Wyoming High School Players Qualify for 2021 World TeamTennis Nationals
Jackson’s Gervais and Kelly Walsh’s Klinger Earn Their Way to the World TeamTennis Junior Nationals
Cheyenne, WY - April 24, 2021: The pandemic has knocked a lot plans sideways over the past months. But there have been some silver linings to emerge. Thanks to Cheyenne’s Josh Cossitt, two Wyoming high school tennis players earned a spot on the team that will compete at World TeamTennis Junior Nationals taking place at the United States Tennis Association’s National Campus from July 27-29 in Orlando, FL.
In a typical year, team players would have to earn national rankings & be selected by USTA Intermountain Player Development to participate based on those rankings. However, with all USTA Intermountain team events being cancelled this year due to the pandemic, Josh reached out to the WTT tournament organizers to see if he could form his own team. Josh’s request was granted and, as a result, two of the six team spots will be offered to Wyoming high school tennis players that play in a local tournament hosted by their high school team with the winning girl & boy in those events earned a spot in the Cheyenne playoff event held in Cheyenne on April 24th.
“I was thrilled to hear that Josh was offering this opportunity to all the Wyoming high school tennis players in an effort to generate more competition outside of the season as well as give the players a once-in-a-lifetime tennis experience to experience national competition,” said USTA Wyoming Executive Director Peg Connor. “And many thanks to the high school tennis coaches from Cheyenne South, Cheyenne Central, Cheyenne East, Laramie, Green River, Rock Springs, Jackson, Kelly Walsh, Natrona County and Sheridan who organized local playoff events for their school team players.”
The winners of the Cheyenne playoff event, Jackson High School’s Campbell Gervais and Kelly Walsh High School’s Finley Klinger have been offered the opportunity to join the team that will play at the WTT Junior Nationals in Orlando this July. Both players faced tough competition in the finals, having to overcome Andrew Lock of Cheyenne South and Patricia Hartley of Cheyenne South, respectively.
The trip to WTT Junior Nationals in Orlando will feature three days of World TeamTennis-style team completion between teams from all over the country. There will also be tours of the USTA National Campus and meetings with the USTA Player Development coaches & some of the professional players training at the campus. As well, meetings will be arranged with USTA National Staff to discuss careers in the tennis industry and get a behind-the-scenes view of the tennis business. The trip will wrap up with a visit to Disney World.
All the best to Coach Cossitt, Finley, Campbell and the rest of the team in Orlando this July!
Champion Finley Klinger of Kelly Walsh High School
Champion Campbell Gervais of Jackson High School
Finalist Patricia Hartley of Cheyenne South High School
Finalist Andrew Lock of Cheyenne South High School
Left to right: Parker Phillips/Kelly Walsh, Andrew Lock/Cheyenne South, Nedra McIlwaine/Cheyenne East, Gabrielle Heiser/Green River