Middle Georgia tennis cleans up at state USTA workshop

The Central Georgia Sports Report

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          It might as well have been “Middle Georgia Tennis Day” recently at the United States Tennis Association (USTA) Georgia Annual Community Tennis Development Workshop in Atlanta.

          Groups, facilities, players, and events in and around Macon earned scores of honors during the ceremony at the J.W Marriott in Atlanta.

          Now in its seventh year, the Macon Area Tennis Association’s Net Therapy Tennis for Children on the Autism Spectrum was named the Adaptive Tennis Program of the year.

          Led by then-marketing director Jenni Eddlemon and current events/marketing coordinator Collin Wilson, it offers three six-week clinics a year for children on the autism spectrum, an athletic outlet for participants and caregivers.Net Therapy for Children with Autism also received the Adaptive Tennis Program of the Year for USTA Southern District, covering Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

          The Mercer Tennis Classic was named adult tournament of the year. It just completed its 10th year, attracting top 200 and top 100 players each year.

          The parks and recreation department of the year resides here, with the Bibb County Parks and Rec Department, running John Drew Smith Tennis Center and Randy Stephens Tennis Center. Both are increasing targets for tournaments, including the Mercer Tennis Classic, now played at JDS.

          Ethan Ashley was named the junior player of the year.

          The son of FPD tennis coach Derek Lashley and wife Aimee is an eighth-grader at FPD, and competes throughout the Southeast. He also competes in cross country.

          Todd Smith earned the male captain of the year.

          The associate vice president for University Advancement at Mercer captained his first team in 2020 so that his sons could play together a final time after missing their high school season as well as junior team tennis (JTT) because of COVID-19. He has captained more than 20 teams in assorted leagues since then. He has also been named the JTT captain of the year.

          Jennifer Hornsby of Warner Robins won that title this year, helping spark increased participation and bolster the local junior tennis league.

          She has captained several teams in many age groups, recruiting more adult involvement and organize practice and tournaments. Hornsby also runs the Net Therapy Clinics three times a year.

          The MATA offers league and instructional programs, as well as tournaments, and is for players in Bibb, Houston, Jones, Monroe, and Peach Counties.