetzner. In 1999, Snyder also reached the third round of the US Open. In the second round, she and opponent Emmanuelle Gagliardi went to a first-set tie break that would soon become the longest tie-break in WTA tour history, lasting 40 points. Snyder dropped the tie-break, but rallied to defeat Gagliardi 6-7 6-1, 6-1. The Pan American games also came calling for Snyder in 1999. Snyder had a great tournament, coming away with the silver medal. Other career highlights include victories against Maria Sharapova, Martina Hingis and Marion Bartoli. In 1995, Snyder spent her rookie year in WorldTeam Tennis with the Wichita Advantage. After a three-year hiatus, Snyder joined the St. Louis Aces for two seasons. After that, she joined the Kansas City Explorers in 2000, followed by a stint with the Springfield Lasers in
2002. In 2009, she joined the Kansas City Explorers where Haygarth served as the team’s coach. She also played for the Texas Wild in 2013. Injuries eventually took their toll on Snyder, forcing her to retire early from the game in 2006. But with her passion for the game, it wasn’t long before she found new ways to give back to the game that gave her so much. Snyder took immense pride in being able to give back after her playing career was over. She spent seven years on the USTA Nominating Committee from 2009-2012 and again from 2016-2018, where she was highly respected by her peers and the board. She also went back to school at the University of Missouri to get her Master’s in Positive Coaching. She used that experience to go around to local schools and talk to coaches and players and inspire them to continue working toward their goals. Her impact is still alive and well in Wichita to this day. “There’s a lot of kids in Wichita that even to this day I’ll go and someone’s either playing pickleball or tennis, they’re like, ‘I wanted to be like your sister, I never could, but I tried.’ So there were a lot of people that looked up to Tara,” her brother Darren said. As great as her playing career was, Snyder’s impact on tennis goes far beyond just her playing accolades. Snyder is thrilled and honored that her lifetime of hard work and dedication is being recognized with such a distinguished honor. “It is an honor for me to be recognized by my peers for this honor at such a young age. I’ve worked incredibly hard throughout my career, both on and off the court.”
MISSOURI VALLEY
2021 Award Recipients
Outstanding Diversity Achievement - DeAnn White (Wichita, Kansas) Adult Player of the Year, 4.0 & Below - Joseph Hawkes (Collinsville, Illinois) Adult Player of the Year, 4.5 & Above - Brian Diefenderfer (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) Outstanding Adult/Senior Tournament - Bud Simpson Open (Godfrey, Illinois) Outstanding Junior Tournament - USTA Girls 16s Section Invitational (Tulsa, Oklahoma) Junior High Performance Player of the Year (Female) - Gracie Epps (Norman, Oklahoma) Junior High Performance Player of the Year (Male) - Cooper Woestendick (Olathe, Kansas) Junior Emerging Player of the Year (Female) - Lauren Krise (Edmond, Oklahoma) Junior Emerging Player of the Year (Male) - Schaefer Bates (Edwardsville, Illinois) Tennis Family of the Year - The Sutter Family (Clayton, Missouri) USTA Junior Team Tennis Organizer - Toni McDonald (St. Louis, Missouri) Outstanding Contributor Youth High Performance Program Willy DeVilchez (Overland Park, Kansas) Outstanding Contributor Youth Tennis - Mike Saniuk (Omaha, Nebraska) High School Coach of the Year - Jamie Wheat (Yukon, Oklahoma) Outstanding Official - Dean Richardville (Tulsa, Oklahoma) Facility of the Year - Edmond Center Court (Edmond, Oklahoma) Outstanding Contributor USTA League Tennis Program - Tammy Tegler (Eagle, Nebraska) Outstanding Community Tennis Association Triple A Breakpoint Tennis & Life Skills Academy (St. Louis, Missouri) Member Organization of the Year - Oklahoma City Tennis Center (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) Distinguished Service - Larry Newton (Omaha, Nebraska) President’s Award - Surprise Announcement
Outstanding Diversity Achievement
DeAnn White - Wichita, Kansas • Executive Director for the Genesis Foundation for Fitness & Tennis • Works to make tennis & fitness accessible to all populations, but also strives to provide basic necessities to many Wichita area families • Offers three different types of youth clinics through GFFT Foundation • Fast Track Tennis, School Outreach and U10 Ages 4-10 are all programs offered to kids either for free or at low cost • These programs are offered at schools, local parks and Genesis locations in order to be more inclusive of diverse populations • Offers free court times to other diverse local providers and scholarships to youth players • Organizes fundraising tournaments and galas to help fund her various diversity initiatives • Most recently has registered and further developed the NJTL chapter she has been building for the last few years
