By Rich Brown
rbrown@joplinglobe.com
Joplin was well represented at the United States Tennis Association’s Missouri Valley District Awards presentations early this month at the Cooper Sports Complex in Springfield.
The tennis family of the year award went to Lorry and Kathy Lazenby and their three children, Rachel, John and Hannah.
All three children played tennis at Joplin High School, with John and Hannah going on to play at Rockhurst University.
Rachel, who finished third the last two years in the MSHSAA state tournament, is a senior at JHS and as yet undecided where she will play college tennis. Lorry Lazenby played at Southeast Missouri State University.
In addition, Rachel Lazenby was presented with the girls sportsmanship award for 18-year-olds.
“Rachel has never gotten into any discussions or arguments and has always been very fair with her opponents,” said Marianella Padron, executive tennis director at Millennium Tennis & Fitness Club, where the Lazenby family plays.
Jacqueline Engelbrecht received the same honor for 12-year-old girls.
The remainder of the awards were presented to Millennium employees.
Brad Bigando, club manager, accepted the event of the year honor on behalf of Millennium.
Bigando organized last year’s Futures Tournament, an annual pro event held at the Joplin club.
Padron, who also coaches Thomas Jefferson tennis teams, won the community service award.
“This is all about exposing the game of tennis to the community,” she said. “It is about all the little things I do to promote the game, like going to schools, working with clubs and dealing indirectly with all the people about tennis.”
Ed Ingle, senior teaching professional at Millennium, was honored as the outstanding contributor to USTA Youth Tennis.
“Ed introduces a lot of kids to the game,” Padron said. “He works in our tennis academy.”
Twenty awards were presented to those in the Missouri District of Missouri Valley.
“Joplin got quite a few,” Padron said. “This is a great accomplishment for a town this size.”
