LOUISIANA TENNIS ASSOCIATION

LOUISIANA TENNIS ASSOCIATIONLOUISIANA TENNIS ASSOCIATIONLOUISIANA TENNIS ASSOCIATION

(225) 769-0337

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    • Home
    • ABOUT
      • Board of Directors
      • Staff
      • Employment
      • Committees
      • Our Mission
      • Diversity and Inclusion
      • Press Room
      • Photos
    • Adults
      • New To Tennis
      • Adult League
      • Local League Information
      • Adult State Tournaments
      • Southern Senior Cup
    • Juniors
      • Junior Team Tennis
      • Junior Tournaments
      • 10 & Under Tennis
      • Net Setters
      • Junior Qualifying
      • Southern Junior Cup
    • Community
      • CTA Information
      • Grants
      • Volunteer Awards
      • Award Winners
      • Hall of Fame
    • Tournament Directors
      • Rules and Regulations
      • Officials
      • Sanctioning

LOUISIANA TENNIS ASSOCIATION

LOUISIANA TENNIS ASSOCIATIONLOUISIANA TENNIS ASSOCIATIONLOUISIANA TENNIS ASSOCIATION

(225) 769-0337

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The Diversity and Inclusion Committee and Friends sponsor

On Saturday, October 24th, D&I committee members and friends participated in the Atkinson Stern clean-up day. Participants washed, scrubbed, raked and cut. As a result, the facility now has a fresh look and a lot of tender loving care. The ASTC has a storied past and a bright future. It continues to be a premier tennis training ground for families, veteran players and new players as well.

D&I members, Johnathon Ames, Cherry Baker, Reginald Barner, Austin Penny and Jim Ewers were there lending a hand.


Friends and supporters of Atkinson Stern were Louis Coleman, Deborah Ewers, Ahmad Jabari, Garry Lemar, Craig Mills, Karl Palmer, Hersey Pittman, Steve Rosenthal, Sandy Rosenthal and Benny Whitley. They were instrumental in the success and played a big role in making the clean-up event a great day.

Thanks to all who participated in this event.




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USTA & Genesis health clubs join forces to advance tennis pa

ORLANDO, FLA., October 6, 2020 – The United States Tennis Association (USTA) and Genesis Health 

Clubs  today announced  a strategic  partnership that  brings  together the  national governing 

body for tennis in the United States with one of the largest health and tennis club companies in 

the country.


Through  this  relationship,  both  parties  will  combine  resources  to  continue  growing  the  

sport  of tennis, with a particular focus on attracting new youth and adult players.


State-of-the-art coaching tools, training, and programming support will be provided to Genesis 

tennis professionals  by  the  USTA,  including  access  to  the  USTA’s  Net  Generation  and  

adult  suite  of programs and apps to enhance Genesis’ current youth and adult offerings.


Net Generation is the USTA’s youth tennis brand designed to get more kids, ages 5-to-18, playing 

the  sport.  Through  a  smartphone  app,  coaches  and  players  can  connect  on  practice  

activities, feedback, and skill assessments at the click of a button.  Genesis tennis professionals 

also will gain access  to  USTA  coaching  curriculums,  which  include  video  lesson  plans  and  

activities  to  bolster their current lesson plans.


“Partnering with Genesis Health Clubs helps support our mission of growing tennis by combining top 

quality USPTA and PTR certified coaches with introductory and fitness-based tennis activities,” 

said Michael Dowse, USTA Chief Executive Officer & Executive Director. “With an expanding and newly 

renovated tennis club network throughout the Midwest, Genesis has built an industry-wide reputation 

for creative programming that leads to exceptional growth and player retention.  We’re very excited 

to be working together.”


With more  than  54  Health  Clubs  in  over  six  states,  Genesis  Health Clubs continues  to  

grow and expand its health, wellness, and fitness outreach. Its tennis footprint has expanded with 

15 tennis facilities  that  are  led  by  more  than  90  tennis  professionals,  impacting  

thousands  of  people  by involving them in tennis.


