Tennis Briefs(2): Gators at Tennis on Campus Invitational; Grants

Florida Gators Look for 3-Peat at USTA ‘Tennis on Campus’ Fall Invitational in S.C.

The Gold Bracket UF-“A” champions

Last year the University of Florida became the first repeat winner at the USTA Tennis On Campus Fall Invitational, and this year they will go for three in a row when the 2015 USTA Tennis On Campus Fall Invitational is held at Palmetto Dunes Tennis Center in Hilton Head Island, S.C., on Oct. 9-11.

The event serves as the national kickoff for the USTA Tennis On Campus season across U.S. universities and colleges and provides an opportunity for students in club and intramural tennis programs to compete for their schools. The event winner and finalist will earn an automatic bid to compete for the national title at the 2016 USTA Tennis On Campus National Championship on April 14-16 in Cary, N.C.

Joining UF in representing the USTA Florida Section will be the two-time USTA Florida Section champion (2012, ’06) University of Central Florida Knights.

Forty-eight coed intramural and club tennis teams were selected for the 5th annual event. Following the tournament, schools will continue to compete within the USTA’s 17 regional sections in regular-season tournaments, leading to their sectional champions and qualification for nationals.

USTA Tennis On Campus is designed to increase recreational tennis participation at colleges and universities and provide socially competitive coed team play for students. The USTA Tennis On Campus program features more than 35,000 college students competing nationwide in intramural and intercollegiate coed club play using the World TeamTennis format.

Tennis on Campus Fall Invitational Past Champions:

2014 — University of Florida
2013 — University of Florida
2012 — Duke University
2011 — University of Virginia
2010 — University of Alabama

Since its inception in 2000, Tennis On Campus has grown significantly and today is played on more than 650 college campuses across the country. Developed by the USTA in partnership with NIRSA, World TeamTennis and the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, the Tennis On Campus program gives college students the opportunity to build leadership skills, network in a coed sports environment and compete on a college team without the rigors of playing in a varsity program.

For more info go to www.tennisoncampus.com.

Eagle Ram Tennis in Niceville Receives Grant from United States Tennis Association

The Eagle Ram Tennis Center opened its gates in Niceville, Fla. in September of last year behind $10,000 in funding from the USTA Florida Foundation and $15,000 from the USTA national body. Last week the USTA national body announced another grant for $5,000 toward the facility’s “Let’s Light it Up Campaign” to fund lights for four courts.

The facility is a joint venture between Niceville High School and Ruckel Middle School, two schools with a history of producing championship teams and players, but schools that had previously never had tennis courts to call their own.

“A goal of the USTA grant is to provide communities access to safe, appealing and functional tennis environments, and we are happy to partner Eagle Ram Tennis Center to accomplish this in Niceville,” said USTA National Senior Director, Market Development & Collegiate Tennis, Virgil Christian. “The essence of this USTA Facilities Grant initiative is to leverage tennis facilities to promote lifelong healthy activity.”

The courts are open to the public during after-school hours and weekends.

The USTA funds are in addition to $60,000 in private funds from Niceville residents Kristie and Andy Edwards for court lights.

“I was lucky enough to have public courts just down the road from my house,” Kristie Edwards told the Northwest Florida Daily News in June of playing tennis as a child. “I have such fond memories of my friends and I all meeting at the courts and playing. The [Eagle Ram] courts look great, and lots of volunteers worked very hard to make these courts happen.”

Whether communities are attempting to build new tennis facilities, renovate and upgrade existing ones, or construct new 36- and 60-foot tennis courts, the USTA provides the tools communities need to make it happen — from guidance on advocacy efforts to technical and financial assistance. For more info go to www.usta.com/Facilities/facility_services.

Florida tennis grants are made through the USTA Florida Foundation, the official giving arm of USTA Florida. With a mission of “Changing Lives through Tennis,” the USTA Florida Foundation provides financial support to organizations that help people of all ages and abilities improve their health and quality of life through the great game of tennis. The Foundation grants offer funding for youth tennis programs, adaptive tennis programs for those with special needs, community tennis programs in economically challenged areas, along with facility assistance in the renovation, refurbishment and building of quality public tennis facilities.

For more info go to www.ustafloridafoundation.com.