The Smithville Golf Club hosted a first-ever tennis tournament, the Smithville Turkey Smash, over the Thanksgiving holiday, held Monday, November 25th, and Tuesday, November 26th. 24 players from DeKalb County, McMinnville, Woodbury, Baxter, and Tullahoma competed in the 14U and 18U divisions. The tournament was a USTA event and part of a growing program of tennis opportunities for area youth, with Smithville as a hub.
The USTA stands for the United States Tennis Association, which serves as the national governing body of tennis. The association exists to promote and develop tennis on every level, from amateur to professional, in the United States.
Brian Cadle, DCHS Tennis Coach, has embraced a partnership with the USTA to expand tennis opportunities for all DeKalb County students. “I recognized early that tennis in DeKalb County had great interest and potential for both children and adults in the community,” Cadle said. “The Smithville Golf Club is centrally located to several counties in the area, and is seeing incredible growth as an amateur tennis hub.”
Smithville has been the host site for several tennis events for 2024, including a youth summer and fall program called Junior Team Tennis (JTT), and also the Caney Fork Open. 35-40 area youth players participated in the JTT programs this year.
The Smithville Turkey Smash had winners from several communities, including Cameron Pursell of Smithville, in the 14U boys’ division. Izzy Pitts of McMinnville won the 18U girls’ division, with Luke Reagan of Tullahoma winning the 18U boys’ division. Fourteen DeKalb players participated in the tournament.
Cadle was excited about the overall participation for Smithville tennis in 2024 and looks forward to the future. “The USTA aspires to have 35 million Americans playing tennis by 2035 and Smithville is actively contributing to that goal.”
