March 2019

| ISSUE no 10 USTA OKLAHOMA TENNIS MAGAZINE Female Player of the Year the zoe hammond  March 2019 in this issue $100 Million Invested in Oklahoma Facilities baseliner 2018 Hall of Fame & Awards Banquet OTCA Hall of Fame Published by USTA OKLAHOMA President Bill Towler Vice President - Adults Mary Jo Tasker Vice President - Juniors Eric Wedemeyer Secretary Bart Ramsey Treasurer Dwayne Campbell NE Quadrant Peter McCorkle NW Quadrant John Sedlack SE Quadrant Dawna Johnston SW Quadrant Phil Barnes USTA OKLAHOMA BOARD Special Thanks to Article Contributors: www.USTA.com Brad Lund Gordan Smith James Coburn David Mullins Institute for the Study of Youth Sports Dr. Melissa Leber USTA Oklahoma Cover Photo: GameFace Advertise with us! 2 I thebaseliner.net USTA Oklahoma OK Executive Director Text find yourself in the game USTA Oklahoma Tennis Facility Capital of the United States? Over $100 million invested since 2000 By Brad Lund JUNIORS CHECK OUT ZOE HAMMOND & ALL THE WINNERS ACCEPT THEIR AWARD AT THE 2018 USTA OKLAHOMA HALL OF FAME AND AWARDS BANQUET HELD ON FEBRUARY 2, 2019 AT OKLAHOMA CITY GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB 6 OCTA HALL OF FAME? 6 13 33 COVER on the cover 23 CONTENTS ADULTS FEATURES COLLEGE COMMUNITY 31 MARCH ISSUE click a head OKLAHOMA FACILITIES Oklahoma Tennis Coaches Association 2019 Hall of Fame Class Inducted 33 In 2019 Oklahoma will have over 7000 participants in our adult leagues. he March/April 2019 issue of Tennis Magazine published an article “The Game of Life” which referenced a much talked about 25 year study which found tennis added an average of 9.7 years to one’s life over those who were sedentary. What really stood out was how tennis measured against other adult recreational activities: 6.2 years for badminton, 4.7 years for soccer, 3.7 years for cyclists, 3.2 for jogging and 1.5 for those that worked out in health clubs. It is not just the exercise that tennis provides that led to the study results. To quote the study’s authors “Belonging to a group that meets regularly promotes a sense of support, trust, and commonality which has been shown to contribute to a sense of well-being and improved long-term health.” This aspect of our game can not be underestimated. Golf, while a great game, is about the social experience with the 3 or 4 men/women you are playing with. Tennis, on the other hand, is about the community experience we enjoy when we play. Thus, the social fabric of the game that I believe directly impacted the results of this study. Which brings me to our adult leagues. Think about it. We play in a team based, advancement programming system. We play men’s, women’s and mixed leagues. We are part of a team and the experience that comes with it. Further, we may stick around after a match and enjoy the beverage of our choice with our teammates and our opponents. A little socialization going on. Not to be prejudice here but when I see the spread that some of our women’s teams put out after a league match I continue to be amazed. The men, while we may participate in the post match beverage, have no game when it comes to the catering the ladies put out there. Again, a community social experience. In Oklahoma our USTA adult league’s continue to grow and prosper. Our staff, led by Mary Jo Tasker and Michelle O’Quinn, sincerely work incredibly hard on scheduling and programming to provide the very best experience to our league participants. In 2019 Oklahoma will have over 7000 participants in our adult leagues. We measure participation and pay close attention to these metrics. A “participation” means that if you play in 4 adult leagues that represents 4 participations. Pretty amazing numbers. 2019 adult leagues are up and running. I want every player to feel free to call any member of our staff, both volunteer and paid, with questions you may have – any time. We are here to serve you – our player and member. Tennis is a game for life. Go play adult league tennis and live longer. See you on the court! Cordially, Bill Towler, USTA Oklahoma President FROM OUR PRESIDENT 4 I thebaseliner.net T LETTER   ADULT PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2019 Kate Miley Noah Alvarado Vishal Potharaju Reece Compton Abigail Wise Owen Fellrath Taytum Jones Penelope Smith Show us what you're doing on the court. Use #ustaoklahoma on your social media photos for a chance to be featured in the next issue of the magazine! DAVID BOX see MORE ON PAGE 13 a few sportsmanship winners so far... kids day at norman open Kids day in Norman, open for kids K-8. Face painting, balloon animals, pizza, and tennis clinic! Text Text #tag this! 5 I thebaseliner.net Text OKLAHOMA: Tennis Facility Capital of the United States? Over $100 million invested since 2000 By Brad Lund, Briton Christian Church Tennis Academy When the spectacular Michael D. Case Tennis Center at the University of Tulsa opened 18 years ago, Vince Westbrook and Mike Case changed the landscape for the next generation of tennis players in Oklahoma – collegiate, municipal and country clubs. Westbrook dreamed big, and Case had a big checkbook. Together the two developed a tennis facility unlike any seen before on neither Oklahoma soil nor a college campus. The $15 million facility opened in December 2001 where attendees at a black-tie event were able to rub shoulders with tennis legend John McEnroe. Tennis officials were in such awe of TU’s facility that it awarded it the 2004 NCAA Men’s Division I Tennis Championships before construction was even completed. Tennis had taken off in the United States in the 1970s, and Shawnee, Oklahoma tennis legend Don Brewington opened Tulsa Southern Tennis Club in 1974, the first private club in Oklahoma with indoor tennis courts. Shortly thereafter, Brewington and his business partners opened Summerfield Racquet Club in north Oklahoma City. And then came the gem brought to Tulsa by Jack Theimer – the stately Shadow Mountain Racquet Club, which had an 11-year run in hosting a men’s ATP stop primarily known to locals as the Bank of Oklahoma Tennis Classic – a tournament hall of famer Jimmy Connors appeared in five times, winning 20 consecutive matches en route to four titles. All told, from 1974 to 1981, more than a dozen elite tennis clubs featuring indoor and outdoor courts were built in Oklahoma – not just in the state’s two major metro-areas, but even the luxurious Shangri-La Resort on Monkey Island got into the tennis business. In 1982, Oklahoma City’s Penn Square Bank collapsed. As the bestselling book “Belly Up” infamously chronicled, “No economist could have predicted that the Penn Square Bank, a small, obscure lender in an Oklahoma shopping mall, would become the instigator of a financial charade that would see billions of dollars in loans made on the basis of imaginary oil and natural gas reserves.” The tennis business in Oklahoma dried up. It was rare for a new facility to be developed or for a city or county’s park department to allocate funding to keep existing facilities up to par. Tennis participation and television audiences across the country began to decline. To convince an investment group, civic leaders, bankers, or political figures to invest in tennis would be an uphill battle – if not impossible. At one time, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State were without their own varsity tennis courts and were forced to rent vans and travel around the Oklahoma City and Tulsa for practice and match court time. All in all, the future for tennis did not look bright for Oklahoma. Westbrook, who grew up in Warner, Okla. and played collegiately at Southeastern Oklahoma State University at the same time five-time NBA champion Dennis Rodman frequented the student dorms, started something that not only put TU on the college tennis map but got Oklahoma back in the tennis game. Since 2001, more than $100 million has been invested in new and renovated tennis facilities in the state. Oklahoma now boasts three of the top 10 college tennis facilities in the country, for the University of Oklahoma followed TU’s lead and spent $9.6 million in constructing the Headington Family Tennis Center; Oklahoma State’s $10 million Greenwood Tennis Center opened to rave reviews in 2014. Oral Roberts University unveiled its new outdoor venue in 2017. The states two largest municipal facilities, both built nearly half-a-century ago - the Oklahoma City Tennis Center and LaFortune Park - have each undergone massive $5 million transformations, paid for by public dollars and generous private donations. Local country clubs and racquet clubs have stepped to the plate and added clay courts, remodeled clubhouses, resurfaced courts, and welcomed a new wave a tennis customers with open arms. And to top it off, several Oklahoma high schools, both public and private, have gone the distance and built venues that would rival many collegiate facilities. Kudos to all of the Oklahomans who have played a role in transforming the courts we play on. After nearly a 20-year drought of tennis facility improvements, the new and improved first-class venues that dot the Oklahoma plains rank among the top public and private facilities in the country. You’re doing fine Oklahoma! 