Centenary Tennis Program Returning In 2024
Centenary College is reviving its tennis program as men’s and women’s tennis will return in the Fall of 2024, Director of Athletics and Recreation David Orr announced on Friday.
Shreveport – Centenary College is reviving its tennis program as men's and women's tennis will return in the Fall of 2024, Director of Athletics and Recreation David Orr announced on Friday.
The tennis program was suspended in May of 2020 but the Ladies and Gents will return to the court next fall after four years without any competition. The Querbes Tennis Center will now serve as the home facility for the Ladies and Gents as the tennis courts on campus have been removed to accommodate the football construction. The search for a head coach will begin immediately.
"I am very excited about the return of the tennis program," said Orr. "Bringing tennis back will allow more of our student-athletes to compete and furthermore, our partnership with the Querbes Tennis Center enhances this."
The Querbes Tennis Center, renovated in 2019, features 11 total courts (six soft and five traditional hard courts) and two junior tennis courts that have been converted to Pickleball. A grand reopening was held in February of 2020. The facility, which opened in 1965, will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2024.
"We want to make sure all our SPAR (Shreveport Parks and Recreation) public tennis courts are welcoming, active community engagement centers," said SPAR Director Shelly Ragle.
"That's exactly what Querbes Tennis Center is doing by partnering with Centenary College's Tennis program. When it comes to community advocacy, tennis players are across-the-board passionate about their sport, and I know the student-athletes will be great role models for those just starting to play the sport. This partnership will benefit the City of Shreveport, SPAR, Querbes, and tennis in our community for years to come," said Ragle.
"I am incredibly excited to have Querbes Tennis Center become the new home of Centenary College Tennis," said Querbes Tennis Director Chris Dudley. "This is a perfect partnership, and a win for the college, a win for Querbes and a win for Shreveport. This alliance will bring even more attention to the school and the tennis club we've been discussing this for some time, and it's finally about to happen."
More on the Querbes Tennis Center:
*Querbes Tennis Center has been awarded the Facility of the Year Award by the Louisiana Tennis Association two of the last three years
*In 2022, Querbes Tennis Center was one of just ten public tennis centers in the United States to receive the Outstanding Facility of the Year Award
*In 2022, Querbes was one of the original eight tennis clubs in the nation to be chosen for a new initiative called the Premiere Facility Award, recognizing clubs for "Excellence in Coaching, Progams, Facility and Customer Service." There are now approximately 25 clubs in the nation with that designation.
*In 2022, the center welcomed more than 59,000 players through the gates.
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