At the October USTA WY BOD meeting, James Voorhies of Casper was elected President to lead the organization in 2014 and beyond. The USTA is the national governing body (NGB) for our sport -- tennis, in the US. In that regard we are similar to the NBA/WNBA (basketball), NFL (football), PGA/LPGA (golf), NHL (hockey), etc. The mission of the USTA WY District is to "grow the game of tennis in Wyoming." Here is what James has to say about his new leadership position.
"It’s an exciting time seeing how tennis is growing and changing in the state of Wyoming. I want to thank the countless, tennis players that have kept tennis alive in our great state. Our state may be small in numbers, but we make up for that with enthusiasm and heart.
It is a little bit daunting taking over as the WYOTA President, as there are some really big shoes to fill. Julie Francis has done an amazing job as presiding over WYOTA. Thank you Julie for your continued dedication to Wyoming Tennis!
We are entering a time where we need to reach out to our Junior players and bring elementary schools into mainstream tennis. We will be continuing to support our local Tennis Professionals, Community Tennis Associations and volunteers in this endeavor. We will support and offer to help them grow the game for generations to come. Growing tennis means even stronger support from our volunteers to provide a strong base for our Pro's and our Local Tennis Associations.
The communities that have no tennis pros will need the true champions to step forward and volunteer – assuring that this game, that we all love, will be passed on to the next generation of players. We are not going to take anything away from what we have been doing for the established players, leagues, tournaments, tennis associations, etc. Throughout the years, we have built a very successful tennis model and have had many firsts in the state of Wyoming that have drawn regional and national attention from USTA.
The next time you see Dave Boon, let him know that his tireless efforts both behind the scenes and out front, growing the game of tennis in the Cowyboy State, are greatly appreciated.
Stay involved - volunteering, playing, supporting….and please don't hesitate to let us know how we can better serve you”. James Voorhies, USTA WY District President