Seven USTA officials earn district awards

With November designated as Officials Appreciation Month—and Nov. 10-16 serving as USTA Officiating Appreciation Week—it’s a great time of year to recognize the impact of local tennis officials.

To that end, USTA Missouri Valley is highlighting the following seven officials who were selected for 2024 awards within their respective districts.

• Cynthia Baine (USTA Missouri)
• Jeanne Chavez (USTA Heart of America)
• Liz Lahm (USTA St. Louis)
• Simon Norman (USTA Kansas)
• Milica Oliver (USTA Iowa)
• Charlie Smith (USTA Oklahoma)
• Noelle Wegiel (USTA Nebraska)

Additionally, Charlie Smith of USTA Oklahoma was chosen for the 2024 USTA Missouri Valley Outstanding Official Award. View the complete list of USTA Missouri Valley award recipients by clicking here. Smith will be one of several individuals honored at the USTA Missouri Valley Annual Conference. Learn more and register for the conference—which takes place Dec. 5-7 in Overland Park, Kan.—by clicking here.

Cynthia Baine

Following a one-year retirement, Cynthia Baine of Joplin, Mo. returned to the tennis courts within USTA Missouri as a roving umpire, chair umpire, line umpire and referee. Baine officiated both USTA junior and adult tournaments as well as USTA League events. She worked multiple Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) dual matches in Missouri and beyond.

Jeanne Chavez

Jeanne Chavez of St. Joseph, Mo. has served as a certified official since 1987. She was the head referee of a professional tennis tournament that occurred within St. Joseph. Chavez has worked numerous USTA junior, adult and professional events throughout her career in the roles of umpire, referee, roving and chair. Additionally, she has officiated ITA dual matches and high school matches.

Liz Lahm

Soon after joining USTA St. Louis as mixed league coordinator, Liz Lahm of Columbia, Ill. jumped into tennis officiating upon discovering the industry shortage. An active USTA League and tournament competitor, volunteer and high school coach, Lahm has worked 38 roving days, nine referee days and six days of chair umpiring in her first 14 months of officiating. She’s officiated Section Championships, World Tennis Number events, junior/adult tourneys and college matches.

“Becoming an official was my way of giving back to the tennis community,” Lahm said. “But it also added to my love of all things tennis.”

Simon Norman

Originally from New Zealand, Simon Norman was a standout student-athlete at Wichita State University and competed in professional tennis tournaments throughout Europe. A USPTA Master Professional at Genesis Health Clubs in Wichita and USTA Kansas board member, Norman is certified as an official, referee, chair and in lines. His breadth of experience as a high-level player and coach lends itself to his excellent officiating work.

“If you love tennis, you should give serious consideration to becoming an official,” Norman said. “You can officiate at any level you choose, and you can also manage your schedule and availability to suit your personal schedule.”

Milica Oliver

When organizers of the annual L6 Muscatine T. Beckley Jr. Tennis Open requested an official for their mid-July tournament for the first time, Milica Oliver of Iowa City stepped up to help on short notice. Oliver’s dedication, positivity and emphasis on good sportsmanship aided in the tournament’s success. In addition to her five-year tenure as an official, Oliver is a teaching professional at Hawkeye Tennis and Recreation Complex.

Charlie Smith

A lifelong tennis competitor, Edmond’s Charlie Smith chaired 123 matches and worked 46 roving days, seven days of professional lines and six days of refereeing in 2024. An NCAA Division II conference assigner and ITA dual-match official, Smith has served at USTA Oklahoma, USTA Missouri Valley and USTA National events for juniors, adults and professionals.

“Tennis becomes a community, especially of officials. We all know each other,” Smith said. “People who are working together to achieve a common objective—that’s a powerful thing. We have very nice, very good quality officials not only in Oklahoma but throughout the Missouri Valley.”

Noelle Wegiel

Vice chair of the Nebraska Officials Committee, Noelle Wegiel of Omaha chaired 31 ITA matches in multiples states around the country in 2024. She worked an ATP Tour professional tournament in Lincoln, numerous community events throughout the USTA Missouri Valley and spoke to a local high school tennis program about what it takes to become an official. Wegiel served as a mentor to new Omaha officials and participated in USTA Nebraska officiating workshops.

Celebrate Officials Appreciation Month in November and USTA Officiating Appreciation Week by recognizing how USTA officials have made an impact on the sport of tennis. Click here then scan the QR code to recognize a standout official!