Breaking News
Local Sports

Kefalos leads local youth tennis clinic

By Dee Lantz 3 min read

PARKERSBURG -- The Mid-Ohio Valley Tennis Association (MOVTA) had an amazing tennis event at the City Park tennis courts. Jeff Kefalos, a tennis pro from Columbia, S.C., was inducted into the MOV Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday, July 25. That morning, he led a tennis clinic for area junior tennis players. He was assisted by Rick Rhoades and Jeff Herring.

Kefalos grew up in the Parkersburg area. He learned to play tennis at the City Park courts. He was a three-time West Virginia state champion at No. 1 singles, a member of three W.Va. state championship teams, coached at the University of South Carolina, was inducted to the USC Athletics Hall of Fame, and many other achievements.

Kefalos spoke to the junior players and spectators before getting kids out on the courts, where he led the clinic. He put them through a tough workout, which kept them on their toes. The players now have a great workout routine to use with their hitting partner.

Kefalos had them all play a one-point tournament which was very challenging. The two overall winners were Avonlea Lewis and Olivia Vessels. The players who participated were EJ Abels, Alex Waskey, Jalee Thompson, Chloe Retherford, Avonlea Lewis, Braxton Fullerton, Darien Hawkins, Asher Knell, Lukas Mourat, Silas West, Luke Taylor, Noah Mourat, Jake Jackson, Millie Budzyn, Jillian Riddle, Kase Duncan, Zander Duncan, Ethan Shields, Carson Clegg, Campbell Fields, Thomas Lindenmuth, Jonah Beha, Matthew Goodson, Rui He, Ryker Bungard, Liya Tewodros, Olivia Vessels, Gary Griffin, Isaiah Dehmlow, Max Boyd and Cale Stutler.

Felice Jorgeson, Megan Duncan, and Dee Lantz from MOVTA, who put the event together, are very thankful for all of the spectators who stopped by to watch. They were from the Wood County Summer Rec Tennis Program, local adult tennis players, former tennis players who were part of the Rec tennis from the City Park when Kefalos played, and the family members of the participants.

Special thanks to all of these organizations or businesses who helped promote or supported the event. They are Don Warner (Warner KIA), Doug Kinney and Crew (City of Parkersburg), Jared Bloxton (Wood County Rec Director), Wood County Board of Education, Gift Gallery, and Scott Cain (Sound System).

Tennis in our area has been buzzing this summer. The number of kids and adults playing are up. There have been summer tennis programs, adult social leagues, Power Point Tennis, Junior Team Tennis competition in Ohio, our Jeff Kefalos event, and other activities. Wood County Middle School tennis is just around the corner, starting Aug. 3.

Remember: Tennis is a lifetime sport! It adds 9.7 years to your life. It builds confidence, coordination and friendship.

For more information about local tennis opportunities, visit our website at www.movtatennis.com.

Starting at /week.