The rich tradition of Chattanooga tennis just got richer.
The prestigious DecoTurf High School Tennis Team Championships moves to Chattanooga for March 2015 after an eight-year run in
Louisville, Ky.
Presented by Icy Hot, the DecoTurf girls tournament is March
20-21, while the boys championship is March 27-28.
“We had a good run of holding the championship in Louisville
for eight years, but having the tournament at the tennis courts at the Champions
Club and Baylor School in Chattanooga takes this event to another level,” said
DecoTurf director Brandon Feusner.
“What Chattanooga brings to the table is a vibrant, mid-sized
city with excellent Southern hospitality, high quality tennis facilities, tradition of hosting local, regional and national tournaments and a
knowledgeable, hard-working tennis community.”
The championship showcases 56 boys and girls prep tennis
teams from nine states, including Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, North
Carolina, Missouri, Oklahoma, Illinois and Missouri.
The boys have 16 teams in each of two divisions (A & B),
including the A defending champion Hinsdale Central (Chicago) and the girls
have 16 teams in A and eight in B.
Several state champs
have secured a spot for 2015 inckuding Baylor School girls (who won the DecoTurf
girls A 2011-12-13), Hinsdale Central and three champs from Georgia - Walton
(6A), Stones Mills (5A) and Blessed Trinity (3A).
“I have never been as excited about this tournament as I am for
next year,” said Feusner.
Chattanooga Coaches
Quotes
“We have enjoyed playing in the DecoTurf tournament in
Louisville three of the past four years. The competition is fantastic with
teams arriving from all over the country. It is so exciting it will now be in
Chattanooga.”
Sue Bartlett, GPS
“I am very excited this prestigious tournament has found its
way to Chattanooga. Teams from all over the eastern and mid-west part of the
nation will be here to play. With the nice tennis facilities and an amazing,
vibrant downtown, I believe the players will love coming here to play.”
Eric Voges, McCallie
Chattanooga Tennis History: The Scenic City hosts the TVOC, one of the South's finest adult tournaments, each June, was the site for the national high school championship twice in the late 1960s and the national 12s and 14s for more than a decade (1961-early 1970s) ... plus a handful of age division world champions and numerous All-Americans.
contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net