Texans at the 2026 NTRP Nationals
The 2026 NTRP National Championships brought together top amateur tennis players from across the country, showcasing inspiring stories of resilience, rediscovery, and camaraderie at the Surprise Tennis and Racquet Complex, Giammalva Racquet Club, & USTA National Campus, & Barnes Tennis Center. Held in 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.
For Christi Hamilton, competing in her first nationals, captured the spirit of the event, noting that the experience was as much about making new friends as it was about the competition. "I'm thankful for the opportunity to represent Team Texas," Hamilton said, looking forward to reuniting with her new peers at the upcoming Doubles nationals.
The 3.5 40+ division proved to be a dominant category for the Lone Star State. Stephanie Woods Reynolds, Michelle Merwarth, and Sandy Teeter secured the 1st, 3rd, and 4th place spots, respectively. For Reynolds and Merwarth, this year marked a significant step up from the previous year, where they fell short of the 1st place bracket. This time, the trio stood tall on the podium, with Reynolds and Merwarth noting with pride, "Texas took 1, 3, and 4! So proud of us!"
In the singles draws, North Texas was particularly well-represented. Ashley Reaves, Christy Vutam, and Averie Bowen—all hailing from the DFW area—made a massive impact by all reaching the Final Four in their division. Even in the face of injury, the Texas spirit remained unbroken. Jonas Crafts successfully returned to the court following a knee injury, while Chrystal Nickol Aranda battled through a sprained ankle to fight her way into the final
April 19, 2026 - Courtney Moursund and Natalie Hunter of the Texas Section come in 1st place in the +18 2.5 Women’s Doubles NTRP National Championship at the Giammalva Racquet Club in Houston, Texas.
April 19, 2026 - Elkin Echeverri and Lee Sidlits of the Texas Section come in 4th place in the +18 3.5 Men’s Doubles NTRP National Championship at the Giammalva Racquet Club in Houston, Texas.
April 12, 2026 – Averie Bowen from the Texas section came in fourth place in the 18+ 4.5 Women's Singles NTRP National Championship at the Surprise Tennis & Racquet Complex in Surprise, Arizona.
April 19, 2026 - Cora McAlpine and Brittany Allen of the Texas Section came in 2nd place in the +18 2.5 Women’s Doubles NTRP National Championship at the Giammalva Racquet Club in Houston, Texas.
April 26, 2026 – Yvette Marietta and Alex Resendez from the Texas section came in first place in the 18+ 3.5 Mixed Doubles NTRP National Championship at the Surprise Tennis & Racquet Complex in Surprise, Arizona.
April 26, 2026 – Christine Ledbetter and Matt Ledbetter from the Texas section came in third place in the 18+ 3.0 Mixed Doubles NTRP National Championship at the Surprise Tennis & Racquet Complex in Surprise, Arizona.
April 26, 2026 – Renee Cook and Salomon Oliveros from the Texas section came in third place in the 18+ 3.5 Mixed Doubles NTRP National Championship at the Surprise Tennis & Racquet Complex in Surprise, Arizona.
April 26, 2026 – Chrystal Aranda and Nathan Boles from the Texas section came in second place in the 18+ 4.5 Mixed Doubles NTRP National Championship at the Surprise Tennis & Racquet Complex in Surprise, Arizona.
April 19, 2026 - Robert Scheibler and Ravi Sriram of the Texas Section come in 3rd place in the +18 3.5 Men’s Doubles NTRP National Championship at the Giammalva Racquet Club in Houston, Texas.
April 19, 2026 - Sarah Scoggin and Alex Echeverri of the Texas Section come in 1st place in the +18 3.0 Women’s Doubles NTRP National Championship at the Giammalva Racquet Club in Houston, Texas.
April 19, 2026 - Christy Vutam and Alexandra Turck of the Texas Section come in 3rd place in the +18 Women’s Doubles NTRP National Championship at the Giammalva Racquet Club in Houston, Texas.
April 19, 2026 - Amy Mcdonnold and Carley Boyle of the Texas Section came in 1st place in the +18 4.0 Women’s Doubles NTRP National Championship at the Giammalva Racquet Club in Houston, Texas.
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The championships also served as a stage for incredible personal journeys. Shelly Bull embodied the spirit of the comeback, returning to the court after a 30-year hiatus. Having picked up a racket again only in June 2024, Bull described her national participation as "just the beginning of my climb to the top." Similarly, Kaley Medina showcased how quickly passion can turn into hardware. Just three years after starting tennis with a local "mom squad" post-COVID, Medina captured a national title. Her victory was sealed in the final with a clinical ace "right down the T" on a deuce point. "This reminded me how powerful it is to try something new later in life," Medina reflected.
Beyond the trophies, the atmosphere was one of mutual respect. Renee Cook, attending her first NTRP Nationals, was struck by the caliber and character of her opponents. "What impressed us most was how great all the opponents were—welcoming and encouraging," Cook remarked. She noted that during the 3.5 division finals, the camaraderie was palpable: "It was great to see so many people come cheer Texas to their final victory. They were the crowd favorite for sure!"
Whether it was Barbara Lindsay fighting back from a 0-3 deficit in a set against fellow Texan Rachel Rodriguez, or the DFW trio sweeping the final brackets, the 2025 championships celebrated the transformative power of the game. For Team Texas, the event was a vibrant reminder that whether you are returning after decades away or picking up a racket for the first time, the national stage is a place to chase dreams and find community.
Results:
18+ Singles
Men’s 5.0
4th – Erhart Asaad
Women’s 2.5
2nd – Gloria Sanchez
Women’s 3.0
2nd – Luciana Paulise
Women’s 4.5
2nd – Christy Vutam
3rd – Ashley Reaves
4th – Averie Bowen
18+ Doubles
Men’s 3.0
3rd – Jorge Flores-Pere / Hayden Kurie
Men’s 3.5
2nd – Troy Dalymple / Sgea Bolton
3rd – Ravi Sriram / Robert Scheibler
4th – Lee Seidlits / Elkin Echeverri
Women’s 2.5
Champion – Natalie Hunter / Courtney Moursund
2nd – Cora Alpine / Brittany Allen
Women’s 3.0
Champion – Sarah Scoggin / Alex Echeverri
Women’s 4.0
Champion – Amy McDonnold / Carley Boyle
Women’s 4.5
3rd – Christy Vutam / Alexandra Turck
18+ Mixed Doubles
Mixed 3.0
3rd – Christine Ledbetter / Matt Ledbetter
Mixed 3.5
Champion – Eliseo Resendez / Yvette Marietta
3rd – Renee Cook / Salomon Oliveros Parra
Mixed 4.5
2nd – Chrystal Nikol Aranda / Nathanael Boles
40+ Singles
Women’s 3.5
Champion – Sandra Teeter
2nd – Michelle Merwaerth
3rd – Stephanie Woods Reynolds
Women’s 4.0
4th – Allison Reyna
40+ Doubles
Men’s 3.5
3rd – Matt Rothrock / Jonas Crafts
Men’s 4.0
4th – David Connell / Tommy Connell
55+ Singles
Men’s 3.5
Champion – Stephen Wisser
55+ Doubles
Men’s 3.5
3rd – John Garza / Ben Claybaker
Women’s 3.5
Champion – Summer Richbourg / Melissa Meyer
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