If one of the children participating in Saturday’s United States’ Tennis Association Mississippi Chapter National Junior Tennis League Rally goes on to win Wimbledon one day, it would indeed be a significant accomplishment.
Organizers of the rally use tennis to build champions not just at the game itself but also in all of their future endeavors.
“We’ve been doing the rallies in this area for ten years now,” said organizer Birlette Jelks. “The National Junior Tennis Organization and the USTA Tennis Foundation brings kids together for a day of fun, informal matches, meeting new friends and pizza! We have children representing places like Columbus, Jackson, Cleveland and Greenville.”
Rallies not only bring together children from near and far, but they also bring volunteers and alumni back to the events each year as coaches and mentors. Chris Adams is a sophomore at Hinds Community College and recently won a state title. He participated in the program as a youth and now helps develop those following in his footsteps.
“I’ve been working with Mr. Jelks and the program as a coach for three years,” Adams explained. “I learned the game of tennis and also became a better person and developed better character.”
Greenville Weston High School head tennis coach Yasmine Barrow was also one of the mentors on hand. Like Adams, she also participated in the program and played tennis in college.
The local chapter of the National Junior Tennis League has been provided a grant to teach the game of tennis to youth.
Jelks, along with instructors S.B. Buck and Harold Hall, teach the sport several days a week and also provide ACT prep courses with the ultimate goal of getting participants through the program and into college.
John Cox, a Cleveland attorney, is a former board member for USTA. He captured the day’s event through the eyes of those just experiencing the game for the first time and all of the possibilities that lie ahead.
“It’s just fun to watch kids who come out here and wonder if they can ever hit a tennis ball and see the enthusiasm that accompanies learning the game,” Cox said. “This is a new generation of tennis players who will learn to love the game and appreciate its long term health and social benefits.”
Russell Dendy and Angie Deleon, administrators from the Mississippi Tennis Association were also on hand for the event. “We’re the governing body of the state branch of USTA,” Dendy explained. “Our goal is to promote tennis throughout the state to our youth. This is an organization that was started nationally by Arthur Ashe in 1969.”