“We’re very excited to be working together to ‘grow the game’ of tennis,” said Rodney Steven, CEO / 

President of Genesis Health Clubs. “It is a privilege to partner with the USTA and be at the 

forefront of the tennis and health industry. Our goals and missions are aligned to achieve the best 

experience and to provide the conduit into the communities that Genesis serves.   I played 

throughout college and  all  six  of  my  kids  were  positively  impacted  by  the  game  through  

high  school  and  collegiate tennis.”


“When  you  combine  the  USTA,  Genesis,  and  the  game  of  tennis,  you  have  the  makings  of 

 a powerful team that will grow and better the tennis landscape in so many ways, said Mike Woody, 

Vice President, National Director of Tennis at Genesis Health Clubs. “Our goal at Genesis Tennis is 

to make a difference through tennis within our facilities, outside our facilities, and in every 

community we serve.”


As part of this new partnership with the USTA, all Genesis tennis professionals will engage in and 

support  the  USTA’s  Net  Generation  youth  brand  by  registering,  creating  a  coaching  

profile,  and becoming SafePlay compliant to help parents find a safe, high-quality tennis coach 

for their children.



“We’re thrilled that Genesis will be utilizing Net Generation in their youth tennis programming,” 

said Craig  Morris,  USTA  Chief  Executive,  Community  Tennis.   “The  Net  Generation  

curriculum  is  all based  on  the  American  Development  Model  (ADM)  to  develop  physical  

literacy  and  athletic development while supporting local coaches as they strive to deliver a 

fantastic on-court experience for kids.”


The USTA and Genesis Health Clubs also will collaborate on ways to attract more adult players to 

the sport through a range of new competitive and social leagues, tournaments, and team events.


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The  USTA is  the  national  governing  body  for  the  sport  of  tennis  in  the  U.S.  and  the  

leader  in  promoting  and developing the growth of tennis at every level -- from local communities 

to the highest level of the professional game. A not-for-profit organization with more than 655,000 

members, it invests 100% of its proceeds in growing the game. It owns and operates the US Open, one 

of the highest-attended annual sporting events in the world, and launched the US Open Series, 

linking eight summer WTA and ATP World Tour tournaments to the US Open. In addition, it owns 

approximately 90 Pro Circuit events throughout the U.S. and selects the teams for the Davis Cup, 

Fed Cup, Olympic and Paralympic Games. The USTA’s philanthropic entity, the USTA Foundation, 

provides grants and scholarships in addition  to  supporting  tennis  and  education  programs  

nationwide  to  benefit  under-resourced  youth  through  the National Junior Tennis & Learning 

(NJTL) network. For more information about the USTA, go to USTA.com or follow the official accounts 

on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat.


Genesis Health Clubs now has 56 locations across six states: Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, 

Oklahoma, and Missouri,  including  twelve  tennis  clubs.  Genesis  offers  premium  luxury  

amenities,  a  wide  variety  of  daily  group exercise classes, and world-class training, 

delivering real results to its members.




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USTA SOUTHERN SLATE

Randy Jackson Nominated to Lead USTA Southern

FORT SMITH, ARK. RESIDENT TO ASSUME PRESIDENCY OF LARGEST USTA SECTION


ATLANTA – SEPTEMBER 27, 2020 – United States Tennis Association (USTA) Southern announced today that Randy Jackson, of Fort Smith, Ark., has been nominated to serve as USTA Southern Board of Directors President & CEO for the 2021-22 term. 


Jackson is presently serving a two-year term as Executive Vice President. Previously, Jackson served as Vice President for three terms after serving as a Director at Large. He is currently serving as Chair of the USTA Local Play and Competition Committee and previously served as the Chair of the USTA Junior Team Tennis Committee. He is a board member of the Arkansas Patrons Foundation and is presently serving as Co-Chair of the USTA Southern Local Leader Liaison Task Force. Prior positions with USTA Southern include chairing the USTA Southern Volunteer Recruitment and Development Task Force, the USTA Southern Governance Ad Hoc Committee and the USTA Southern Junior Safety Ad Hoc Committee. From 2006-10, Jackson was Chairman of the USTA Southern Junior Team Tennis Committee. In 2005-06 he served as President of USTA Arkansas and has since been inducted into the Arkansas Tennis Hall of Fame. 


Brett Schwartz, of Mandeville, La., has been nominated to the post of USTA Southern Executive Vice President. He served as USTA Southern Vice President in 2019-20, Secretary in 2017-18 and as Director at Large in 2015-16. 


