Larry Keeter, Charlotte, NC – currently ranked #12 in the USA from the 2014 inaugural Clocktower Classic Wheelchair Tennis Tournament
Over 20 players from all across the southeast will converge at the Rome-Floyd Tennis Center this weekend for the second annual Clocktower Classic Wheelchair Tennis Tournament.
Of the 23 players, all are nationally ranked, including David Williams, the #1 singles player in the A division.
Crowd favorite, Donald Shapiro is also returning to Rome. He has been playing wheelchair tennis for over 30 years – and is known throughout the Southern section as a dedicated coach, sharing his love of the game with new players. Donald was also the recipient of the 2014 USTA Georgia Wheelchair Tennis Player of the Year award.
The Clocktower Classic was recognized as the USTA Georgia Wheelchair Tennis Tournament of the Year in 2014. “The fact that this event was recognized in its first year was unprecedented,” says event coordinator, Ann Hortman. “It was a direct result of serving up our renowned Southern Hospitality, which we look forward to rolling out again this year.”
Earlier this year, RACE Rome (a local 501c3) donated a youth adaptive sport chair to the Rome-Floyd Tennis Center to support tennis instruction for youth in wheelchairs. A free Saturday afternoon clinic will be offered during the tournament weekend to youth with mobility impairments. Local children interested in participating should contact Ann Hortman.
Spectators are encouraged to attend in support of the tournament athletes; admission is free. Play begins Friday night at 7 p.m. and continues through Sunday afternoon.
All matches are held at the Rome-Floyd Tennis Center located at 300 West Third Street (beside Barron Stadium).
Volunteer opportunities are available throughout the weekend. Those interested in volunteering should contact Charlene Mathis at charlene@laststopgiftshop.com or 706-295-5576.
For more information on the tournament, the youth clinic or wheelchair tennis in general, contact event coordinator Ann Hortman at ann@romegeorgia.org or 706-295-5576.
About the Author
Our Georgia's Rome tourism team works hard to curate content to help you discover and explore our beautiful town! We want to ensure our content is up-to-date and accurate; so please let us know if we ever overlook an important detail! This post was originally written by Kristi Kent and is updated by staff.
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