League Opportunities Abound for USTA Missouri Adults

A jam-packed 2022 slate for adult players in USTA Missouri kicked off recently with a 40 & Over 3.5 women’s league getting underway. That’s just one of multiple options competitors have at their disposal, as a newly instituted, staggered league format enables participants to play in more leagues than ever before.

Though the 40 & Over 3.5 women’s league is already rolling, Leslie Echols — USTA Missouri adult league coordinator — said interested players can still hop in on the action and participate up until about two weeks prior to the season’s conclusion. To do so, individuals can contact Echols via email at lemotennis@gmail.com

The women’s 40 & Over 4.0 league starts toward the end of April, while the men’s 40 & Over league offerings begin the first week of April. Echols elected to open the 2022 league season with 40 & Over options starting earlier than preceding years. She hopes by beginning there and waiting on 18 & Over leagues until May, USTA Missouri will be better positioned to catch potential competitors returning home from college.

“There’s definitely still time to jump in, get a team together here in Springfield for the 40 & Over leagues,” Echols said. “And we also have teams getting started in Columbia — men’s and women’s teams. So there are lots of opportunities for both men and women for Springfield and Columbia.”

Next on the docket is men’s and women’s offerings for both 18 & Over leagues as well as 55 & Over leagues. Mid-May is the targeted start date for both 18 & Over and 55 & Over offerings.

Echols noted interest is especially high in the 55 & Over leagues for both Springfield and the Columbia/Jefferson City pockets, so she anticipates a strong turnout there for both men and women. She said that’s due in part to USTA Missouri recently being selected as host district for the 55 & Over mixed doubles League Section Championship. It’s the first adult section-level event of any type the district has hosted since 2018.

“This has helped increase awareness that there are 55 & Over leagues,” Echols said. “Even though the section championship is for mixed doubles specifically, it’s really helping promote 55 & Over leagues in general.”

At the 65 & Over level, USTA Missouri features a Springfield-based women’s team and a Joplin-based men’s teams, though both squads pull players from other cities. These teams typically just participate in the USTA 65 & Over Invitational, but Echols said they both have expressed interest in having a league season prior to competing in that event.

“We do have a good number of 65 & Over players,” Echols said. “I would love to see a little more participation from the 65 & Over pool. Anyone who can help reach out — maybe it’s the sort of thing where players don’t know it’s an option. Just trying to help spread the word is really important for that league. Anyone interested in playing 65 & Over, there’s definitely a need there.”

The popular mixed leagues at the 18 & Over and 40 & Over levels are scheduled to start toward the end of June. A few captains have already begun reaching out to Echols about forming their squads, as she said “there is a lot of excitement for these leagues going on already.” Echols is gunning to host mixed leagues at every level — 6.0, 7.0, 8.0 and even 9.0 — for both the 18 & Over and 40 & Over age divisions.

“We definitely have the players out there who can do it,” Echols said. “We need a few more captains to make all of those levels. But I think we could do it.”

Captains receive a credit for their league fee as an incentive to step up and lead a squad. Echols said Springfield and Columbia players have shown interest in a 55 & Over mixed league, which hasn’t taken place in years. That would start in early August. The district champion would receive the rare opportunity to compete for a League Section Championship title in their own backyard with USTA Missouri hosting this section-level playoff.

To read more about these league offerings as well as upcoming adult tournament options in USTA Missouri, click here. Players and captains who’d like to find the right league fit can also complete a survey by clicking here.