Dear Members of The North American Racquets Association,
I hope everyone had a tremendous summer shared with your family and friends. We are excited to kick-off our 2024-2025 Racquet’s Season, and are pleased to share the finalized tournament schedule which can be found on the NARA website: Home | North American Racquets Association.
I wanted to start by thanking Jonathan Larken, for his time serving as my preceding President of NARA and for being The Racquet & Tennis Club’s long-standing representative to the board. Jonathan cares deeply about North American Racquets, and has successfully implemented numerous initiatives for the continued growth and strength of our game. I was very fortunate to draw on Jonathan’s experience and counsel when I served under him. I am very happy to report that Jonathan will stay on the board and serve as the Vice President of NARA. Please join me in congratulating and thanking Jonathan for his continued service to the North American Racquets Association!
We have an exciting events calendar this season and we encourage all of you to travel to at least one (or more!) event and experience the generous hospitality of the seven host clubs. Doing so further strengthens our community across North America and is what this game is all about. I look forward to seeing you on tour.
Our first event of the season will occur this weekend in Chicago. Neil Smith and Conor Medlow will be training 8 Elite Players from across the country in a two-day intensive coaching weekend. For the newer players to our game, this weekend is a DO NOT MISS training session. NARA subsidizes the weekend for deserving travelers and if you have not participated yet, please reach out to your NARA Representative to be earmarked for next year.
Soon after the Elite Training Weekend, 10 North American Racqueteers will travel to the UK to participate in the much sought-after Knott Stephens Tour. The team will represent NARA as it travels across the country playing an extensive list of Schools and Clubs over a grueling two weeks. You will recall the fun of hosting UK teams in year’s past, and this year is our turn to send over a side. Stay tuned to the Socials for updates on the group as they traverse the racquets courts in and around England. Needless to say, the Knott Stephen’s Tour is THE best thing since sliced bread. If you have not participated, and are eager to do so, please speak with your Representative to find out how you can get your name on the coveted list. You will not regret it.
The 2024 Knott Stephens Team: Tour Captain: Tanner Austin (BOS), Tour Vice-Captain: Danny Dolan (RCC), Andrew Peabody (BOS), Rodney Morgan (MRC), Stuart Bailey (MRC), Everett Gage (RCC), Bryan Melvin (DRC), Dillon Melvin (DRC), Sebastian Yager (RCOP), Val Quan (R&T).
Travel safely, have fun and play well!
Detroit will then host NARA’s annual Under-35 Weekend from November 1st to 3rd. The goal of this weekend is to ensure all participants get plenty of matches and time on court in addition to building relationships with members from other clubs off the court. If you are under the age of 35 and looking to get your repetitions in, this is the weekend for you. Detroit does not disappoint on the social side of things, and the weekend’s proximity to Halloween is not a mistake.
From the 7th to 10th of November, members are invited to participate in both the US Amateur Singles and Doubles Tournament which, this year, is paired alongside New York’s Silver Racquet weekend! Pack your bags and head to the Big Apple for a few days of top-level racquets and a party that should be on everyone’s calendar!
For more details and for the balance of events we have planned for 2024 and 2025, please refer to the NARA website.
The NARA board remains extremely grateful to all our members who continue to support the game of Racquets. Your membership dues enable NARA to contribute to tournament prize money, run the Pro/Elite training weekend, send out Advance The Play checks for every club, subsidize the cost of racquets balls, offer travel subsidies, sponsor the U-35 tournament in addition to our communications and various other initiatives.
Lastly, I would like to personally thank our Professionals and NARA Board Members for their time and dedication to ensure the game of Racquets continues to thrive in North America.
We very much look forward to seeing everyone at some of the tournaments this season, and please reach out to myself or your club representative with any questions.
Play!
Lucas R. Walsh
President of NARA
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