Summersville student Zach Thomas helps transform basketball slab into tennis court

“Zach is one of a kind. He’s just a gem of a student. He is so dependable. He’s actually one of the kids that I let join Future Teachers of America as a junior-high kid, because he’s so responsible and trustworthy. He has all the character traits you would want in a kid. He was raised right. He has phenomenal parents and a good support system at home.”

Thomas credited his parents for the persistence this two-year process took. The original cost estimate was way more than the school district could afford. With the help of John Terpkosh, senior manager of Tennis Venue Services for the USTA Missouri Valley, the students kept revising their plan.

They eventually received grants from USTA national, USTA Missouri Valley and USTA Missouri totaling $10,000, and the Summersville R-II School District paid $6,250 to cover the remaining costs. A check presentation will be held in July celebrating the USTA Tennis Venue Services grant contribution.

Additionally, the USTA Missouri Valley provided $1,300 in program startup equipment via a Serving Up Tennis grant, $150 in grant funds for a Tennis Library as well as a tennis court construction and maintenance manual. An anonymous donor contributed $2,000 toward the court project.

Terpkosh connected the students with Gerald Perry Tennis in Springfield, Mo., which revised its bids multiple times until it was affordable. But even with the hurdles, Thomas wouldn’t quit.

“I guess the perseverance part of it would be the kind of person I am. No matter what I’m in, I’m just going to keep going with it,” Thomas said. “And if it’s possible, I’m going to work towards that goal until I’m physically told I just need to stop.

“That’s how my parents raised me to do things.”

Crossing the Finish Line

Dunn noted the kids in the program not only spearheaded the tennis court, they also traveled two hours to Springfield, Mo., to receive tennis training provided free of charge by instructors at Cooper Tennis Complex. The facility — alongside the USTA Missouri Valley — gave each of the 10 students their own tennis racquet to keep. The USTA Missouri Valley also gave each student a tennis backpack.

Dunn was so impressed by her students’ commitment that, even though she retired at the conclusion of this school year, she volunteered to stick around to help complete the process.

The students’ initiative also impressed Carla Magers of Gerald Perry Tennis.

“I’ve done this for 32 years,” Magers said. “You don’t see a lot of youngsters that have the passion to help the community. This wasn’t just for himself.”

With the final hurdles cleared and the tennis court completed in late May, Thomas had one overriding emotion.

“I guess I am relieved that all the work has paid off after the long process,” he said.

Thomas has three more years of high school. With the new court, it’s possible Summersville will add a boys’ tennis team, something Thomas said he might consider joining. If he does, it’s possible that he’ll be playing on Zach Thomas Court.

Learn more about USTA Tennis Venue Services by clicking here.