Adult Player of the Year, 4.0 & Below
Joseph Hawkes - Collinsville, Illinois • Has participated in USTA League tennis and tournaments for over a decade • Finished 2021 with a 31-2 record in 4.0 matches, going undefeated in district & section championships • Champion of the USTA Missouri Valley NTRP 4.0 Championship in St. Louis this summer • Competed in the 18 & Over 4.0 USTA League National Championship • Taught himself how to play tennis off a backboard in his early 20s • Touted by his captains and teammates as a player that has an infectious smile, positive attitude and outstanding sportsmanship • Recipient of the USTA St. Louis Adult Recreational Player of the Year award in both 2020 and 2021
Adult Player of the Year, 4.5 & Above
Brian Diefenderfer - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma • Finished 2021 with a 14-3 record at 4.5 & above level • Took 2nd place in the 18 & Over 4.5 Men’s Section Championships • Took a 13-match winning streak into that section championship • USTA member for nearly 20 years • Currently ranked No. 5 in the nation in Men’s Open Individual Doubles • Achieved a national high ranking of No. 1 in Men’s Open Individual Doubles rankings • Regularly participates in The Greens Country Club monthly adult charity tournaments, which contribute tremendously to the community through local nonprofit organizations • Currently works as a USPTA certified instructor at The Greens Country Club
Outstanding Adult/Senior Tournament
Bud Simpson Open - Godfrey, Illinois • 2021 Bud Simpson Open was the 38th year of the event after missing for the first time in 2020 due to the pandemic • Level 5 tournament • Simpson Memorial Tennis Program worked to bring back the tournament with all its amenities including prize money, t-shirts, free lunch, officials and great facilities • Offered seven different events: Men’s and Women’s Singles and Doubles, Mixed Doubles, Men’s 30s and 50s Singles • Operating as the first tournament of the year, they were able to get 86 entries • Safely managed high heat, offering ice, towels and cold water to players • Monitored state, local, and USTA guidelines and used them to build clear social distancing instructions for both players and spectators
Outstanding Junior Tournament
USTA Girls 16s Section Invitational - Tulsa, Oklahoma • Hosted by Racquet and Health 91 in Tulsa • Level 1 tournament • 128 players competed in the 5-day event • First tournament held fully on Serve Tennis across all levels • No scheduling delays and reaction was quick to the only rainy day of the event • Player gifts were personalized bags filled with various Tulsa and Oklahoma items • All rules were followed and proper use of officials for all sites made for a well-executed and fair tournament
Female Junior High Performance Player of the Year
Gracie Epps - Norman, Oklahoma • Ranked No. 1 in Oklahoma in Girls 18s as a 16-year-old • Currently ranked No. 72 nationally in girls 18s • Ranked in the top-130 in the world for juniors • Fell in love with tennis at five years old and hasn’t left the court since • Won an ITF title in Cancun • Won an ITF doubles championship and finished as a doubles finalist twice this year with three different doubles partners • Volunteers for the Play it Forward Foundation and the Champions Program at Edmond Center Court • Has won several sportsmanship awards throughout the years
Male Junior High Performance Player of the Year
Cooper Woestendick - Olathe, Kansas • Currently holds the No. 1 ranking in boys 14s at the national, section and district levels • Ranked No. 5 nationally in boys 16s • Had a 54-10 record in national and section tournaments in 2021 • Placed third in the National Championships in Kalamazoo, Michigan • Reached the semifinals of the National Clay Court Championships • Won two L1 championships including the Easter Bowl and the Individual Championships in Mobile, Alabama • Other tournament accomplishments this year include two L2 and one L4 Championships, one L4 finalist and reaching the semi-finals of one L3 tournament
Female Junior Emerging Player of the Year
Lauren Krise - Edmond, Oklahoma • Currently ranked No. 2 in Oklahoma girls 14s • Holds a top-50 ranking in the Gulf States girls 14s • After suffering a head injury in 5th grade she decided to try tennis during her recovery and fell in love • Currently ranked as a 2-star recruit by Tennis Recruiting.net • Volunteers for the Play it Forward Foundation, LOVE OKC and Everything Matters • Has a 4.0 GPA and is on the high school honor roll