6 I thebaseliner.net 7 I thebaseliner.net Michael D. Case Tennis Center, University of Tulsa Opened: 2001 Construction: $15 million Funded: Private Donations Lead Donors: Michael & Pat Case Amenities: The world-class venue features 12 outdoor and six indoor courts. TU’s 69,000 square-foot stately indoor facility includes men’s and women’s locker rooms, coaches’ offices, a training room and academic center. The lighted outdoor courts feature stadium seating for 2,000 spectators, electronic scoreboards, a permanent box office and concessions stand. Major Events Hosted: 2004 NCAA Men’s Division I Tennis Championships  2008 NCAA Men’s & Women’s Division I Tennis Championships  2016 NCAA Men’s & Women’s Division I Tennis Championship  ITA Men’s Tennis Championships Honors:  2013, Most Outstanding Collegiate Tennis Center, USTA  Top College Tennis Facilities (#10), Tennis.com Westwood Tennis Center, Norman Opened: 1969 Remodeled: 2008, 2015 and 2019 Construction: $2 million in improvements Funded: Public and Private Donations Improvements: 2008: Complete remodel and 1,000-foot expansion of clubhouse, and extensive upgrades to landscaping and viewing areas.  2015: Four 36-foot courts added.  2017-19: Added two outdoor courts (2017) and two climate-controlled indoor courts (projected opening Spring 2019) Honors: 2007 USTA Facility of the Year Oklahoma City Tennis Center, Oklahoma City Opened: 1969 Remodeled: 2006, 2010 thru 2016 Construction: $5.3 million in improvements Funded: Bonds, Public and Private Donations Lead Donors: Mark and Jennifer Allen Improvements: 2006: Complete overhaul of grounds, including new stone and wrought iron fencing surrounding the grounds.  2010: Clubhouse remodeled and extensive landscaping throughout.  2012: All 24 outdoor courts re-surfaced in US Open blue/green color scheme, new covered bleachers, court signage, plus added six 10-and-under Smashers’ courts.  2016: Opened six climate-controlled indoor courts.  Coming Soon: New clubhouse attached to indoor courts. Major Events Hosted: Oklahoma Girl’s and Boy’s High School State Championships (annually) USTA Pro Circuit (2011 thru 2015) 1985 NCAA Women’s Tennis Championships Honors: 2016 USTA Excellence in Construction and/or Remodeling (Large Facility Category)  2016 Outstanding Facility Award, Tennis Industry Headington Family Tennis Center, University of Oklahoma Opened: 2009 Construction: $9.6 million Funded: Private Donations Lead Donors: Tim Headington and Gregg Wadley Amenities: Twelve outdoor and six indoor courts. The 55,000 square-foot indoor facility houses women’s and men’s varsity locker rooms, a medical and training room, tennis pro shop, coaches’ offices and outdoor, and comfortable seating located behind the baseline of all six indoor courts. The indoor and outdoor courts are equipped with electronic scoring systems and the outdoor stadium courts have 720 covered, chair-back stadium seating for spectators. Events Hosted: 2017 Big 12 Men’s and Women’s Tennis Championships  2018 USTA Pro Circuit, Norman Open Honors: Top 20 College Tennis Facilities (#7), Tennis.com Case Tennis Center at LaFortune Park, Tulsa Opened: 1970 Remodeled: 2010 thru 2015 Construction: $4.9 million in improvements Funded: County, City and Private Donations Lead Donors: Mike and Pat Case Improvements: Over three phases from 2010 thru 2015, the stately public facility added nine outdoor courts to increase the total number of courts to 21, including extensive renovation to the grounds, added new spectator viewing areas, courts 4-12 received face lifts, and a tournament pavilion was constructed. Three climate-controlled indoor courts were added on the east portion of the facility attached to a 3,600 square-foot clubhouse with an open floor plan for social gatherings. The clubhouse is equipped with men’s and women’s restrooms, offices and meeting rooms. LaFortune is currently in Phase IV of its Campaign to add six courts (three indoor and three outdoor). Major Events Hosted: USTA Missouri Valley Tournament and League Championships (numerous) Honors: 2018 USTA Facility of the Year  2018 USTA Featured Facility (highest honor presented by USTA) Greenwood Tennis Center, Oklahoma State University Opened: 2014 Construction: $10 million Funded: Private Donations Lead Donors: Michael and Anne Greenwood Amenities: Twelve outdoor and six indoor courts. 50,000 square feet facility north of Boone Pickens Stadium features coaches’ offices and dressing and training rooms for the men’s and women’s tennis teams. The indoor venue has seating for 350 fans and as many as 1,000 spectators can comfortably view the outdoor courts. Major Events Hosted: 2016 Big 12 Conference Women’s and Men’s Championships  2020 NCAA Women’s and Men’s NCAA Tennis Championships  2017 USTA Pro Circuit, Stillwater Pro Tennis Classic Honors: 2016 USTA Outstanding Facility (only collegiate venue to receive honor)  Top 20 College Tennis Facilities (#4), Tennis.com $100m Bixby High School Opened: 2010 Construction: $4 million (estimate) Funded: Bonds Funding Source: Bixby Public Schools Amenities: Six state-of-the-art lighted outdoor courts surrounded by bleachers throughout the facility. Girls’ and boys’ varsity locker rooms were built adjacent to the tennis courts, including public restrooms, coaches’ offices, a kitchen/concessions area, and a wrap-around balcony that provides prime viewing for spectators. ONEOK Sports Complex, Oral Roberts University, Tulsa Opened: 2017 Construction: $3 million (estimate) Funded: Private Donations Lead Sponsor: ONEOK The south Tulsa campus implemented a unique dual concept and partnered with the university’s track and field program, building a set of bleachers, along with a working press box and large viewing deck that overlooks both new facilities. ORU’s new tennis facility boasts six new lighted courts equipped with top-of-the-line finishes, bleacher seating, public restrooms and concessions. Union Tennis Center, Tulsa Opened: 2014 Construction Costs: $2.8 million Funded: Bonds Funding Source: Union Public Schools Amenities: Eight outdoor courts with stadium seating and an observation deck. Adjacent to the courts is a 5,100 square-foot indoor center that includes a training room, locker area, equipment room and a concessions area for team functions and events. The facility provides an optimal spectator experience, including an indoor, glass-walled viewing gallery on the second floor. Racquet & Health 91, Tulsa Opened: 1974 as Tulsa Southern (The Grand) Improvements: 2016-19 Construction: More than $2 million in improvements Funded: Private Developer: Hank and Molly Pellegrini Amenities: Reacquired the club formerly known as “The Grand” and immediate made a number of cosmetic changes to the tennis facilities, fitness and spa areas, dressing rooms, food and beverage services, and re-established itself as one of the elite training