The members of the USTA Southern Board of Directors will be voted on by the Southern Section’s nine state associations -- Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee -- for the two-year term beginning on Jan. 1, 2021. The state associations will also vote on the candidates chosen for the USTA Southern Nominating Committee at that time. USTA Southern is the largest of the USTA’s 17 sections, representing nearly 25 percent of the national membership. 

USTA Southern President & CEO Bonnie Vandegrift, of Asheville, N.C., was nominated as the USTA Delegate and Chairman of the USTA Southern Nominating Committee for the 2020-21 term. Here is the full list of nominees for the 2020-21 term:


USTA Southern Board of Directors (nominees)

Name                                       Post                                         Hometown

Randy Jackson                          President & CEO                       Fort Smith, Ark.

Brett Schwartz                          Executive Vice President           Mandeville, La.  

Bill McGugin                               Vice President                           Tn

Drew Meyers                              Vice President                           Lafayette, La.

Ted Reese                                    Vice President                           Cary, N.C.

John Herring                              Treasurer                                   Lexington, Ky.

Bill McGugin                               Secretary                                  Nashville, Tenn.

Ernie James                                Director at Large                        Florence, S.C.

Ashley Massengale                  Director at Large                        Atlanta

Jim Warren                                 Director at Large                        Jackson, Miss.

Bonnie Vandegrift                    USTA Delegate                         Asheville, N.C.

USTA Southern Nominating Committee (nominees)

Name                                       Post                                         Hometown

Bonnie Vandegrift                     Chair                                         Asheville, N.C.

Donna Gast                              Member                                    Cary, N.C.

Paul Pittman                             Member                                    Florence, S.C.

Jenifer Tucker                           Member                                    Fayetteville, Ark.

Derek White                              Member                                    Savannah, Ga.

A list of bios for the board nominees is attached. Photos are available on request.

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2021-22 Louisiana Tennis Slate Announced!

Pursuant to the USTA LTA Bylaws, below is the Nominating Committee’s proposed Slate of Board of Directors and Nominating Committee for the 2021-2022 term.


BOARD OF DIRECTORS

President Jay Boyd Bossier City

Executive Vice President Emily Becker Covington

Vice President Grady Wilson Shreveport

Vice President Jennifer Edmonson Baton Rouge

Secretary Kathy Ruckstuhl Lafayette

Treasurer Ed Gaskell New Orleans

Region 1 Southeast Lana Whitlow Metairie

Region 2 Eastern Josh Dubois Baton Rouge

Region 3 Southwest Courtney Dugas Lafayette

Region 4 Northern Bob Patterson Shreveport

Region 5 Northshore Barbara Fisher Mandeville

USPTA Representative Janusz Conradi Lafayette

Tennis Professional Rep Chris Dazet New Orleans

Immediate Past President Bruce Kingsdorf Mandeville

Director at Large Rusty Jabour Baton Rouge

Director at Large Jim Ewers New Orleans


NOMINATING COMMITTEE

Bruce Kingsdorf Chairman Mandeville

Rusty Jabour Member Baton Rouge

Chris Dazet Member New Orleans

Jason Hazley Member Mandeville

Jim Ewers Member New Orleans


Robert Daigle

USTA LTA Nominating Chairman



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Southern Cares Initiative

Funds Tennis Industry with $803,800

ATLANTA – Sept. 14, 2020 – USTA Southern was concerned about the financial instability brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and decided to provide extra support to tennis industry professionals and volunteers who work in many occupations and live in nine Southern states.


Last April, the USTA Southern Board of Directors voted to fund a new initiative, named Southern Cares. After extensive outreach to the tennis industry in the Southern Section, USTA Southern awarded $803,800 to 917 recipients for an average of $876.55. It is expected the number of approvals and grant funds will increase slightly. Applications were received from 1,103 individuals and organizations.


Southern Cares offered needed aid to those who provide tennis to communities within the Southern tennis family and were impacted by COVID-19. The purpose of this initiative was to provide financial support for teaching pros, tennis facilities, tournament directors, league coordinators, officials, community tennis associations, NJTLs, adaptive programs, wheelchair programs and media who have lost income or revenue due to the cancellation of events and to help defray costs of restarting tennis programs. 