Male Junior Emerging Player of the Year
Schaefer Bates - Edwardsville, Illinois • Has a USTA St. Louis boys 14s combined ranking of No. 22, and No. 15 in doubles • Earned two local USTA sportsmanship awards this year • Year-round participant in Junior Team Tennis and USTA Junior Tournaments • Responsible for coordinating his team’s iconic outfits at Junior Team Tennis Section Championships • Competed in four L7s and five L6s in 2021 • Takes lessons at St. Clair Tennis Club during the winter • Inspired by his experience as a ball boy at the Edwardsville Futures Tournament every year
Tennis Family of the Year
The Sutter Family - Clayton, Missouri • Father, Scott, has been playing since he was 11 and currently serves as the boys varsity head coach at John Burroughs School • Led the varsity team to a 64-8 record over the last five years • Mother, Anne, also started playing tennis at 11 years old • Has coached 10 years and works with the girls program at St. Joseph’s Academy • Son, Dwight (24), recently graduated from Texas Christian University and now resides in St. Louis • Has played league tennis and currently plays recreationally at Creve Couer Racquet Club • Son, Will (22), recently graduated from Southern Methodist University and now resides in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida • Played club tennis at SMU and was an intramural champion • Son, Rory (18), graduated from John Burroughs School and now attends Indiana University • Has won the St. Louis Father/Son with his dad and was the 2021 Class 3 Doubles Champion
USTA Junior Team Tennis Organizer
Toni McDonald - St. Louis, Missouri • Grew her program from 700 players to more than 1100 players in two years • Added a 14 & under league on top of the existing 10 & under and 12 & under leagues • Added a girls’ spring and a boys’ fall league to existing programming to provide more options for kids • Reorganized and only ran outdoor leagues limiting participation to only four players per match due to COVID restrictions • Scheduled and paid for one empty court between each two court match • Serves as USTA St. Louis JTT Coordinator • Manages all of Creve Coeur Racquet Club’s teams (seven teams at all levels each season - spring, summer and fall) • Sends out weekly reminders to parents and players
Outstanding Contributor Youth High Performance Program
Willy DeVilchez - Overland Park, Kansas • Coaches five players ranked in the top-100 nationally • Professional Tennis Registry (PTR) certified coach at Genesis Health Clubs - Overland Park • Nine of his players have competed in national hard court tournaments • Five of his players are within the top 100 ranked players in the country • Parents love his passion and effort he puts into his coaching • Players feel comfortable to reach out to him off court at any time or during weekends
Outstanding Contributor Youth Tennis
Mike Saniuk - Omaha, Nebraska • Hosted more than 45 Junior Circuit events at his club in 2021 • Registered Net Generation provider and school partner • Recently named USPTA Professional of theYear for Nebraska •Serves as USTA Nebraska Pathway Progression Coordinator • His club, Miracle Hill, has hosted over 45 Junior Circuit events and 10 Team Challenges, with over 300 players participating • Organized a trip open to all Omaha players to Rochester, Minnesota to play on clay courts that resulted in 300 matches played • 300-500 players at his club registered in the youth pathway system each year • Hosted more than 1,800 participants at clinics throughout the year • Donates used equipment to schools • Started a tennis ball recycling program at Miracle Hill
High School Coach of the Year
Jamie Wheat - Yukon, Oklahoma • Runs a no-cut program at Crossing Christian School • More than 50 students (17% of the student body) come out for the high school team • Both the boys’ and girls’ teams won regionals this year • Both teams qualified all six spots for state • The boys’ team won state championship in 5A • All 12 varsity players were awarded All-City honors or honorable mentions • He is highly involved in all levels of tennis and goes out of his way to grow the game around his area • Awarded the 2021 All-City Coach of the Year and the 2021 Oklahoma Tennis Coaches Association Coach of the Year • His teams embrace the values of hard work, discipline, humility and cooperation
Outstanding Official
