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Sixth annual Stevick tennis tournament slated for Clayview
Country Club prepares for first big event in its new location
By Natalie Shelton
Jim Stevick’s friends are proud to be carrying on a tradition by holding a memorial tennis tournament in his honor for six years running.
And this year, they’re taking the tradition across Interstate 35 to the brand new Clayview Country Club, where new tennis courts are waiting for some action.
The Jim Stevick Memorial Tennis Tournament, which will be held Friday to Sunday, May 30 to June 1, will be the first big event for Clayview’s new home, located in the Village of Shoal Creek Valley subdivision near Liberty Oaks Elementary School. Clayview sports eight lighted outdoor courts, five indoor courts, a swimming pool, fitness facilities and an almost-completed clubhouse.
“We’re excited about it; it’s our first big event,” said Elliott McDermed, Clayview’s general manager. “We’re anticipating a good mix of high-level, junior-level and players from Mike Wolf Tennis Academy. We’ll also have some current college-level and formerly college-level players.”
This year’s tournament features traditional men’s, women’s and mixed singles and doubles (both A and open). Organizers also have added a parent-child event, said event chairman Tony Lee.
“It’s all in the name of fun,” Lee said of the parent-child event, which pairs parents with kids no matter the age of their children.
“It’ll probably run the gamut,” Lee said. “Some of the kids might be 10; some might be 40. It all works out even if teams are mismatched; the better teams know to be nice to the kids.”
Over the last five years, the tournament has raised about $30,000 for the James D. Stevick Teachers Scholarship, given to a graduating senior who plans to pursue teaching. Stevick’s wife, retired teacher Gaye Stevick, and others established the scholarship after he died in a tragic automobile accident in 2002, three years after he retired from Liberty High School as a chemistry teacher and tennis coach.
Besides Lee, Stevick’s friends who are organizing the tournament are Bruce Baldwin, Jim Gravina, Charlie Koch, Carl Prather, David Rigg, Scott Baldwin and tournament director Stuart Borders.
Lee met Stevick more than 20 years ago when Lee and his wife joined what was then the Liberty Tennis Association.
“He was a good friend, a fellow tennis lover, just a person I, along with everyone else, liked because of his demeanor; he was just a calm, respectful person,” Lee said. “Once you got to know him, he left quite a mark on you.”
The cost for singles is $30, doubles is $45 per team, and the mixer is $25 per couple or $15 per individual. Additional donations to the scholarship fund are also appreciated. For more information or to enter, visit www.stevickmemorial.com. The deadline for entering is Tuesday, May 27.
Staff writer Natalie Shelton can be reached at 781-4941 or nshelton@npgco.com.
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And this year, they’re taking the tradition across Interstate 35 to the brand new Clayview Country Club, where new tennis courts are waiting for some action.
The Jim Stevick Memorial Tennis Tournament, which will be held Friday to Sunday, May 30 to June 1, will be the first big event for Clayview’s new home, located in the Village of Shoal Creek Valley subdivision near Liberty Oaks Elementary School. Clayview sports eight lighted outdoor courts, five indoor courts, a swimming pool, fitness facilities and an almost-completed clubhouse.
“We’re excited about it; it’s our first big event,” said Elliott McDermed, Clayview’s general manager. “We’re anticipating a good mix of high-level, junior-level and players from Mike Wolf Tennis Academy. We’ll also have some current college-level and formerly college-level players.”
This year’s tournament features traditional men’s, women’s and mixed singles and doubles (both A and open). Organizers also have added a parent-child event, said event chairman Tony Lee.
“It’s all in the name of fun,” Lee said of the parent-child event, which pairs parents with kids no matter the age of their children.
“It’ll probably run the gamut,” Lee said. “Some of the kids might be 10; some might be 40. It all works out even if teams are mismatched; the better teams know to be nice to the kids.”
Over the last five years, the tournament has raised about $30,000 for the James D. Stevick Teachers Scholarship, given to a graduating senior who plans to pursue teaching. Stevick’s wife, retired teacher Gaye Stevick, and others established the scholarship after he died in a tragic automobile accident in 2002, three years after he retired from Liberty High School as a chemistry teacher and tennis coach.
Besides Lee, Stevick’s friends who are organizing the tournament are Bruce Baldwin, Jim Gravina, Charlie Koch, Carl Prather, David Rigg, Scott Baldwin and tournament director Stuart Borders.
Lee met Stevick more than 20 years ago when Lee and his wife joined what was then the Liberty Tennis Association.
“He was a good friend, a fellow tennis lover, just a person I, along with everyone else, liked because of his demeanor; he was just a calm, respectful person,” Lee said. “Once you got to know him, he left quite a mark on you.”
The cost for singles is $30, doubles is $45 per team, and the mixer is $25 per couple or $15 per individual. Additional donations to the scholarship fund are also appreciated. For more information or to enter, visit www.stevickmemorial.com. The deadline for entering is Tuesday, May 27.
Staff writer Natalie Shelton can be reached at 781-4941 or nshelton@npgco.com.