Missouri Valley

Generations gather for tennis, tradition at 2025 NAITA Championships

Josh Sellmeyer | June 02, 2025

A gigantic poster labeled “Rep Your Tribe” was hung near the tournament desk of the 2025 North American Indian Tennis Association (NAITA) National Championships. Attendees grabbed a colored pencil or crayon and proudly filled in the graffiti wall with the name of their Native American tribe. Others pulled up a photo on their phone of their tribal symbol to sketch that design.

In total, more than 20 Native American tribes from across the United States were represented among the 100-plus participants at the NAITA National Championships. The 49th running of the event—which took place May 23-25 at Oklahoma City Tennis Center in the heart of Oklahoma—featured high-level tennis in both the adult and junior national championships and a focus on celebrating culture and community.

“One of the things I said at the tournament is if you just came for tennis—and you may have a blast playing tennis—but if that’s all you came for, I feel like you missed the tournament,” said Tony Mullican, NAITA board member, tournament organizer and member of the Chickasaw Nation. “Really the joy of the tournament is that atmosphere of being together in community and getting the opportunity between matches to sit down with an elder and hear their story.”

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In addition to the adult and junior national championships, a kids’ clinic with nearly 35 participants—most of whom held a tennis racquet for the first time—was taught by about 10 volunteer coaches who were uniquely of Native American heritage.

Individuals traveled from eight states, including California, Florida, Colorado and Arizona, to compete in the USTA Missouri Valley-sponsored tournament.

The youngest competitor was 9. The oldest? Eighty.

“The NAITA Championship event is unique and wonderful in that it not only offers the opportunity for quality match play open to all ages and levels of tennis ability, but it’s also a festival-like atmosphere where community and tradition unite,” said Jaren Glaser, USTA Missouri Valley manager, diversity, equity and inclusion. “The event is large, but what it offers participants and communities is very personal and reaches throughout the year.”

Attendees at the NAITA Championships had an opportunity to rep their tribe via a gigantic poster board hung near the tournament desk.

Ninety competitors played in the NAITA Adult National Championship with about one-third of them new to the event.

Women's, men's and mixed doubles divisions were available for entry at the NAITA Championships in Oklahoma City.

Anthony Miller Jr. (center) was the 2025 tournament director, while Tony Mullican (right) helped organize the event and is a NAITA board member.

Native American artwork donated by an Oklahoma City tennis family was part of the collection of items available as prizes at the tournament.

The annual kids' tennis clinic had nearly 35 participants who were taught by about 10 volunteer coaches of uniquely Native American heritage.

A majority of the participants in the NAITA kids' clinic held a tennis racquet for the first time in their lives.

Attendees at the NAITA Championships had an opportunity to rep their tribe via a gigantic poster board hung near the tournament desk.
Ninety competitors played in the NAITA Adult National Championship with about one-third of them new to the event.
Women's, men's and mixed doubles divisions were available for entry at the NAITA Championships in Oklahoma City.
Anthony Miller Jr. (center) was the 2025 tournament director, while Tony Mullican (right) helped organize the event and is a NAITA board member.
Native American artwork donated by an Oklahoma City tennis family was part of the collection of items available as prizes at the tournament.
The annual kids' tennis clinic had nearly 35 participants who were taught by about 10 volunteer coaches of uniquely Native American heritage.
A majority of the participants in the NAITA kids' clinic held a tennis racquet for the first time in their lives.

Competitive Play, Cultural Pride

A total of 90 players competed in the Adult National Championship with about one-third of them new to the NAITA Championships. Seventeen kids participated in the Junior National Championship. Every medal awarded to competitors featured uniquely beaded necklaces. Junior and adult champions are listed at the end of this article.

The two tournaments were housed on USTA Serve Tennis for the second year in a row. That has resulted in a wider reach as participation numbers continue to be strong.

“It’s fulfilling just to see everybody once a year,” said Anthony Miller Jr., 2025 NAITA Championships tournament director and member of the Comanche Nation. “It’s a celebration. It’s almost like an annual ceremony. These Native American societies in the past were related to something real, like annual harvests or season changes. It’s like a modern, contemporary ceremony. People come together, we eat and we participate in social activities.”

The action-packed weekend opened with a blessing and time of prayer. It also featured NAITA’s annual meeting/banquet. That included raffles and prizes, with Native American artwork donated by an Oklahoma City tennis family part of the collection of items. A yearly sportsmanship award—which was originally developed by one of the tournament’s founders, George Blue Spruce—was presented to Lee Maytubby.

The location of the 2026 and ’27 tournaments was determined, as Tulsa will play host to next year’s event run by the Muskogee Creek Nation. Reno, Nevada will host the 2027 tournament.

“This next tournament will be our 50th, which is exciting,” Mullican said. “To hear what so many of these people have done to keep this tournament alive over 50 years—how they have nurtured it, grown it and really protected it—and have kept it true to its nature this whole time.”

Kids' Clinic Builds Future

The NAITA kids’ clinic was a hit, with the many first-time tennis participants gifted new racquets to take home, T-shirts, drawstring bags and plenty of good snacks. Mullican said at least half of the children came through the Oklahoma City Indian Clinic and none had played on an indoor tennis court before.

Miller Jr. recruited NAITA tournament participants to help run the fun games and drills. A few high school-aged tennis players and several elders gave of their time. Miller Jr.—who has been active in the NAITA Championships since 2022—hopes to expand the organization’s junior programming efforts beyond the annual kids’ clinic. He said starting a NAITA Junior Team Tennis orange ball and green ball program might one day be in the cards.

Mullican noted the impact of young Native American leaders like Miller Jr.—who jumped at the opportunity to run this year’s championships—and Brady Matthews, who stepped into the men’s and women’s tennis head-coaching role at Newman University last year. They’re just two of the individuals who made waves at the 2025 NAITA Championships.

“There’s some great tennis, and we got to watch some great matches,” Mullican said. “But at the same time, you get to meet better people.”

NAITA Junior National Championship Winners

Boys' 12s: Dash McCarty

Boys' 14s: Cole Dunbar

Boys' 18s: Carter Mathis

Girls' 14s: Hope Gorham

Girls' 18s: Caitlyn Mathis

NAITA Adult National Championship Winners

Men's Singles NTRP 2.5-3.5: Parker Williams

Men’s Singles NTRP 4.0-5.5: Blake Boswell

Men's 55 & Over Singles: Robert Stevenson

Men's Doubles NTRP 2.5-3.5: Lee Maytubby/Ken Ellinger

Men’s Doubles NTRP 4.0-5.5: Tony Mullican/Blake Boswell

Men's 55 & Over Doubles: Tony Daniels/Jeremy Carr

Women's Singles NTRP 2.5-3.5: Jana Possley

Women’s Singles NTRP 4.0-5.5: Tayra Ward

Women's 55 & Over Singles: Geri Wisner

Women's Doubles NTRP 2.5-3.5: Natalee Knight-Glass/Jana Possley

Women's 55 & Over Doubles: Natalee Knight-Glass/Sherri Smith

Mixed Doubles NTRP 2.5-3.5: Carter Mathis/Caitlyn Mathis

Mixed Doubles NTRP 4.0-5.5: Tony Mullican/Erin Wood

Coed Doubles NTRP 2.5-5.5: Ian Sioux/Emily Kasper

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