Dean Richardville - Tulsa, Oklahoma • Vice Chair of Officials for USTA Missouri Valley • USTA Oklahoma Chair of Officials • Head official for the USTA National L1 Championship in Tulsa • Works USTA Junior tournaments at the district, sectional and national level • Assigns all Big 12 college tennis matches and chairs many collegiate matches • Worked the D1 College Championships held at the USTA National Campus
Facility of the Year
Edmond Center Court - Edmond, Oklahoma • Brand new facility with 24 outdoor courts, six indoor courts and 31,000 square foot clubhouse • Considered one of the top public facilities in the country • Founding facility of the Play It Forward Program, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization focusing on diversity and inclusion • Hosts private lessons, junior camps and Leagues • The clubhouse is a fully equipped pro shop featuring tennis racquets, accessories and multiple lounge areas • Offers programs for both juniors and adults including private lessons, classes and camps • Hosts USTA and recreational leagues
Outstanding Contributor USTA League Tennis Program
Tammy Tegler - Eagle, Nebraska • Began playing USTA leagues in 2009 • Coordinates a women’s tennis league at Woods Tennis Center • Captained and participated on five different league teams in 2021 (18 & Over 4.0 Women, 40 & Over 4.0 Women, 8.0 Mixed, Tri-Level, 40 & Over 9.0 Mixed) • Serves on the USTA Missouri Valley Adult League Regulation Committee • Actively recruits and encourages all high-schoolers to give tennis a try regardless of any past experience• Member of the Lincoln Tennis Association
Outstanding Community Tennis Association
Triple A Breakpoint Tennis & Life Skills Academy - St. Louis, Missouri • Founded in 2020 as a subsidiary of the Triple A Youth Foundation, a public 13 clay court facility • Actively supports tennis throughout the St. Louis metro area, focusing on underserved communities with no exposure to tennis • Provided an 8-week tennis clinic serving 22 kids • Provided nine tennis & reading weekend camps serving 26 participants • Participated in Diversity Day at Edwardsville Futures tournament • Participating in the Buddy Up for Life program for kids with Down Syndrome
Member Organization of the Year
Oklahoma City Tennis Center - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma • Offers 24 outdoor courts, three permanent 36’ outdoor courts, three permanent 60’ orange ball outdoor courts and six indoor courts • Largest facility in USTA Missouri Valley • Facility improvements this year include a $2.4 million pro shop with viewing areas • Ten outdoor courts were resurfaced in 2021 • Added speakers and other improvements in outdoor speaker system that can be heard throughout the grounds • Uses one of its pro shops as a learning center for First Serve Oklahoma City, a top NJTL chapter • Hosts 2,000 matches of USTA League play and more than 300 courts of local CTA play annually
Distinguished Service
Larry Newton - Omaha, Nebraska • Chair of USTA Missouri Valley Junior Play Committee • Member of USTA Local Play and Competition Committee from 2016-2022 • Past President of USTA Nebraska and Omaha Tennis Association • Served as a USTA Nebraska board member for eight years, including Junior Competition chair and Tournament and Rankings chair • Currently serves as USTA Nebraska 10 & Under Tournament Sanctioning Chair • Served as USTA Missouri Valley Chair of Junior Competition from 2013-2018 • Spent six years as administrator for USTA Regional Competition Training Centers • Certified official from 1994-2010, refereeing at local, section, national and collegiate events • Volunteer court monitor for Omaha Metro and Nebraska State high school finals since 2000 • Project Leader for development and activation of the current Net Generation Pathway Regulations
President’s Award
Surprise Announcement
2021 Junior Sportsmanship Award Recipients Girls 10s Boys 10s Girls 12s Boys 12s Girls 14s Boys 14s Girls 16s Boys 16s Girls 18s Boys 18s
Scarlett Milner Ben Lowes Reeya Chundury John Finnie Samantha Nguyen Joseph Coder Ivy Wilson David Ju Bryson Langford Matthew Crossland
Tulsa, Oklahoma Omaha, Nebraska Omaha, Nebraska St. Louis, Missouri Moore, Oklahoma Brookline, Missouri Jenks, Oklahoma St. Louis, Missouri Leawood, Kansas Leawood, Kansas
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 2021 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 Stuart Dusenberry, Chair Ken Brown Peter McCorkle Donna Stauffer Heather Blumel, Board Liaison Hall of Fame Judy Dippold, Chair Terry Miller Kevin Nebergall Doug Smith Nick Taylor Chris Carey, Board Liaison
Thank You
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MISSOURI VALLEY