USTA Missouri Set to Again Host Mixed 55+ Section Championships

The November 2022 version of the event — also held at Cooper — was the first-ever 55 & Over Mixed Section Championships in USTA Missouri Valley history. It was also the first section-level tournament USTA Missouri had hosted since 2018.

“It was a great turnout,” Echols said. “A little bit smaller than some of the other Section Championships, but that was to be expected given it was the first year and districts were trying to put those teams together for the first time.

“I’ve already heard the numbers are really up this year in terms of the number and type of leagues across those divisions being offered in the different districts. Alyssa Stelmach (USTA Missouri Valley manager of adult leagues) said we are expecting to have teams from all the divisions this year, so that’s really exciting.”

Mixed teams at the 6.0, 7.0, 8.0 and 9.0 levels will vie for bids to the Mixed 55 & Over National Invitational. That will be held March 22-24, 2024 in Scottsdale, Arizona. Echols — who is running the Section Championships at Cooper alongside Stelmach — said the tournament is a great opportunity for locals to come watch section-level action.

The Mixed 55+ Section Championships will primarily occur indoors at Cooper, though Cooper’s outdoor courts can be used if needed. Stelmach is potentially going to implement a waiver system this year. It is a hybrid model of the wild-card system used at some sectionals and the system used at invitationals, where the formation of a league isn’t always necessary to qualify teams from a given district.

Echols said this hybrid model would enable representation at the Mixed 55+ Section Championships from all districts at the 6.0 through 9.0 levels. She added the sectional at Cooper might also be the first one to offer USTA section-level apparel on-site for participants to purchase.

“One neat thing is there will be an opportunity to customize apparel for different leagues, district playoffs, Section Championships, things like that,” Echols said. “To be able to do that at the section level will generate a lot more excitement for players who get to participate in those events. We’re hoping to be able to roll that out in time for this Section Championship.”

In addition to encouraging locals to attend the sectional, Echols said she’d love to have volunteers help at the tournament and luncheon. She said those who chipped in last year enjoyed the experience and got to see what a Section Championship is all about. Individuals interested in volunteering can get in touch with Echols at ustamissouridirector@gmail.com.