centers for junior tennis in the region. RH91 is in the midst of completing major renovations, including the addition of new lighting for the indoor courts, four additional indoor courts and outdoor clay courts. Honors: 2018 USTA Oklahoma Facility of the Year 8 I thebaseliner.net Southern Hills Country Club, Tulsa Opened: 1936 Improvements: 2018-19 Construction: $5 million (estimate) Funded: Private The world-reknown country club broke ground on an aggressive remodel of its tennis facilities in 2018, installing post-tension concrete on courts 1-4 and laying Har-Tru Green Clay on courts 5 and 6. All six courts will be surrounded by black, vinyl coated fencing and new shade structures will be permanently installed between pairs of courts (each equipped with ice and water machines). Lighting for the outdoor courts were upgraded to new LED technology. The West Tennis Patio is receiving a complete makeover, creating a dynamic ambiance for the patrons and players on the court; and the tennis pro shop is undergoing a remodel, including a new entrance and foyer. Edmond Tennis Center Opened: 2020, Projected Grand Opening Construction: $15.1 million Funded: Bonds and Public General Operating Fund Funding Sources: City of Edmond; Edmond Public Schools Amenities: Located on the north side of 15th St. and east of Kelly Ave., the public facility broke ground in January and will feature 24 outdoor courts and six climate-controlled indoor courts. Dressing rooms for all three Edmond High Schools boy’s and girl’s teams (soon to be four high schools) will be housed in the expansive 31,000 square-foot clubhouse, which will have an inviting lobby, offices, pro shop, training and meeting rooms. The split-level structure will provide viewing opportunities for the six indoor courts and overlook the prime outdoor courts. Two of the outdoor courts will be equipped with stadium-style seating and covered seating will sit adjacent to courts throughout the grounds as patrons will not be forced to watch their court of choice through another court. The large site plan allows for six additional indoor courts to be added at a later date. $100m Lifetime Fitness, Oklahoma City Opened: 2018 Construction: $14-18 million (estimate for tennis) Funded: Private $50-55 million facility Amenities: The 181,840 square-foot multi-purpose athletic facility has eight indoor courts and four outdoor courts. The all-inclusive high-end fitness club is equipped with top-of-the-line exercise equipment, two indoor pools, two outdoor pools, weight and aerobic exercise areas, a full spa, and men’s and women’s dressing rooms. 10 I thebaseliner.net Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club Opened: 1911 Improvements: 2018-19 Construction: $350,000 on 2 clay courts plus 2 resurfaced hard courts with blended lines, LED lights, and black vinyl fence Funded: Private Amenities: The Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club tennis facility has eight total courts including three indoor hard courts, two full size Hydro-Clay Courts and a 60 ft. Junior Clay Court and two night-lit hard courts outside. There is a wonderful viewing area of the indoor courts with a lounge and coffee bar. The Oklahoma City Golf & Country Club offers group and private lesson and clinics for all ages and levels. A wide array of events is also offered at the tennis facility. The tennis facility is open 7 days a week and has a full-service pro shop with all the latest demo racquets, stringing and tennis equipment. $100m 11 I thebaseliner.net QUESTIONS? LET US HELP JUNIORS ADULTS SENIORS JUNIOR TEAM TENNIS David Minihan MINIHAN@USTAOKLAHOMA.COM Michelle Oquinn OQUINN@USTAOKLAHOMA.COM Marden Winkler (WINK) WINK@USTAOKLAHOMA.COM Casey McKenzie MCKENZIE@USTAOKLAHOMA.COM Text Text Text Text As I “celebrated” my 65th birthday during the 2018 US Open and began my 12th year as CEO and Executive Director in November, it seemed appropriate to reflect on my future and the future path of the USTA. After much reflection, I have decided to retire effective December 31, 2019. I have announced my retirement this morning at the USTA Leadership meeting in Las Vegas but wanted all of you to hear it from me. Together, we have all accomplished much that we can be proud of over my past twelve years here, including our launch of Net Generation, our digital transformation, the building and opening of the USTA National Campus, and of course the growth and spectacular transformation of the US Open and its home, the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. But for me, the greatest reward has been working with all of you. Our organization is blessed with passionate advocates for the sport of tennis. A group of amazing, dedicated staff who, when working together, are making a difference in thousands, if not millions, of other lives. Our incredible staff have always been and will always be the backbone of our organization and show the way to grow our great game. They say that tennis is the sport of a lifetime, and I am living proof of that. My life is fuller, better, and will continue to be so, because of our great sport. You will see from the attached press release, which is going out later today, that the USTA Board will begin a search for my replacement, one that I am happy to assist with. I thank all of you for your commitment to the sport, and I am sure our paths will continue to cross throughout the remainder of this year and in the future. Let’s all continue to work together to grow our great game and bring it to more people in more ways than ever before. Thanks for all of your support and assistance over the years. Gordon Smith Chief Executive Officer & Executive Director "I never dreamed I would have a 12-year second career in the game that I love so much. It has been a great run and I look forward to the next phase of my life" -Gordan Smith 12 I thebaseliner.net USTA Head Gordan Smith to Retire at End of 2019 "We couldn't have asked for a finer leader and a more passionate advocate for the sport of tennis than Gordan Smith. He has brought our sport to new levels, he has represented American tennis with class and dignity around the world, and his act will be hard to follow."  -USTA Chairman of the Board and President Patrick Galbraith USTA OKLAHOMA HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES USTA OKLAHOMA 14 I thebaseliner.net HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES Jessica Braver Reineke was born in 1982 and raised in Oklahoma City, Jessica Braver Reineke began playing the “family sport” as soon as she could hold a racket. She played junior tennis from 1993 to 2000 and was ranked Sectionally and Nationally from the time she was 11. She played high school tennis at Heritage Hall, compiling a 130-5 singles record and a 20-0 doubles record. She was High School State Champion at #1 singles in 1999 and 2000 and was runner-up at #1 singles in 1998 and 2001. She was named to the All-Decade Tennis Team for the 2000’s. She played for the University of Oklahoma Women’s Tennis Team as a full-scholarship athlete from 2002-2005, where she received the Outstanding OU Student-Athlete Award in 2004 and the Athletic Director’s Leadership Award in 2005. She compiled a singles record of 54-41 and a doubles record of 60-46 at OU. She was named an ITA Academic All-American, a Big XII Academic All-American, and the College Sports Information Directors of America Award winner for District Six. She currently coaches junior players and is the executive director of Britton Christian Church Tennis Academy’s year-round tennis program, whose mission is “Love God. Make friends. Play Tennis!” kathy kraft west Kathy Kraft West was born in Oklahoma City, but was raised and now lives in Tulsa. Her tennis career is highlighted by her national ranking in 1968 of #5 in 16-and-under singles, her membership on the 1971 Junior Wightman Cup squad, and her participation in the 1971 U.S. Open at Forest Hills. Highlights of Kathy’s Oklahoma rankings are her #1 ranking in Oklahoma’s girls’ 14, 16, and 18 and under