Get to Know the USTA Missouri Valley Officials at the US Open

Ritchie: This is the area in which I began officiating, where nearly all my training started. We support each other and encourage one another to be the best that we can be.  Although we don’t have a lot of professional tournaments in USTA Missouri Valley, the few we have allowed us to gain a solid foundation for officiating.

 

How is working the US Open different than working a USTA Missouri Valley tournament?

 

Conway: It is different because the players and even the officiating team are some of the top in the world. You have to know how to communicate with the Chair Umpire, be aware of everything that is going on around the court and be ready to help at a moments notice to make sure the match runs as smoothly as possible.

 

Kilgore: It’s quite different … It’s a much grander, larger scale event with people from around the world participating and watching.

 

Lady: The venue, attendance, and highest level of competition at the US Open makes it quite different than working at a USTA Missouri Valley event.

 

Ritchie: There is really nothing similar other than as a working group we are a team. The goals are the same, success of the tournament and fair play. But other than that, everything else is very different, location, environment, interaction with foreign officials and level of play.

 

What do you love most about being an official?

 

Conway: I love meeting all the officials from all around the world that I get to work with.

 

Kilgore: I will forever cherish the friendships I have made along the way and the camaraderie we all share as tennis officials.

 

Lady: I love the game of tennis! As an official, it is wonderful to see the competition at all levels of the game. I like to see players develop from juniors to professionals. It is great to work with others that have the same passion for the sport. I value the life-long friendships with other officials the most.

 

Lawrence: First and foremost, it’s the sport of tennis. And since I was always a better spectator than player, officiating enabled me to be involved in tennis from a whole new perspective. Over the years, the camaraderie with other officials (now friends) has become another reason I love this job! 

 

Ritchie: That’s a hard question, I don’t think there is one answer. I love the exposure to all levels of tennis. I like the personal challenge to be the best official I can be in all areas. That includes the personal relationships we develop official with other officials. The travel. The friendships.  I can keep going... 

 

Are there any places that are a “must go” for you to visit while in New York?

 

Conway: Maybe the ON shoe store, but not really any specific place. I love the variety New York offers.

 

Kilgore: I like to catch at least one Broadway show while I am in NYC, sometimes two; I always go on a day off to a live spin class at the NYC Peloton Studio on 10th Ave! As most people know, the restaurants are too numerous to mention, but I have quite a long list saved in “Notes” on my phone!

 

Lady: I plan to see a Broadway show! Of course, I hope to do some shopping and go to some nice restaurants.

 

Lawrence: Broadway Shows. Central Park. Grand Central Station.

 

Ritchie: Absolutely! Tai chi in Bryant Park in the mornings. Mr. Whippy ice cream from a truck (with sprinkles). Roof Top bar at the Kitano Hotel. Uniqlo store.

 

If you won a trip to a Grand Slam of your choice as a spectator, which would you pick and why?

 

Conway: I would pick the Australian Open because that’s the only Grand Slam I have not been to.

 

Kilgore: I believe I would choose The Australian Open because that is somewhere I have always wanted to visit and explore; attending the AO for a day or two as a spectator would also be amazing!

 

Lady: It is my dream to attend all the Grand Slams, but I most want to attend Wimbledon. It has so much tradition. It was the first tournament I can remember watching on television.

 

Lawrence: That’s a hard one. But if I had to pick one, I guess it would have to be Wimbledon. It has such great tennis history.

 

Ritchie: Does is have to be a Grand Slam? Monte Carlo is my top bucket list. Why? The View.

If it has to be a grand slam then Rolland Garros. Why? Paris. Baguettes, cheese and wine. Do you need anything else? Nope.

 

What's in your bag?

 

Conway: I have a stop watch, a tape measure, a flipping coin, highlighters, pens, band-aids, lip balm with sunscreen, tissues, mints and eye drops.

 

Kilgore: My court bag contains blank score cards, pencils, pens, a yellow highlighter, small USTA notebook, flipping coins(s), measuring tape, stop watch, rubber bands, various dampeners, binder clips, sunscreen, lip balm, Kleenex, sunglasses, mints, Advil, Band-Aids, safety pins, extra shoe lace, small scissors, ITF clothing rules, and my laminated card with curse words in many different languages!

 

Lady: My court bag contains a stop-watch, flipping coin, measuring tape, pencils, pen, highlighter pen, black sharpie, small scissors, zip-ties, sunscreen, lip balm, kleenex, Sunglasses, hair tie, Advil, cough drops, small clipboard, a small notepad & any notes I may need for a tournament.

 

Lawrence: Sunscreen, sunglasses, water, tape measure, flipping coin, stop watch, pens/pencils, zip ties and breath mints.

 

Ritchie: This is going to be long.

 

The basics: Tape measure, 2 stop watches, 2 flipping coins, pens, pencils, scorecards, zip ties, clip board if needed.

 

Other stuff: Sunscreen, first aid kit (Neosporin, band aids, alchohol wipes) Cough drops, lip balm, lotion, safety pins, scissors, hair ties. Back-up sunglasses, reading glasses. 

 

Weird stuff: Leatherman tool kit, bendy ties, deodorant, liquid iv drink powder, salt and pepper packets, mini sewing kit.

 

Stuff I wish I could fit in my bag: A kitten.

 

If you're interested in officiating and maybe one day also making it to the US Open, start your journey at the local level today. Click here to learn more about officiating or reach out to USTA Missouri Valley Officiating Chair Verne Weber.