CHULA VISTA, CA—Case Tolliver (Bluefield, W.Va.) is a National Rapid Rally silver medalist. He improved upon his bronze medal finish from last year. Daniel Baturyn (San Leandro, CA) won the gold medal in the 8-9 year old boys’ division in this Jr. Olympic Skills competition.
Case Tolliver, bronze winner at Nationals in 2008, will once again represent the WV District at Nationals. Tolliver (Bluefield, WV) was the winner in the 8-9 year old age group locally and regionally. As the East Champion, he will be competing against the Central Champion, Matt Munoz (Findlay, OH), and the West Champion, Daniel Baturyn (San Leandro, CA), for the National Championship. Good luck and congratulations.
The Sarver Tennis Club in Bluefield, WV, has been named one of the Top 50 Welcome Centers according to the Tennis Industry Association. Steve Sarver, a USPTA certified pro since 1975, owns the club and runs all USTA programs, including Tennis Welcome Center, Leagues, Jr. Team Tennis, and Cardio tennis. Adult and junior lessons are available, both private and group. The club is home to the Appalachian Youth Tennis & Education Foundation program for tennis instruction. Throughout the year USTA-sanctioned tournaments are held, along with offering back up for area high-school teams. Along with Sarver’s club, the Annapolis Area Tennis School in Annapolis, MD, has also been named a Top 50 Welcome Center.
Junior Team Tennis is currently registering play in the Eastern Panhandle, Beckley, and Morgantown. If interested in playing or setting up teams in your area, please contact the WV District office aliceann@westvirginiatennis.com for further information. Junior Team Tennis offers match play at various ages and levels with the opportunity for advancement to Sectionals and Nationals. Join today.
You're a competitor. Physically, you may be in the office or at home, but your mind is on court. You just love to play tennis. There's a name for people like you: USTA League Tennis player. USTA League Tennis is the country's largest recreational tennis league, providing organized, structured team matches for more than 600,000 men and women of all ability levels. Teams consist of either all women or all men, and because all teams are set up according to NTRP rating, you're always sure that you'll be facing off against someone of comparable ability. That keeps the competition lively and the atmosphere social, in a format that features two singles and three doubles matches per clash. We also offer mixed doubles leagues. And as part of a team, you've got a built-in support entourage that few pros can match. USTA League Tennis is open to men and women 19 years of age and older, and features local, area and sectional championships, culminating in a national championship.
Pete Deremer, the West Virginia University Club Tennis President, said the Tennis On Campus program is awesome. “Everyone from all of the USTA levels are supportive, helpful, and very active. WVU Club Tennis definitely would not be the same without it and the great staff that helped us along the way. I think that for the program is going down the right path. While it's different playing the World Team Tennis format, it's needed for tournaments or we would be playing the tournaments all week! Overall, I love it and try to support it as best as I can.” Deremer is recruiting more members for next year. “We are constantly looking for new members. Our goal is to lower membership fees, and get more people involved at the local level. With WVU having about 28,000 students, there are certainly more than 50 people who enjoy tennis. Recruitment will get really active early in the semester next year and we are going to try some new things.”
Jr. Team Tennis in on the rise in the Mid-Atlantic. With 1,779 players in 2008, we are already at 1,718 players in March. Mid-Atlantic Jr. Team Tennis Manager Elena Branker said the Section is 61 registrants away from bypassing last year’s total numbers. “We are growing very rapidly and still have the biggest season, summer, to go,” she added. “It should increase as the DC District and West Virginia District look to expand their leagues as well.” The Jr. Team Tennis concept emphasizes fun, fitness, and friends in intermediate and advanced divisions, competing in District, Sectional, and National Championships. To become a program coordinator or to join a team, contact Alice Ann Sarver (West Virginia) at aliceann@westvirginiatennis.com; Caroline Downs (Virginia) at caroline@virginiatennis.com; Alicia von Lossberg (Maryland) at avonloss@isiglobal.net; or Carmela Goodall (Washington, DC) at carmela_goodall@msn.com.
