USTA Missouri Valley New Members Of Junior Leadership Council

Nine junior players have been named to the Junior Leadership Council, which has the ultimate goal of improving sportsmanship and player camaraderie. The participants are expected to be leaders amongst their peers and will serve as a liaison between junior players and the USTA Missouri Valley staff and volunteers.

Members of the council will also be a resource for other junior players to provide feedback on the junior circuit.  Each member is required a community service project during his or her term by assisting with local tennis events in their community. 

The members must be 15-18 years old and currently compete on the USTA Missouri Valley Junior Circuit. The USTA Missouri Valley Junior Leadership Council members will serve 1 year terms with the opportunity to renew up to two terms. 

The members and his or her home district are as follows:

• Bradley Frye, Heart of America (Co-chair)

• Anna Alons, Iowa (Co-chair)

• Nathan Turtledove, Heart of America

• Cam Luhring, Iowa

• Madeline Lysaught, Kansas

• Kamran Farid, Missouri

• Clare Plachy, Nebraska

• Rachel McCorkle, Oklahoma

• Samantha Remis, St. Louis

Nikki Chambers, Program Manager for Junior Competition, said the idea for the Council arose from her experience working with members of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee in the Great Lakes Valley Athletic Conference, which provided NCAA student-athletes the chance to offer input on rules and policies that affect college athletes. 

"I think it is important that we provide players leadership opportunities and a voice in matters that affect them," Chambers said. 

The Junior Leadership Council members  were selected by the USTA Missouri Valley staff and the USTA Missouri Valley Junior Competition Committee.

“We were really looking for players who have exhibited good sportsmanship, and who have also demonstrated a high level of maturity and respect toward tournament officials,” Chambers said. 

The Council will have the opportunity to provide feedback to USTA Missouri Valley staff and tournament directors on matters that directly impact players, as well as an opportunity to give back to the game and make a difference in junior tennis. 

As part of this opportunity, players will be asked to complete the Positive Coaching Alliance Athlete course. The USTA Missouri Valley recently partnered with Positive Coaching Alliance, an organization dedicated to changing the culture in youth sports. The course is designed to help athletes improve self, team/opponents, and the sport as a whole and guides participants through a series of exercises addressing each of these topics. 

“We hope players find value in this course and can create some expecations for players on the junior circuit based on what they've learned,” Chambers said.