Longtime Captain Ann Vogel Encourages Award Nominations

When Ann Vogel started playing tennis at a local country club as a 42-year-old, USTA opportunities didn’t exist in or near her hometown. But when the Cooper Tennis Complex in Springfield opened in 1994, Vogel caught wind of USTA leagues and decided to captain her first team. She’s captained multiple squads every year since.

“That’s how it began,” Vogel said. “Let’s just say I’m now 75 years old. It’s been a long time.”

Vogel currently captains four teams — a 3.0 18 & Over team, a 55 & Over team, a 65 & Over team as well as a 70 & Over squad. In previous years she’s helmed 40 & Over teams when the age divisions were different. Throughout the decades, Vogel said it’s been her goal “to build tennis and to build players for USTA.”

The 3.0 leagues were created in Springfield just two years ago, and Vogel said she’s enjoyed those offerings. Her 55+ team is in the midst of its season. Her 70+ team, meanwhile, recently traveled to a tournament in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and the group is looking forward to a tourney in Overland Park, Kansas.

“It would be awesome if it was easily accessible to us where all the tournaments were going to be,” Vogel said. “We could pick and choose those for our teams. But we really don’t have that, so we have to look for them. Usually it’s by word of mouth. Someone has heard about a tournament or something, and that’s what we’ll go by. It has to be someplace that is fun.”

Vogel noted she’s proud that nearly every year at least one of her squads advances to USTA Missouri Valley League Section Championship play.

“We’re always in the mix,” she said. “But the biggest accomplishment has been the fact that we’re getting new captains. The teams are growing. That’s what we need. We’re in a market where we don’t have the pull like in St. Louis, so we have to do what we can.”

Vogel has been the recipient of several USTA Missouri district awards throughout her tennis and captaining career, including selection as Outstanding Contributor to the USTA League in 2021. She’s also been chosen for Captain of the Year, the Tennis Development Award and Outstanding Supporter of Tennis.

“More than anything, they’re given because of my enthusiasm to grow tennis,” Vogel said. “It’d be different if I was a 4.5 player or even a 4.0 player. But I’m not. It seems like those are the people who get the big awards. I’m just really proud I get the ones I do. And I am surprised to get them actually.”

Vogel and other individuals are going to assist Leslie Echols — USTA Missouri executive director — in potentially increasing the number of yearly awards handed out as well as selecting award-winners. Echols and the district would like to involve more people to help make the annual awards meeting and ceremony a bigger and better event.

Folks can begin to think about who to nominate for the 2022 awards and can contact Echols at lemotennis@gmail.com for more information. While the 2022 annual awards meeting and ceremony date isn’t set quite yet, last year’s gathering took place November 6. The expectation is this year’s get-together will occur near that end-of-year timeframe.

Vogel said boosting individuals and organizations by nominating them for a USTA Missouri award is a terrific way to support teammates and fellow competitors. She said that’s especially true for new teams in the district comprised of players who may be competing on the tennis court for the first time in their lives.

“They are learning the rules. They are learning techniques. It’s wonderful to lift them up,” Vogel said. “To prop them up so maybe the next match they will have a win. The awards usually given for junior players are the Junior Player of the Year and sportsmanship awards. There needs to be more than that for them.”

To view a list of USTA Missouri’s 2021 award recipients, click here.