The demanding challenge of reviewing and selecting applications fell mostly on the 11-member volunteer board. Additionally, six USTA Southern staffers with specific expertise in the program areas were also assigned to the task of reviewing applications. Staff members from the nine state tennis associations within USTA Southern were also consulted on the applications.


USTA Southern President & CEO Bonnie Vandegriftsaid, “COVID-19 has negatively impacted so many in our tennis family and USTA Southern is very fortunate to be in a strong financial position to help. As facilities are reopening, and tennis has been identified as a safe sport, we are seeing resurgence in play and an opportunity for our community partners to introduce the sport to both juniors and adults alike.” She also added other comments during an interview on the section’s podcast, Talking Tennis Southern Style.

“USTA Southern is pleased we have been able to assist so many in the tennis industry in the nine Southeastern states with this Southern Cares project,” USTA Southern Executive Director & COO John Callen added. “Tennis is rapidly picking up new players to our ‘COVID-19 safe’ sport and one that adds years to our lifespans. By helping our industry stay as strong as possible, tennis should be poised to grow and expand in South in the months and years to come.”


The Southern Cares program was divided into three categories:

Teaching professionals (often called tennis pros):

· 723 applicants

· 641 awarded support

· $320,500.00 total support

· Average: $500.00

Tennis facilities: approximately 70% are public, 30% are private 

· 167 applicants

· 139 awarded support

· $278,700.00 total support

· Average: $2,577.88

“Others” in the tennis industry: tournament directors; Junior Team Tennis and Local League coordinators (tennis organizers); officials; media; tennis nonprofits affiliated with the USTA including community tennis associations, National Junior Tennis and Learning, wheelchair tennis and adaptive/special populations organizations:

· 213 applicants

· 107 individuals, 56 organizations awarded support

· $151,000 total support

· Average: $926.38 


Here is a sample of the more than 70 recipients who responded to a survey about their reaction to the support:

Neil Witherow; Jackson, Miss.; teaching pro

This is a great example of how the USTA Southern continues to show its support for those in the industry. They could have easily just left this work to the government, or even saved its resources in this time of uncertainty. However, it chose to pay forward for the care that many in the industry will, in turn, show to their customers and tennis students. 

Mike Hurley; Old Hickory, Tenn.; teaching pro

It provided a needed positive "spark" to stay engaged and that we were not alone in our concerns. As well, it acknowledged the importance of tennis professionals.

Geoff Waring; tennis manager for Montgomery, Ala. Parks and Recreation; facility

It has provided a buffer for my family’s income while my facility was closed. It was so helpful. The facility grant helped at a time when we know we will be having a tough budget crunch at our municipal facilities and will help us to maintain our facility and serve the public.

JoAnn Lee; Creekside Tennis & Swim; Charleston, S.C.; facility
It was very helpful during this time when COVID-19 shut down our facility. We are now running at full capacity and all our tennis programs are up at least 15 to 20 percent.

Robert Sasseville; Fairburn, Ga.; tournament director
Thank you to USTA Southern for establishing this program that acknowledges the significant sacrifice that all in the tennis industry have experienced during this once-in-a-lifetime challenge. It will be used to defray the cost of tennis balls and/or officials at the three USTA Georgia events we conducted in July and August. 

Meg Farrelly; Isle of Palms, S.C.; official
Southern has helped me finance being as safe as possible during this back-to-tennis time. In February I went to a dollar store and bought every pump hand sanitizer they had. 87 in all. Smartest thing I have ever done. I now share my emergency buckets with all the tournaments in the Lowcountry. 

Carla O’Connor; Charlotte, N.C.; community tennis assoc. (Talking Tennis Southern Style)

As a recipient, I think it is about much more than the money. It translates to a much-needed morale booster at this time. … It will go a long way to help solidify the partnership and the relationship tennis professionals have with the USTA.


Ron Cioffi

USTA Southern (US Tennis Association) Director, Communications

cioffi@sta.usta.com; O: 770-368-8200 x112; M: 770-378-7856

 

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5/18/2020

Sectional Championships Cancelled

The United States Tennis Association (USTA) Southern Section Board of Directors announced the cancellation of its 2020 USTA Adult League championships due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The six events were scheduled between late July and early December in six cities.