singles in 1966, and her #1 ranking in Oklahoma’s girls’ 16s, 18s, and women’s singles in 1967. From 1965 through 1969, Kathy was ranked #1 in singles in her age division in the Missouri Valley. Nationally she was ranked in singles starting in 1964 through 1972. Highlights of her national rankings are: #9 in 1966 (14 and under), #5 in 1968 (16 and under), #11 in 1970 (18 and under), and #34 in 1972 (women’s). Kathy played #1 singles and doubles as a Freshmen on the Vanderbilt Women’s Tennis Team, and won the #1 singles in the Tennessee Women’s Intercollegiate Tennis Tournament. She was the Head Tennis Professional at the Sequoia Tennis Center in Nashville, Tennessee, and at the Tulsa Tennis Club before her career in Information Technology at IBM and Arthur Young. Kathy competed on the women’s professional golf mini tour, and has qualified to compete in the USGA Women’s Amateur, the USGA Women’s Senior Amateur, and the USGA State Team Championships. She is the Southern Hills Country Club golf champion in 2011, 2015, 2017, and 2018. In 2016 Kathy was inducted into the Tulsa Public Schools Sports Hall of Fame. jessica braver reineke 2018 ZOE HAMMOND Female Player of the Year RACQUET AND HEALTH 91 TYLER ASHLEY STEVE HENRY ADULT PLAYER OF THE YEAR OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY TENNIS ASSOCIATION DAVID BOX TAYLOR HOWARD THE MiniHAN'S ADULT RECREATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR 16 I thebaseliner.net 2018 FAMILY OF THE YEAR OKLAHOMA CITY GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB FEBRUARY 2, 2019 AWARDS GAME. SET. MATCH. FEATURING BRYAN BROTHERS LAFORTUNE PARK BRITTON CHRISTIAN CHURCH HIGH SCHOOL COACH OF THE YEAR OUTSTANDING DIVERSITY ACHIEVEMENT FIRST SERVE OKC DISTINGUISHED SERVICE ROXY CASTNER FACILITY OF THE YEAR "It was so nice celebrating all the deserving winners from the year in one room!" OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY SERVICE EVENT OF THE YEAR JUNIOR TEAM TENNIS ORGANIZER OUTSTANDING YOUTH HIGH PERFORMANCE PROGRAM MEDIA EXCELLENCE graham clark CASE TENNIS CENTER AT LAFORTUNE PARK TOMAS STILLMAN OUTSTANDING OFFICIAL OUTSTANDING JUNIOR TOURNAMENT zoe hammond GABY CARILLO 17 I thebaseliner.net 2018 MALE PLAYER OF THE YEAR USTA GIRLS NATIONAL SELECTION KICKINGBIRD TENNIS CENTER HEARTS FOR HEARING THE GREENS COUNTRY CLUB lauren michalcik chris dyer FEMALE PLAYER OF THE YEAR FEMALE RECREATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR MALE RECREATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR JEFFREY WILSON MEMBER ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR AWARDS JOHN HOLCOMB OUTSTANDING ADULT  TOURNAMENT 2018 Chris dyer Male Player of the Year kira brown drayonna stewart sophia hoang DWAYNE CAMPBELL sloan johnston The Arthur Ashe Essay Winners Girls 14'S Carley Parks (not pictured) Ira Millington The President's Award SPORTSMANSHIP WINNERS daniel haley natalie gillett JOrdan patterson BOYS micaela mcspadden Cameron cheek katelynn mansfield (NOT pic) andreas marky (not pic) kevin bosquez scholarship & sportsmanship henry murray 10'S holly heiner Wayne Hirst Scholarship 16'S Evie Lunsford Brittany McKnight Cortney Blackburn The Curtis Richmond Scholarship Elias lemley 18'S 12'S 10 and Under Line Grants Download the Application 20 I thebaseliner.net USTA Missouri Valley offers grants to USTA Missouri Valley members (exclusive of USTA Districts) to assist not-for-profit organizations in initiating or expanding their tennis programming activities. USTA Missouri Valley offers Serving Up Tennis Grants to USTA Missouri Valley members (excludes USTA Missouri Valley Districts) to assist not-for-profit organizations initiate or expand their tennis programming activities. These grants may be used to start programs and/or leagues for players of all ages, abilities and populations. Grant awards will be up to $1000, with schools receiving up to $500 for equipment grants. Those awarded grants will receive half up front and the second half upon completion of program and submission of accountability form, with equipment grants receiving the full amount up front. Click here for Serving Up Tennis Grant Guidelines. Painting permanent 36' and 60' tennis lines at your facility is the next step in creating permanency and changing the face of kids tennis in America. The USTA wants to partner with your community to help you accomplish this common goal, and grow youth tennis to its fullest. Serving Up Tennis Grants Apply Now Tennis opportunities at the most grassroots level are critical to keeping the sport vibrant and growing. The USTA Missouri Valley offers two different grants to tennis providers across its five-state area. The section has its Serving Up Tennis Grants which is intended to assist not-for-profit organizations in initiating or expanding their tennis programming activities. The Serving Up Tennis Grant may be used to start programs and/or leagues for players of all ages, abilities and populations. Those awarded grants will receive half up front and the second half upon completion of program and submission of accountability form. The USTA Missouri Valley also offers the Grow the Game Grant which provides funding for USTA Member providers that do not fall under the not-for-profit statues to help initiate or expand community tennis activities. Grow the Game Apply Now The USTA Missouri Valley also offers Grow the Game Grants which provide funding for USTA Member providers that do not fall under the not-for-profit statues to help initiate or expand community tennis activities that address the following areas: Youth imperative, specifically the 6-12 age group. Junior development, specifically growing the middle of the pyramid through local play and competition such as Community Based Programming, Team Challenges, Team Tournaments, Junior Team Tennis and entry-level tournaments as well as reaching out to middle and high school players. Program opportunities for Millennials (18-40 age group) Adult Social Leagues or Adult Tournaments Diversity and Inclusion outreach efforts and programming USTA Adaptive and/or Wheelchair programming Grant awards will be $500. Click here for Grow the Game Grant Guidelines GRANT OPPORTUNITIES 21 I thebaseliner.net Edmond Tennis Center a  Benchmark in History It was all smiles as city leaders and representatives from Edmond Public Schools gathered Wednesday for the groundbreaking of the Edmond Tennis Center at 601 W. 15th Street. “This is something that has been on the city residents’ request list for a number of years. It’s a happy happenstance for us,” Mayor Elizabeth Waner said. Completion of the project is expected during the early summer 2020, she added. The City of Edmond and Edmond Public Schools are splitting the $15.1 million cost for the project. Revenue for the project stems from the 2015 and 2017 school bonds as well as the 2017 Capital Improvement Sales Tax Fund. Phase 1 of the project will double the city’s tennis capacity from 11 outdoor courts and three indoor courts at the KickingBird Tennis Center, to 24 outdoor and six indoor, Waner said. Additional indoor courts will be added during Phase 2 at a later date, Waner said. Waner paid tribute to the late Mayor Charles Lamb who was highly instrumental in bringing the project to fruition. “You need to know this project he had his hands all over it. He was very dedicated to it, and we will benefit from his contributions,” Waner said. The Edmond Tennis Center is the second project between the city and Edmond Public Schools. The first project, she said, was the Edmond Aquatic Center that was completed five years ago. Superintendent of Schools Bret Towne said the swimming center provided an excellent model for cooperation and shared cost. Cooperation is what the city wants, Towne said. Towne said the partnership between the city and school district resulted in a better product than what would have been achieved working independently. The Edmond Tennis Center will be a generational facility for decades to come, Towne continued. “This is one of those days