Missouri Valley / Missouri

Tennis Tournaments for Show-Me State Games Approaching

Josh Sellmeyer | May 11, 2023


Registration is open for the adult and junior tennis divisions of the 2023 Show-Me State Games. The 39th rendition of the annual Show-Me State Games — a fun and competitive program featuring an array of Olympic-style sports for adults and kids to participate in — is hosted by the University of Missouri.

 

The adult tennis divisions will take place July 21-23, while the youth tennis divisions will run July 28-30 outdoors at Columbia’s Bethel Park. Individuals can learn more about the tennis offerings and sign up to play by clicking here. USTA Missouri Valley is the presenting sponsor of the Show-Me State Games tennis competition, and Louis Schnoebelen is running the tennis divisions as he has for the past decade.

 

“It’s a really great, laid-back kind of atmosphere,” Schnoebelen said. “It’s certainly not the same kind of intensity like you’d have at a USTA event. You’re not out there for ranking points or anything. It’s just a good day to have some nice, friendly competition.”

 

Adult singles play begins Friday, July 21 in the morning and rolls on to Saturday if necessary. Adult doubles play starts Saturday morning and continues to Sunday if needed. Mixed doubles action all takes place Sunday. The registration deadline is July 15, with sign-ups available online or payment via mail. Cost is $25 for the first event and $15 for each additional event for adults and juniors.

 

“There aren’t a lot of adult tournaments unless you’re in one of the urban areas like St. Louis. For around mid-Missouri, there are just not a lot of chances for adults to compete in tournaments. It’s a good opportunity there,” Schnoebelen said. “Also, it helps that I know half to maybe even more than half of the players. So I usually try to get everybody a nice, competitive match and seed it as best as I can.”

 

Schnoebelen said pending sign-ups, it’s typically a two-match guarantee for adult and junior competitors. Many of the participants are local to Columbia but several do travel in from other Missouri communities.

 

Singles play for juniors begins the morning of Friday, July 28 and continues to Saturday if necessary. Doubles starts Saturday morning and rolls on to Sunday if needed. Players wanting to participate must sign up by July 22. For more information about the tennis competitions or the Show-Me State Games in general, contact the office at 573-882-2101.

 

“As far as the juniors go you don’t have a lot of the USTA ranked players, so it’s a lot less formal and maybe intimidating than a USTA event — even like a Level 7,” Schnoebelen said. “It’s not necessarily super competitive. It’s more of a relaxed atmosphere. I try to make it to where kids from different towns get to play each other, at least in the first round. So you’re not just playing with the same people all the time, and hopefully you get a competitive match in or two.”

 

The Opening Ceremony of the 2023 Show-Me State Games is slated for Friday, July 21 at Mizzou Arena. The Audrey Walton Youth Leadership Conference takes place that same weekend (July 20-21), and athletes can carry the torch Olympic-style throughout the weeks leading up to the Games.

 

The Show-Me State Games launched in 1984 and is a nonprofit program of the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Health. Last year’s rendition featured more than 15,000 participants, with the top-three finishers in each event earning gold, silver or bronze medals. The Olympic-style Missouri State Senior Games for individuals 50 and older take place June 8-11.

 

Sports offerings for the Show-Me State Games range from basketball to powerlifting to bowling, with about 40 sports to pick from in all. Schnoebelen is looking forward to running and hopefully playing in the tennis competition as he has for several years.

 

“I get to spend a weekend hanging out with other tennis people, and that’s not something you always get to do too much,” Schnoebelen said. “Sometimes I don’t even see people except at the Show-Me State Games. It’s a nice time to catch up a little bit. It’s a lot of fun. Just getting out there and having a nice, fun day of tennis.”

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