Honoring Legacy and Leadership: Black History Month in the USTA Missouri Valley

Check out a roundup of feature stories highlighting the players, leaders and programs shaping tennis communities across the USTA Missouri Valley.

🎾 Nia Cooper woke up well before dawn during weekdays to get time on the tennis court before she headed off to school. The early-morning practices paid off as Cooper—a St. Louis native and product of the Net Rushers CTA—is a Division I competitor on the University of Illinois-Chicago women's tennis team. Read about Cooper's path to becoming a role model by clicking here.

🎾 In his role as associate professor at Langston University—Oklahoma's lone HBCU—Desmond Delk exposes his students to the sport of tennis, many of whom are trying it for the first time. Delk has collaborated with USTA Missouri Valley staff members to provide tennis training sessions to better equip his students to teach the game themselves when they graduate. Learn more by clicking here.

🎾 A self-described "tennis addict," Sheila Goins' love of tennis runs deep as a USTA League leader, certified official and tourney player in Iowa City who has competed at the national level. Goins views tennis as a terrific way to stay in shape and meet people. Read more about her all-in personality by checking out this article.

🎾 After serving as the head club pro at Cooper Tennis Complex in Springfield, Mo., Larry Holmes was selected to be part of the USTA's Racquet Sports Management Apprenticeship program in Orlando, Fla. Holmes, a former NCAA Division I head coach, is embracing the two-year program that expands representation and leadership across tennis and beyond. Read the full story here.

🎾 From captaining USTA Nebraska league teams to volunteering on the USTA Missouri Valley DE&I Outreach Committee, Jason McFarley is building belonging in tennis. "When people see someone who looks like them participating, leading and enjoying the sport, it can change their perception of whether tennis is for them," he said. Learn more about McFarley by clicking here.

🎾 USTA Kansas board member Terry Neal is helping grow tennis through fun-focused leagues, community tournaments and local sponsorships that make the sport more welcoming and rewarding for players. Read more about Neal's efforts resulting in both league and tournament growth by viewing this article.

🎾 David "Skip" Span, new USTA Heart of America Community Development Committee chair, brings a lifetime of high-performance experience and a grassroots mindset to growing tennis in Kansas City through access and outreach. Span is a former NCAA Division I player and has transitioned into a top coach, which includes his work with Donald Young and several high-performance juniors. Read more by clicking here.