After a successful inaugural event last year, the Kay Cantrell and Ann Garrard Memorial Scholarship Tennis Tournament is set to continue in 2025 with its second annual fundraiser in September.
Last year, the tournament, held at the Russellville Tennis Complex, raised thousands of dollars to aid the memorial scholarship fund and allowed four northwest Shoals area high school tennis student-athletes—Drew Strickland of Russellville, Freddy Franks and Logan Rich of Wilson, and Chase Miller of Muscle Shoals—to receive college scholarships totaling $3,500.
Paige McCluskey and Katie Hester, establishers of the Kay Cantrell and Ann Garrard Memorial Scholarship, which was set up to honor their late, tennis-loving grandmothers, also organize the tournament. The two said in an email that they hope to see this year’s event even more successful.
“The tournament is a way for us to feel connected to our grandmothers. They loved the game. We love being able to share this day with their friends and former teammates as well as others that just love the game or that are just starting their tennis careers out. Being there with our families and watching everyone compete is what we look forward to,” McCluskey and Hester said. “It was great to see all the players that participated in the tournament (last year). I know our grandmothers would be so proud of the turn out. To see ladies still playing that shared the love of the game with them and the younger players just getting their start, I know Mamaw Kay and Mama Ann were smiling ear to ear. It is our goal to keep honoring our grandmothers, keep growing the tournament, and keep giving back.
“Last year we had about 80 players ranging in age from nine years old to 76 years old! We would love to raise anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000. The more we raise, the more we can give back!
“We hope to keep expanding and giving back to as many tennis players as we can,” the two added.
One key to the tournament’s success last year were business sponsors who gave money and donated or bought equipment and other necessities for running the event. McCluskey and Hester are hoping to secure that assistance again this year.
“Last year, we had 28 sponsors. We have just started reaching out to last year’s sponsors to hopefully sponsor again, but we are also welcoming new sponsorships,” they said. “We can't thank last year's sponsors enough. Our families were overwhelmed with the willingness of businesses to donate.”
And of course no tennis tournament can be successful without participation from players. Last year’s tournament saw four score participants of all ages. The tournament's organizers are optimistic they’ll see even more engagement on this second go around.
As smooth as last year’s tournament went, McCluskey and Hester said there’s not much they plan to do differently this time, but they are always looking to make the event ever better.
Like last year, the current plan is to continue the tournament with singles and doubles play in different gender and age categories, but the two are waiting to see how many players to sign up before committing to a set format.
“We will see how many sign up this year to confirm the tournament format. For now, we hope to run the same style as last year with a singles and doubles option. We are also hoping to have more 12-under kids sign up this year. With the implementation of the USTA team tennis, we should have more in that range,” they said.
The 2nd Annual Kay Cantrell and Ann Garrard Memorial Scholarship Tennis Tournament will be held on Saturday, September 20 at the Russellville Tennis Complex. Registration for the tournament, which is $30, begins on Friday, August 1. Those interested in registering for the tournament or sponsoring the event can contact Paige McCluskey at 256-668-3434 or Katie Hester at 256-460-0519.
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