Garner, Wartick Earn USTA Missouri Valley Awards

USTA Missouri Valley recently announced its list of 2022 award recipients, and USTA Missouri had two individuals earn recognition. Anelisse Garner was selected for the Outstanding Diversity Achievement award, and Kyle Wartick was chosen for the Outstanding Contributor Youth High Performance Program accolade.

All USTA Missouri Valley award winners will be formally recognized at the 2022 Annual Conference and Hall of Fame Induction & Awards Celebration. This event takes place December 2-3 at the Olathe Conference Center in Kansas. To learn more about the conference and to register to attend, click here.

Garner started in her role as community sports coordinator for the City of Springfield on April 18 of this year, just six days after she got married. When she made the career change from her previous job as a payroll manager, Garner — a former four-year player at Missouri State University — sought to involve more of Springfield’s minorities in tennis.

“These past six months we focused on reaching a lot of the minorities in the area to introduce them to a sport that can make them feel welcome,” Garner said. “We have hosted 14 outreach events celebrating diversity and bringing awareness for Pride Month, Black History Month, Hispanic Heritage Month as well as an adaptive tennis event, to mention some of them.”

USTA Missouri Valley took notice of Garner’s strong outreach efforts. Garner said she is honored and grateful for the accolade and “it means so much to me that the work I am so passionate about also resonates with others.” USTA Missouri featured one of Garner’s many community events, Fiesta Latina de Tenis, which you can read about by clicking here.

“It recognizes all the hard work we have been putting into reaching minorities in the community who might not have gotten the chance to try this wonderful sport,” Garner said. “Tennis is a sport for everyone, no matter their age, gender, race, background or even ability level.”

Wartick is in his 15th year as head tennis professional at Springfield’s Cooper Tennis Complex. He also serves on the USTA Missouri board of directors as director at large. Wartick said he is “extremely honored” to be picked for the Outstanding Contributor Youth High Performance Program award.

“The Missouri Valley has some extremely gifted coaches,” he said. “For me to be chosen for this award is something I don’t take lightly.”