NTM: Columbus, Miss., Hosts Battle of the States

Among the more than 200 events signed up to host a National Tennis Month event in USTA Southern, one was a tournament that featured inter-state competition and the ability of juniors to team with adults.

Golden Triangle Tennis (GTT), in Columbus, Miss., hosted a three-day event on May 20-22 entitled Battle of the States. Teams of at least three men and three women with residency requirements from the player's state playing at different NTRP and age divisions. Teams from Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, Tennessee and Florida competed.

Two team members from Mississippi illustrated another unique component of the event, pairing juniors and adults. In the video below Virginia Rich played with junior is Alexandria "Lexy" Magee. Magee calls Rich her "mentor" and the two talk of their on-court partnership. Teams were allowed to have one girl and one boy but they had to play with an adult.

GTT was one of eight  NJTL chapters in USTA Southern that recently graduated from the USTA NJTL Blueprint for Success program. Executive Director Vanita Phinisey, who is also in the video, was the tournament director.

GTT was awarded $20,000 for 2019 and $25,000 for 2020 as part of the two-year grant program. The NJTL received the support and guidance of account managers to help build capacity and work towards sustainability to impact more youth. The grant is awarded by the USTA Foundation.