USTA League and Combo Doubles are considered the flagship of the USTA, with 90,000 players in USTA Southern and 330,000 nationally. The leagues consist of teams of about six to 20 players in various age categories. Most teams start competing at the local level and advance to state and sectional championships. Last year, approximately 7,000 players and 600 teams participated in USTA Southern championships and contributed millions of dollars to local economies.

In many states in USTA Southern, most local league play was either halted, canceled or had not begun. Once the USTA announces when local play resumes, individual state associations will decide on the fate of their state adult league championships for 2020. 

The USTA had announced in April that all 2020 USTA national adult league championships were canceled due to the COVID-19 epidemic. 

Here are the six canceled events, with dates and locations:

  • USTA League      Adult 18 & Over Southern Sectional Championships; July 24-27;      Rome, Ga.
  • USTA League      Adult 40 & Over Southern Sectional Championships; Aug.7-9, Aug. 14-16; Auburn, Ala.
  • USTA League      Adult 55 & Over Southern Sectional Championships; Sept.18-21; Asheville, N.C.
  • USTA      Southern Mixed Doubles Sectional Championships; Oct. 9-11; Lexington, Ky.
  • USTA League      Adult 65 & Over Southern Sectional Championships; Nov. 13-16; Dothan, Ala.
  • Combo      Doubles Southern Sectional Championships; Dec. 4-7; Mobile, Ala.

USTA Southern President & CEO Bonnie Vandegrift said, “It is with a heavy heart that we have had to cancel these important championships. USTA League and Combo Doubles are the backbone of local tennis participation in USTA Southern and throughout the country. The safety of our players is our priority. We are truly disappointed that we cannot stage these tournaments, which allows our players to be physically active and gives our cities significant travel revenue.”

USTA Southern Adult League Committee Chair Helen Martin added, “Our USTA League and other adult players are so passionate about playing. That makes is especially disappointing that we won’t be able to give them the opportunity to compete with other players from our nine states. The good news is that we will be able to focus on supporting local tennis programs.”

USTA Southern Director of Adult Tennis & Human Resources Chris Walling added, “This was not an easy decision and one that was ultimately decided on by what is best for our players. The health and safety of our players was the number one priority. Additionally, one of the many items we looked at was what our players told us. In a recent USTA Southern League survey with over 13,000 responses, an overwhelming majority of our players made it clear that they wanted to focus on local league options and were not comfortable with team events with more than 300 players in attendance.” 

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4/23/2020

Blue Chip Boys

Congratulations boys on this very high achievement! Welsh Hotard and Benjamin Koch have been doubles partners for around 8 years. They won their first Southern closed in 12s and have continued to win many Southern and National titles together. They won the prestigious Easter Bowl in 2018 and won the bronze ball at national clays and Winter Nationals.
Ben will be attending LSU on an athletic scholarship and Welsh will be attending University of Oklahoma on an athletic scholarship.
Presently Welsh is according to tennis recruiting.com the number 3 recruit in the Senior Class and Ben is the number 17 recruit in the Senior Class.

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4/17/2020

SEC Men's Service Team 2019/20, Daniel Moreno

LSU Men's Tennis player, Daniel Moreno was recognized on the men's tennis SEC Community Service 2019-2020 team for his accomplishments beyond the field of competition.  

Daniel is a sophomore from  Guadalajara, Mexico. He has spent multiple hours volunteering and giving back to the Baton Rouge community. For the second year in a row, Daniel volunteered at the Knock Knock Museum, a local children's museum intended to provide high-quality learning experiences for children. The museum is also geared to expand knowledge in the STEM subjects while increasing early literacy skills through their specialized interactive exhibits.  Daniel was coordinating a demonstration for World Water Day, prior to campus closing for the semester. The Sophomore tennis player also participated in the Halloween Boozar. Congrats Daniel!

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Press Releases

Be A Player Become A Member- Drew Meyers (pdf)Download
2020 Cajun Classic Press Release 3/10/20 (pdf)Download
USTA Industry Support (pdf)Download
2020 USTA Yearbook (pdf)Download
2020 Sectional Championships Cancelled (pdf)Download
USTA Southern August Newsletter (pdf)Download

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