in the life of a community we need to put a circle around and say, ‘I was there.’” Towne said. Tennis Center Manager David Minihan said the groundbreaking was not only great for Edmond, but also for the entire state. He has had the opportunity to view many tennis centers in the U.S. and said Hornbeek Blatt Architects designed one of the best facilities in the nation, Minihan said. “Having 24 outdoor courts and six indoor courts — the sky’s the limit on the type of events that we can bring in,” Minihan said. “My wife and I have been privileged to be national tournament directors for 19 years now. We’re going to go after as many national events as we can, sectional events. We’re going to partner up with UCO and bring in some ITA events as well.” The Edmond Tennis Center will not only expand programs at the KickingBird Tennis Center, but also provide much needed resources for expanding the Play it Forward Tennis Foundation, Minihan said. The outreach foundation provides opportunities for young people who cannot afford to play tennis, as well as for children with down syndrome. More state championships will be built on an already solid tradition, Minihan said. “It’s going to be huge serving all the high schools, middle schools, and the public,” said Brack Wilbur, assistant Edmond Memorial tennis coach. Bill Tower, president of the United States Tennis Association Oklahoma District said competitors will come in from other markets and say, “What the heck is happening here? How do you have this facility to play at?” Facilities like the Edmond Tennis Center don’t exist in other markets, he said. Tower said more than 2,000 hotel rentals resulted from guests attending events at the Oklahoma City Tennis Center in 2018. The Edmond Tennis Center will showcase the community to people living all over the country, Tower said. by James Coburn The Edmond Sun 22 I thebaseliner.net By David Mullins www.davemullinstennis.com If you are a positive, calm person who has no problem setting and achieving goals, and your current state is working for you, your relationships and your tennis, then stop reading this now. If, on the other hand, you tend to be a little negative at times, get angry when things don't go your way and struggle to set goals (nevermind trying to achieve them!) then you might find the next few paragraphs helpful. It is a little counterintuitive but what the heck, we are all different and what works for one won't necessarily work for us all. Be Negative,  Angry & Stop  Setting Goals... BE NEGATIVE: Yes, that’s right, be as negative as possible. The glass is not just half empty, it is bone dry and slightly cracked! Most of our fears and worries are not rational. As humans, we have a tendency to “catastrophize” and think of the worse-case scenario when things are not going our way and even somehow manage to do it when they are going our way! How often do we challenge these thoughts and actually play out the worst-case scenario to its most logical conclusion? Imagine you are set point up and you miss an easy forehand volley into the bottom of the net. You might think, “That was the best chance I was going to get to win this set, I cannot believe I missed that!” – okay, so you missed an easy shot. What happens if you lose the next point? Well, then I am down game point And what happens if you lose that point? Well, then it is 5-5 and it is close to a tiebreak and I NEVER win tiebreaks And what happens if you lose the tiebreak? Well, I lose the set What happens if you lose the set? Well, I might lose the match What happens if you lose the match? Well, I will be upset, and my ranking might drop What happens if your ranking drops? Well, I don’t really know, I guess I won’t be able to get into that college I hoped to get into. What happens if you don’t get into that college? Well, I will go to another one Ok, do you really know one way or the other that this college will be a lesser experience for you or provide less opportunities for your future? Well, I guess not, no Ok, so stop stressing about missing that easy volley and get back to competing….. So, go ahead, knock yourself out and think through just how bad it can get and you will see it is not that bad after all! GET ANGRY: I used to show my teams a YouTube clip of Tommy Haas losing a match at the Australian Open. He came to the changeover and started berating himself, basically telling himself that he is a worthless tennis player and overall useless human being. For about 60 seconds he went to town on himself, got it all out in the open for everyone to see and hear. However, as soon as the referee called time, he said, “C’mon,” skipped out of his chair and went on to dominate the rest of the match. He had turned his frustration and anger into pure determination, demanding more from his body and his mind. I am not condoning bad behavior by any means, so please remember: Smashing rackets is STUPID and EXPENSIVE. Cussing up a storm is STUPID and EMBARRASSING. Punching the fence, your racket or something else is STUPID and will probably HURT. Let out a yell, slap your thigh, bang the ball on the ground on your side of the court (not against a fence or over the fence!), or talk to yourself like you would your own worst enemy. Do all of these things but ONLY doing them if it is a cathartic action. You must be really willing to let go of it all and use that energy to make yourself more determined for the next point or game. In the long run, it has to provide you with POSITIVE energy, not take energy away from you in a “I’m feeling sorry for myself” kind of way. These are two very different states and should not be confused. I see plenty of players getting angry and look like they live under a grey cloud by adopting a miserably mopey demeanor. In fact, they just look like spoiled little brats that believe that life is unfair. Every so often I see someone get angry, become more determined and demand more from themselves. They recognize that feeling sorry for themselves has never once worked in helping them play better tennis and problem solve how to win a tennis match. With every outburst their body language improves dramatically, and they are ready to compete now that they have let go of their frustration. DON’T SET GOALS: I know, I know, I know, I have spoken about the importance of goal setting before, and again a lot of research has been done on the positive effects of goal-setting but I just don’t believe it is the right solution for everyone. Sometimes setting a goal and falling just short of it can lead to doubts and too much rigidity. Case in Point: You are currently ranked 184 in your state you want to be ranked in the top 50 in the state by the end of 2019. Then you get to the end of 2019 and you are ranked 62, should you feel poorly about this or believe you should have done something drastically different? Of course not, but some tennis players can be guilty of this way of thinking. The other potential issue with goals is that you are assuming you will feel a certain way about a certain goal at some date in the future. This assumes a lot. We are constantly evolving, and we have no idea the type of person we will be, and the things we will value a year from now, never mind in 5 years. Maybe you would be better served now, and in the future, focusing on the task at hand and less about the outcome or final result. I am not saying you should do all three of these things. In fact, I am not saying you should do any. What I am trying to do is get you to explore your own views about all the things we are supposed to conform to as a tennis player. You will be told time and time and time again to “BE POSITIVE,” to not get “ANGRY” and to set “GOALS” by many well-intentioned people. But these same people may have heard it from other well-intentioned people and so on. They may have never stopped to question whether it is valid or works for their day to day life; it is just something they heard, and it sounded like good advice. I want you to explore the why of these things. Is there another way to do it that works for your personality and temperament? Sometimes it is healthy to conform and sometimes it can be extremely unhealthy. 