Texans at the 2025 NTRP Nationals
The 2025 NTRP National Championships brought together tennis players from across the country, showcasing inspiring stories of resilience, rediscovery, and camaraderie at the Surprise Tennis and Racquet Complex, USTA National Campus, & Barnes Tennis Center. Held in March and April, the tournament featured singles, doubles, and mixed doubles events across 18+, 40+, and 55+ age divisions, with competitors vying for titles at NTRP levels ranging from 2.5 to 5.5.
Shelly Bull, representing Texas, embodied the spirit of comeback. After a 30-year hiatus, Bull picked up a racket again in June 2024 and quickly fell in love with the sport. “Loving every minute of it,” she said, describing her journey as “just the beginning of my climb to the top.” Her participation in the championships marked a triumphant return, fueled by gratitude for the USTA’s platform to compete nationally.
Kaley Medina, another Texan, captured a national title in a thrilling performance. A relative newcomer to tennis, Medina started playing three years ago with a group of local moms post-COVID. Initially a doubles player, she embraced singles and found her stride despite a pinched nerve setback in 2024. Her semifinal match, a grueling two-hour battle, tested her endurance, but the defining moment came in the final. At deuce point to win the first set, Medina delivered an ace “right down the T,” securing the set and ultimately the championship. “This experience reminded me how powerful it is to try something new later in life,” she said, reflecting on the joy of competing with her parents cheering in Arizona and her team and family supporting her from Texas.
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For Barbara Lindsay and Nicole Gradeless, the championships were as much about connection as competition. Both attended a pre-tournament clinic and forged an instant friendship with a player from New York City. The duo became daily warm-up partners, supporting each other through the round-robin draws to reach the final. “I will have memories and friendships that I will cherish forever,” Lindsay said, echoing Gradeless, who called the experience “incredible” for the bonds formed on and off the court.
The NTRP National Championships, sanctioned by the USTA, leverage the National Tennis Rating Program to ensure level-based competition, allowing players of varying skill levels to compete fairly. Participants qualified through section quotas and national rankings, with selections based on the National Standings List prior to registration deadlines. The tournament’s format, featuring round-robin pools feeding into championship brackets, guaranteed multiple matches for competitors, fostering both competition and community.
The 2025 event highlighted the diversity of paths to the national stage. From Bull’s decades-long break to Medina’s rapid rise and Lindsay and Gradeless’ newfound friendships, the championships celebrated the transformative power of tennis. As players like these continue to compete, the NTRP National Championships remain a vibrant platform for amateur athletes to chase their dreams and find joy in the game.
Results:
18+ Singles
Men’s 3.0
4th - Killian Corona
Men’s 4.0
4th - Matt Lindsey
Men’s 5.0
Champion - Eric White
Women’s 2.5
3rd - Edana de la Torre
Women’s 4.5
4th - Ashley Reaves
18+ Doubles
Men’s 3.5
3rd - Ravi Sriram / Robert Scheibler
4th - Lee Seidlits / Elkin Echevrri
Men’s 4.5
3rd - Cody Everett / Michael Torres
Women’s 3.0
Champion - Amanda Reed / Melissa Munson
Women’s 4.0
Champion - Cynthia Pope / Angela Avila
Women’s 4.5
2nd - Ashli Urano / Savannah Bryson
18+ Mixed Doubles
Mixed 3.0
4th - Kate Blundworth / Carey Falk
Mixed 3.5
4th - Pat Alexander / Wayne Alexander
Mixed 4.0
2nd - Tanya Thornton / Rajesh Subramaniam
4th - Tony Kayser / Meagan Labunski
40+ Singles
Women’s 3.0
Champion - Kaley Medina
4th - Toni Barrera
Women’s 4.0
2nd - Nichole Gradeless
40+ Doubles
Men’s 4.0
3rd - Tommy Connell / David Connell
4th - Patrick Kovalik / Robert Kyle
Women’s 3.0
4th - Gina Jones / Lori Castellaw
Women’s 3.5
Champion - Jamie Allen / Meredith Paterson
Women’s 4.5
3rd - Danielle Spencer / Beverly Rowland
40+ Doubles
Men’s 4.0
3rd - Tommy Connell / David Connell
4th - Patrick Kovalik / Robert Kyle
Women’s 3.0
4th - Gina Jones / Lori Castellaw
Women’s 3.5
Champion - Jamie Allen / Meredith Paterson
Women’s 4.5
3rd - Danielle Spencer / Beverly Rowland
55+ Singles
Women’s 3.5
3rd - Maria Saenz
55+ Doubles
Men’s 3.0
2nd - Robb Matthews / Robert Cabellos
Men’s 3.5
3rd - Alex Ramirez / JP Jordan
Women’s 3.0
3rd - Virginia Riley / Stephanie Sweeney
4th - Jean Warren / Kathleen McDonnold
Women’s 3.5
3rd - Summer Richbourg / Melissa Meyer
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