Get to Know USTA Missouri Executive Board

USTA Missouri asked members of its Executive Board to share some information about themselves and their tennis backgrounds. Check out their responses below to learn more about the team!

Mallory Weber

President

Mallory Weber recently became community recreation coordinator of the Cooper Tennis Complex in Springfield. She was previously head coach of the Missouri State University women’s tennis team. 

Weber was hired at MSU in 2014 and revived the program after its eight-year hiatus. She led the Bears to a Missouri Valley Conference Tournament title and NCAA Tournament appearance in 2018. Weber also has served as an alternate for the Springfield Lasers of World Team Tennis.

Larry Huitt

First Vice-President

Larry Huitt began playing tennis in 1974 while stationed in California as a Marine, and his enthusiasm for the sport only blossomed from there. He was granted time off to play tournaments by both the Marines and Navy,  to which he transferred in 1980.

Huitt began teaching tennis in the ‘80s and increased that workload after he retired in 1995. He became a tennis official in St. Louis before moving to Florida, where Huitt took on the title of director of tennis at two complexes. He started programs at these facilities from scratch and formed Junior Team Tennis squads, too.

Amy Mathew

Secretary

Amy Mathew grew up in Colorado and now lives in Sedalia with her husband and four children. She is a veteran of the United States Air Force.

Mathew's tennis journey began in high school and has grown from there. She has been an active member of USTA since 2002. She has participated in eight USTA districts across the country. Mathew is currently involved in adult league tennis and teaches the sport through local programs.

Bill Lingenfelser

Treasurer

Bill Lingenfelser is a CPA and manages Makeen Energy, an international propane manufacturing company based in Denmark. He helped coach the USTA Missouri team event in Oklahoma City as well as a junior team tennis team.

Lingenfelser credits his 16-year-old son, Caden, for his involvement with USTA Missouri Valley.

He said he’s thoroughly enjoyed watching Caden learn the game of tennis from a young age and the valuable life lessons that have come alongside that.

Rhonda Kaissi

Director at large

Rhonda Kaissi works for Gentry Middle School in Columbia, Mo., and has played tennis for more than 40 years. She coaches tennis after school and introduced her daughter, Dina, to the sport. Dina has played in numerous USTA tournaments and was the No. 1 player at Hickman High School before becoming the No. 1 player at Stephens College.

Rhonda has been on the USTA Missouri board for several years. She came to the United States in 1976 to visit her siblings and never left. She called becoming a U.S. citizen the best decision of her life.

Kyle Wartick

Director at large

Kyle Wartick is in his 14th year as the head tennis professional at Cooper Tennis Complex in Springfield. Wartick said his passion for tennis stems from the essence of the game itself — two people connected by a single ball, relying on each other for a good workout or competitive match.

Wartick noted his excitement for serving on the USTA Missouri board and believes it to be an important role to build and retain the integrity of the sport of tennis.