24 I thebaseliner.net "You must be really willing to let go of it all and use that energy to make yourself more determined for the next point or game." how to start? TENNIS IS DIFFERENT THAN IT USED TO BE! Tennis players scored higher in vigor, optimism and self–esteem, while scoring lower in depression, anger, confusion, anxiety and tension, than other athletes and non–athletes, according to Dr. Joan Finn and colleagues at Southern Connecticut State University. 25 I thebaseliner.net There are quite a few changes in tennis for kids ages 10 and under that make the sport more accessible and allowing kids quicker success in what used to be a frustrating sport. Low compression balls that bounce lower and slower allow kids to rally for longer, and spend a lot less time chasing down balls. Racquets are now scaled to size, shorter and lighter than adult racquets, with a grip to fit smaller hands. Even the court dimensions have changed for the youngest players, with smaller sized courts that are kid-proportioned. PARENTS, want a lifetime sport for your kids? What is the Youth Tennis Progression in 10 and Under Tennis? USTA has designed a best-in-class system to track the progress of junior players, ages 7 to10 from orange ball to green ball and green ball to yellow ball. The system will track a player’s progress through participation in designated tournaments and Junior Team Tennis. Players will receive stars for completing tournaments. Trophies are also awarded for select tournaments. Find a Team Challenge Find a local facility with appropriate drills or lessons for your age and skill level NET Tournaments Contact mckenzie@ustaoklahoma.com for any questions! Team Tournament is an innovative way for children to enjoy tennis competition in a low-pressure team environment with substitutions. This experience will encourage players of all ages to gain match experience, develop their skills through level- based play, and demonstrate good sportsmanship. It is designed to be delivered as a single event or a series of up to six events, with the objective of providing a fun and social environment that highlights character and skill development. Team Tournament can be played with orange, green, or yellow tennis balls. WHAT? Team Challenge is an introduction to tennis competition offering a low-pressure team environment for children of all ages to develop their skills through level-based play, without an emphasis on instruction or results. It is designed to be delivered as a single event or a series of up to six events, with the objective of providing a fun and social environment that highlights character and skill development. Team Challenge can be played with red, orange or green tennis balls. 26 I thebaseliner.net 1. Submit a Team Challenge application CLICK HERE FOR APPLICATION 2. Register as a provider on NetGeneration.com 3. Attend a Team Challenge webinar training 4. Submit post-pilot survey 2020 NET GENERATION PATHWAY 1. Submit a Team Tournament application CLICK HERE FOR APPLICATION 2. Register as a provider on NetGeneration.com 3. Attend a Team Challenge webinar training 4. Submit post-pilot survey pilot requirements team tournament team challenge WHAT? pilot requirements 27 I thebaseliner.net summer advancing League 2019 schedule JUNIOR TEAM TENNIS spring League June 4th-June 28th (Summer Program is only the Month of JUNE)- Match play days Tuesdays & Thursdays June 4, 6, 11, 13, 18, 20, 25, 27 2019 District Championships July 15 & 16 (10U, 12U, 14U, & 18U) @ OKCTC 2019 Section Championships July 22-23 (18U) in Tulsa @ LaFortune Park Tennis Center July 23-24 (12U & 14U) in Tulsa @ LaFortune Park Tennis Center 2019 National Championships November 7-10 14U in San Antonio, TX/McFarlin Tennis Center November 14-17 18U in San Antonio, TX/ McFarlin Tennis Center Fall League March 3rd-April 21st Match play days Sundays @2pm March 3, 10, 17, 31, April 7, 14, 21 Earn stars for Smashers & Challenger Points! Age Divisions: 10U, 12U, 14U, 18U Want to play? Contact your local tennis facility or Casey McKenzie mckenzie@ustaoklahoma.com September 8th-October 20th Match Play days Sundays @ 2pm September 8, 15, 22, 29, Oct 6, 13, 20 Melissa Leber, MD, Assistant Professor of Orthopedics and Emergency Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, as well as Director of Emergency Department Sports Medicine at the Mount Sinai Health System MAXIMIZE PERFORMANCE In this Q&A, Dr. Leber offers some insights she has developed through treating both amateurs and elite athletes, including rising young tennis stars and established players on the tour. Her key takeaways: It’s never too late to start a fitness program, and it’s best to mix it up—that is, mix your tennis with a variety of other activities. Courtesty of USTA.com 29 I thebaseliner.net Q: What do you mean by mixing it up? Dr. Leber: Cardiovascular exercise, like sprinting around the tennis court or running on a treadmill, is essential. But we underestimate the importance of strength training, whether it’s hand-held weights, weight machines or resistance bands. If you can work on a good strength-training program and really focus on specific muscle groups, it will help prevent injury. Another benefit is that a resistance training program actually boosts your endurance. Q: Why is mixing it up important? Dr. Leber: The best thing you can do is change your frequency, intensity and duration of exercise so that your body never gets accustomed to any one training routine. The more you change it, the more effective your training routine will be, and this will help you to avoid overtraining. It’s much the same for professional athletes. You should avoid doing the same routine over and over. Q: Can you give an example? Dr. Leber: If you like to lift weights, then you can lift heavier weights one day with fewer repetitions, and then on some days, try less weight and more reps. If you like running, you can do long distances, or interval training, mixing in sprints. Instead of just playing tennis, you can add swimming or weights to your exercise routine. Or you may want to add yoga, pilates and core work, such as barre class. This will help you avoid overtaxing your body and become a stronger and an all-around better athlete. Q: How much strength training in the gym do you recommend? Dr. Leber: I like to use this general rule of thumb: If you are 30 years old, you should think about spending 30 percent of your exercise on resistance training, typically lifting weights, either free weights, using weight machines or body weight exercise. As you age, the amount of weight training should increase, so that when you are 50 years old, you should devote 50 percent of your activity to resistance training. Q: Any advice for a newcomer to exercising in the gym? Dr. Leber: There are plenty of resources available to get you started, including joining your local gym, applications on your smart phone, finding a personal trainer, watching videos or just weightlifting in your basement. You can also talk with your doctor or a sports medicine specialist for a suggestion about using a physical therapist. Most important: Go slow and work your way up, just as you do to build endurance. Sometimes the hardest part is getting started. It takes time to make something a habit. But you will learn to enjoy it, and the benefits will last a lifetime. W/ DR. LEBER Q & A 8OSU 11UCO State University's Nationally Ranked Women... 