Midwestern Tennis Association celebrates 100 years at annual tournament

USTA CENTRAL INDIANA: How was the tournament?

Margaret: It rained Saturday morning July 1st, making it necessary to use all of our indoor rain sites. The junior site at West Indy Racquet Club went indoors and the Tournament Director changed the scoring. The adult players at Tarkington Park were directed to Indianapolis Racquet Club. Scoring remained the same. The senior players at Carmel Clay Courts went indoors to Carmel Racquet Club. It rained until about 1 pm but by that time all adjustments had been made to play indoors so play continued inside. In addition, the Saturday night "Friends and Family Fun in the Park" event scheduled for Tarkington Park was held in the parking lot and the indoor lounge at Indianapolis Racquet Club. We had grilled barbecue chicken, spaghetti, beverages and more with tennis and pickleball on the courts there. More than 90 players attended and had a very festive time! The camaraderie was exceptional as the players got the chance to mingle and talk about their wins and losses. Saturday was beautiful outdoors but we had to contend with rain again on Monday. Tuesday was a great day of hot weather and we were able to close out each division successfully.

USTA CENTRAL INDIANA: What is the history behind your Annual Championship Tournament and your organization?

Margaret: MID-TAC is the Midwest Section of the American Tennis Association (ATA) which was founded in 1916. MID-TAC's first tournament was held in Wilberforce, Ohio in 1923. During the first 50 years, it was played once in Chicago but mostly held in St. Louis, Cincinnati, Louisville and Columbus... Until it was brought to Indianapolis more than 45 years ago where it has remained. Marion I. Rice was an early president of MID-TAC, an esteemed tennis player and a resident of Indianapolis. Riverside Park's tennis courts have recently been named Marion I. Rice Tennis Center in his honor. His son Fred Rice still resides in Indianapolis. MID-TAC has twenty Member Clubs that pay annual dues and have a voice in the decisions made on behalf of MID-TAC. Our Executive Board organizes the Annual Championship Tournament and a Tournament Committee. Players from around the country, not only the Midwest, attend and play over the 4th of July weekend which has been the tradition since its inception. The tournament has more than 50 divisions to accommodate junior and adult players on the same weekend. Many of our players have gone on to become pro athletes, head college tennis coaches, as well as professionals in the fields of medicine, business, teaching, law and entertainment. The former, unprecedented, two-term USTA President, Katrina Adams, also played MID-TAC as a junior. 

MID-TAC was inducted into the Black Tennis Hall of Fame as Organization of the Year in September 2022. The CEO of the Black Tennis Hall of Fame, Shelia Currie, and the first Vice President of the ATA, Robert Foster, were in attendance at our 100th Year Celebration. They came to honor our history and support our future endeavors. It was a pleasure to get to know them better and to forge relationships that will carry on long after the event.

USTA CENTRAL INDIANA: What is MID-TAC's mission?

Margaret: Our updated focus and mission is based on this motto: "MID-TAC is the Premier Tournament for Juniors and the Preferred Tournament for Adults". Whereas MID-TAC provides a genuine, competitive playing environment at our Annual Championship Tournament, we do not provide player points as does the USTA. Therefore, our participants play for the love of the game and for the camaraderie that has been established over the years. There are "bragging rights" that carry some weight but that is purely a personal matter. Junior coaches and Member Clubs know that it is a healthy environment to introduce new players to and a great place for upcoming juniors who want to show their prowess amongst their peers. For 19 years, MID-TAC provided "returning winning junior" stipends to all of the junior divisions, which has transitioned into a $250 Summer Tennis Camp Award for each first-place singles winner in the boys and girls 12s, 14s, 16s and 18s Main Draw. In 2021, we also created an eight-city Local Junior Tennis Day and Juneteenth Celebration. Our grassroots connections are very much intact and continue to be fostered.

USTA CENTRAL INDIANA: Any fun stories from the tournament?

Margaret: It's not as much of a fun story as it is a heartwarming one. Due to Covid-19 in 2020, we had to cancel our annual tournament for the first time. In 2021, we decided it was not safe to have our juniors travel but designed a three-day tournament for adults to attend so as not to lose the continuity of having annual tournaments. In 2022 we brought the juniors back to play but lost many of them. But this year, the junior participation increased from 60 juniors to 101. We felt back on track! I saw several of the younger juniors hanging out and playing at West Indy between their matches, and it was a beautiful thing to see. They were playing for points and giggling with their hits and misses. It was a sure sign that we had found our footing again. 

USTA CENTRAL INDIANA: How many people helped organize this event?

Margaret: Approximately 30 people helped to organize the 100th Year Celebration. We had to do fundraising. So marketing/sponsorship efforts started in early 2022. The Executive Board, and many of our committees, including the newly formed 100th Year Celebration Committee, each contributed. There were also regular volunteers in place. From months of planning and brainstorming everything went well (except for the rain of course). The Executive Board was recognized at the Sunday Night Banquet held at the Marriott. 

USTA CENTRAL INDIANA: July is Parks & Recs Month, what are some of MID-TAC's favorite memories at public parks?

Margaret: Parks are mostly where MID-TAC Member Clubs exist and have their programming. Mother Mary Ann Seames is one of the pioneers of MID-TAC but was the founder of the Chicago Prairie Tennis Club (CPTC) in Illinois. CPTC had its beginnings in Washington Park which is a well-known public park. Wolfe Park in Columbus, Ohio has the same name as its public park of origin. Stony Island Tennis Club and Rainbow Beach Tennis Club both are Chicago clubs whose park homes are also the name of their clubs. One of our newest and most prestigious Member Clubs is Palmer Park Tennis Academy which was also recognized as the Community Tennis Association of the Year by USTA in 2020. They had a plaque presented to them by Billie Jean King. They host all of their training and junior development programs on public courts in Detroit, Michigan. Public parks have made it possible for many of our clubs to exist. Each of our Clubs has a myriad of events and activities that they host for their players, members and supporters. 

"Our history is important and MID-TAC was happy to be able to create some new lasting memories at our 100th Year Celebration." 

Visit midtactennis.org for more information about MID-TAC including details about next year's Annual Championship Tournament, each Member Club and other playing opportunities.