47TU 34OU 31 I thebaseliner.net State University's Nationally Ranked Men... 32 I thebaseliner.net 30OSU 18OU David Diefenderfer graduated from Putnam City High School in 1967. He received his Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Oklahoma in 1971. After undergrad he worked on his masters at OU and Central State where he then graduated from in 1976. David spent most of his tennis coaching career at Putnam City North High School where he was head coach for 27 years as well as 3 years as the assistant coach at Crossings. He coached 25 all state athletes, 22 state champions, and 90 state medalists. During his career he won 29 conference championships and 21 regional championships. While at PCN they won 4 state championships and were Runner Up 3 times. Notable players he coached include Jennifer Hall O’Dell, female Player of the Decade and 3-time State Champ as well as Chris Haworth, 3-time State Champ and National Male Player of the Year in 2011. Aside from tennis David spent 14 years as assistant varsity football coach at PCN, where he overlapped as head coach for the freshman football team for 10 years. He coached football at Moore Central Junior High, Mayfield Junior High and PC Hefner Junior High. He also coached wrestling, golf and track. David has been a member of the OTCA for 29 years. He was named OTCA Boys Coach of the Year 2008-2009, OTCA Coach of the Year 2000-2001, and All State Tennis Coach of the Year in 2004. The Daily Oklahoman named him Coach of the Year in 1997 and 2001. He founded the Putnam City North Panther Tennis Camp for 10 years. David served on the advisory board from 1992-1994, 2000, 2001 and 2002. Outside of tennis, David was Coach of the Year multiple times for his coaching career with wrestling. David does security work at Crossings Community Church in his free time. David lives in Oklahoma City, OK with his wife Karen. He has four children, Alison Krattiger, Lindsey Snow, Lauren Dodson and Brian Diefenderfer. Robert graduated from Ardmore High School in 1968. He attended Central State for the fall of 1968, East Central for spring 1969 to fall of 1970 and then received his Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Oklahoma in 1976. Robert got his start coaching at Lone Grove where he coached football, track and basketball. He was there for 2 years before he began his 20-year coaching career at Ardmore High School. He coached tennis and basketball from 1986 to 2000. He was a boys varsity head coach for 15 years and girls varsity head coach for 5 years. He was also a head coach for boys junior high for 5 years. Under his coaching they won four tennis state championships and were runner up once. Robert coached several all state athletes and had 21 individual state champions. Robert has been a member of the OTCA for 20 years. He was named OCA Tennis Coach of the Year, All State Tennis Coach, Region 5 Tennis Coach of the Year 3 times and OBCA Assistant Basketball Coach of the Year. Robert lives in Ardmore with his wife Cheryl. He has two daughters Brittyn Rosebure and husband Kyle, Katie Brown and husband Bo. He is the proud grandfather of three grandchildren Katelyn Skinner, Josh Skinner and McKenna Rosebure. Robert Meek Oklahoma Tennis Coaches Association 2019 Hall of Fame Class Inducted Pat Heidlage graduated from Chickasha High School in 1955. She received her Bachelor of Science from the Oklahoma College of Women in 1959 and received her Master of Education from Northeastern State University in 1991. Pat was head tennis coach for the Varsity girls’ team at Claremore High School and Owasso High School. She served as the Claremore Parks Department Community Tennis camp director from 1968 to 2000. Pat served as President Director of the OTCA from 1998-1999. She was named Tennis Coach of the Year in 1998. Up until May 2009, Pat was an employee of the Claremore School System for 36 years working as the Physical Education instructor. The elementary gym was dedicated to her in November 2009 and she was named teacher of the Year for 1987-1988. She was active in her community serving as Jump Rope for Heart Coordinator benefiting the American Heart Association from 1985-2006 and working for Claremore United Way from 1997-2015. She was choir director for the Claremore Community Chorus 1995-2006 and St. Cecilia’s Choir 1985 to present. Pat has been active alumni board for the Oklahoma College of Women, now University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma from 1966 to present. Pat currently lives in Claremore, OK. She is widowed by her husband Robert. She has three children, Robert F. Heidlage Jr. (and wife Jeanne), Vickie Heidlage – Williams (and husband Tim), and Charles Heidlage. Rusty Bradley Pat Heidlage Rusty Bradley graduated from Muskogee High School in 1976. During his High School career, he was No. 1 Singles State Champion in 1976 and Runner Up in 1975. He attended the University of Tulsa from 1976-1981 on a full scholarship where he received his Bachelor of Science. During his college career he was a 2-time Missouri Valley Champion in singles and doubles. Rusty was named University of Tulsa MVP in 1976 and 1981. Rusty has spent most of his coaching career at Muskogee High School where he has been for 27 years as well as 2 years in Pauls Valley. Rusty has been the boys’ varsity head coach for 29 years and the girls’ varsity head coach for 15 years. He has coached 9 All State athletes and 3 individual State Champions. Rusty has been a member of the OTCA for 29 years. He served as president of the OTCA from 2005-2006. He has served on the advisory board for 5 terms and is on the board currently. He was awarded OTCA Coach of the Year in 2006, All State East Coach of the Year in 2014 (where they won) and Regional Coach of the Year. Rusty lives in Muskogee, OK with his wife Shelli. He has three children, Aubrey, Russ and Shaw, and is the proud grandfather of Noah. David Diefenderfer Alan Simpson Mary Hudson Phil Veazey Phil graduated from Friona High School in Friona, Texas in 1979. He attended West Texas State University where he got his Bachelors in Education in 1984. He was also Oklahoma Certified from Southwestern Oklahoma State University in 1986. Phil got his start coaching in Plainview, TX where he was head coach for the junior high boys basketball and boys track teams. He was assistant coach for boys junior high football. He was in Plainview from 1984-1985 before moving to Clinton. There he was assistant coach for junior high boys basketball, football and boys and girls tennis. He was head coach for girls junior high basketball and varsity head coach for boys and girls tennis. He started coaching there in 1986 and is still coaching tennis 33 years later. Under his coaching, his Clinton varsity boys tennis team was named runner up in 1990. Phil has coached 9 all state athletes and had 2 individual state champions. Phil has been a member of the OTCA for 30 years. He was president 1995-1996, president elect 1994-1995 and has served on the advisory board for 12 years. He was named OCA Coach of the Year in 2015. Phil was also named Clinton High School Teacher of the Year in 2011. Phil lives in Clinton, OK with his wife Lori. He has two children, Paige (Veazey) McLaughlin and husband Jentry, Payne Veazey and wife, Getse. Mary Hudson graduated from College High in Bartlesville in 1976. She went on to receive her Bachelor of Science in English from Oklahoma State where she graduated in 1980. She received her Masters in Library Medicine from UCO in 1995. Mary has been the head tennis coach at Stillwater High School, Shawnee Junior High, Guthrie Junior High and High School. She has been a boys varsity head coach for 15 years and girls varsity head coach for 17 years. She has been a head coach for boys junior high for 3 years and girls for 5 years. She has coached 2 all state athletes. Outside of tennis, Mary coached basketball at Stillwater High School for one year. Mary has been a member of the OCTA for 16 years where she served as president for the 2011-2012 term. She served 3 terms on the OTCA advisory board, as well as serving numerous times on the Regional Selection Committee. Mary was named OCTA All State Coach in 2017. Mary is a member of the First Southern Baptist Church and leads a weekly bible school for 12 high school girls. She served 18 years on the Kappa Alpha Theta Corporation Board in Stillwater. She was a past Board of Director of the Oklahoma State Alumni Association and past president and board member of the Logan County OSU Alumni Association. Mary currently lives in Guthrie, OK with her husband Robert. She has five children Robbie, John, Greg, Amy and Hank. She loves having her family over after church each Sunday for a highly critiqued meal, but more importantly it is a great time to spend time with her kids, their spouses and her five grandchildren. Alan is married to Kim, his lovely wife of 41 years. Their children, Zac and Chelsea, were exceptional student athletes in basketball, tennis and academics and were Byng’s first tennis all staters. Alan received his BA and MS degrees at Southeastern in 1972 and 1976. He had a 42-year coaching career. He was a head boys basketball coach for 24 years and for 34 years he was the JH and HS boys and girls tennis coach at Byng. He is a member of the following Hall of Fames: OBCA (2004); OCA (2009); Murray State College (2011); and OTCA (2019). His tennis honors are: OCA State Coach of the Year, 2006, 2012, 2014; OSSAA Boys Coach of the Year, 2014; USTA State Coach of the Year, 2014; Class 4A OTCA Coach of the Year, 2011, 2014, 2015; NFHS SW Section Boys Coach of the Year, 2014; OCA Region 6 Coach of the Year, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014; OCA East AllState Coach, 2003. His Byng teams were: 4A Boys State Champs, 2014, 2015; 4A Boys State Runner-up, 2012, 2013; 4A Girls State Runner-up, 2014, 2015; 4A Boys Academic State Champs, 2011, 2013, 2015; Alan coached 12 individual state champs, 10 individual runner ups, and 10 all staters. With basketball, his 24-year career record was 476-198, an average of 20 wins/yr. His first year as a head coach he took his alma mater, Hugo, to its first-ever state tournament in 1978 and took 9 teams to state from Hugo (2) and Byng (7). At Byng, he won 3A state championships in 1986 (record, 26-4) and 1992 (record, 29-2) and in 1987 his team was runner-up (record, 28-3). In 1986, Alan was the Daily Oklahoman “Oklahoma Basketball Coach of the Year”. And, in 1992 he was the OBCA “Oklahoma Basketball Coach of the Year”. He was OBCA President in 1992; 1999 Faith 7 Coach (Oklahoma 105, Texas, 101); OCA All-State Coach, 1993; OCA Region 6 Coach of the Year, 1983, ‘87, ‘92, ‘94. He served on numerous OCA and OSSAA committees and was Byng High School “Teacher of the Year” in 2000. He has served as a Church Deacon for 25 years, Monthly “Food Bank” for the Needy, Meals on Wheels, and is presently a volunteer tennis coach at Byng Junior High and High School. 34 I thebaseliner.net USPTA RECEIVES FULL  ACCREDITATION STATUS BY USTA LAKE NONA, Fla - The United States Tennis Association (USTA) has announced that the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) has received full accreditation under the USTA's new accreditation program for organizations and institutions that certify U.S. tennis teaching professionals, making the USPTA the first and only accredited association.   "The quality of tennis delivery in our country is the single most important ingredient to growing tennis participation," said Gordon Smith, USTA CEO and Executive Director. "In order to attract and retain new and diverse generations of tennis players, we must do everything possible to ensure their on-court experience is of the highest caliber. Raising the standards for teaching professionals in the United States will positively impact players of all ages and abilities."   Moving forward, the USTA and USPTA will collaborate on a wide array of education initiatives. New certification standards will require new USPTA applicants to complete significant experiential learning. This will include on-the-job training along with pre-certification education, online course work and face-to-face workshops.   "On behalf of the USPTA board of directors and the Executive Committee, we are proud to have achieved full accreditation status," said Gary Trost, USPTA President. "We received our provisional accreditation in March 2018 and being able to achieve the comprehensive provisional and full accreditation process within a year reflects the vision of our board, Executive Committee members and staff, both past and present. Being fully accredited from the governing body of tennis in the U.S. is a true indication that we are the leaders in tennis-teaching certification."   With the shared goal of ensuring that tennis is a safe sport for kids, the USPTA will require all new members to complete the USTA's SafePlay program, which includes a criminal background screening and education on prevention of misconduct in sport.  Now that the USPTA is a fully-accredited teaching organization, USPTA pros will receive a host of benefits, including priority listing on the Net Generation website, as well as a wide array of online and face-to-face education and USTA marketing and promotional opportunities. 35 I thebaseliner.net OKLAHOMA TEAM GETS 3RD AT NATIONAL TOURNAMENT! NATIONAL INVITATIONAL Bonnie Bell Shirley Brody Bonnie Canfield Vivienne Culver Veronica Donnelly Blanca Falcon Janice Green Vibsen Lay A Tulsa United States Tennis Association (USTA) Women’s Super Senior (ages 65 and up) team, representing LaFortune Park, captained by Shirley Brody, competing in the National Championships in Surprise, Arizona placed 3rd of the 15 qualified teams competing in the competition this week. The team was unbeaten in their local Tulsa area league played in the Spring of 2018. In July 2018 they advanced to regional competition in the Kansas City area whereon they won all 5 matches, defeating teams from Kansas City, St. Louis, a second St. Louis squad, Oklahoma City and another Tulsa team. At Nationals, played from January 25-27, 2019, they defeated teams representing New York (from the Eastern Section), Michigan (Midwest Section) and Pennsylvania (Middle States Section) before losing a close semi-final match to Florida. In a playoff for 3rd place, they beat the Southern California team 3-0, who they had previously lost to on the first day of competition. 36 I thebaseliner.net short tennis on campus  sectionals MV Yearbook released Experience Oklahoma Winners USPTA MV Hands out  awards TU & OSU Represented March 13 2019 ADULT 18 & OVER – TULSA: July 13-14  ADULT 40 & OVER – OKCTC: August 3-4 ADULT 55 & OVER – TULSA: June 21-22  ADULT 65 & OVER – TULSA: June 15-16  MIXED 18 & OVER – OKCTC: August 17-18  MIXED 40 & OVER – TULSA: June 22-23 TRI-LEVEL 18& OVER – OKCTC: Oct 5-6 The Bart & Nadia Sports Experience took place at the Cox Convention February 15-16. Close to 500 children came through the tennis both to give tennis a try. #growingthegameoneplayeratatime Kickingbird's Play it Forward Tennis Foundation will be hosting their first Down Syndrome clinic of the year March 13th It was a hard-fought weekend of tennis once again in Des Moines, IA as 16 college club-tennis teams competed for the right to represent their school at next month's 2019 USTA Tennis On Campus National Championship (April 11-13) at the Surprise Tennis & Racquet Club in Surprise, AZ. Oklahoma schools that were participated were the University of Tulsa and Oklahoma State University. 2019 District SETS USTA Missouri Valley recently released the 2019 Yearbook The USPTA Missouri Valley section recently handed out their 2018 awards at the USPTA Workshop in Wichita, KS. Congratulations to our Oklahoma pros that were recognized. Randy Painton Oklahoma Pro of the Year Lane Evans Top Education Point Earner Brody Queal U30 Pro of the Year David Minihan Missouri Valley Pro of the Year 39 I thebaseliner.net Championships Bart and Nadia Sports Down Syndrome Clinic $15 want a hard copy of this months baseliner? email: MCKENZIE@USTAOKLAHOMA.COM to purchase your copy the baseliner in print Order by January 15th! 41 I thebaseliner.net Text USTAOKJUNIORS to 84483 to receive  USTA Oklahoma Juniors alerts usta.com instagram.com/ustaoklahoma USTA Oklahoma Text twitter.com/USTAOKJrComp GET CONNECTED 1500 E. Danforth Rd Edmond, OK 73034 Text Text USTAOKADULT to 84483 to receive  USTA Oklahoma Adult League alerts Text USTA Oklahoma Text minihan@ustaoklahoma.com Text 405.312.5252 TEXT thebaseliner.net Text