Montgomery Open Wheelchair Tournament Re-Cap

Montgomery Open 2024

Dream Court’s 4th Annual Wheelchair Tennis Tournament held on April 19 – April 21 at Lagoon Park Tennis Center was another great success! Thirty-three wheelchair tennis players from 8 different states competed in this USTA sanctioned tournament.

Scholarships & Prize Money

Thanks to the generosity of our Dream Court Sponsors, we were able to award $5,000 in scholarships to cover lodging and transportation, prioritizing juniors, first time participants, and special requests. Our amazing support also allowed us to give out Prize Money! YES: $200 for each champion, and $100 for each finalist in all coed singles and doubles divisions.

Champions & Finalists

The USTA has a ranking system for Wheelchair Tennis that includes A, B, C, D, and Juniors

A - advanced, D - beginners, and Juniors - competitors

under 18 years old.

Congratulations Winners and Finalists!

Junior Clinic and Skill Challenge

The Montgomery Open held its first ever Junior Clinic and Skill Challenge on April 20. This event was organized to accommodate players that are not yet ready to participate in full court activities but want to increase their skills and enjoy the fun atmosphere of the Montgomery Open. Special thanks to Coach Daniel Lachman (see below) for coaching this exciting new opportunity!

Special Guest: Daniel Lachman

Dream Court was thrilled to receive a visit from Daniel Lachman - Head Coach of Lakeshore Wheelchair Tennis Team (Birmingham, AL) and the #4 player in the world in 1985. Lachman led our junior clinic and skill challenge events that enriched our athletes and helped take them to the next level! We are in awe of his talent and so grateful for his participation in the Montgomery Open.

Player's Party

We wrapped up a fun-filled Saturday with our annual Players Party. The Druid's Charity Club BBQ was a crowd-pleaser!

Mays Jemison Sportsmanship Award

The Mays Jemison Sportsmanship Award is a tradition to honor the individual who made the first move to help Dream Court become a reality. This award is presented to the athlete who exemplifies sportsmanship in the truest sense throughout the tournament.

Mr. Jemison was a husband, father, and grandfather. He was a local attorney who had a passion for helping individuals and supporting various organizations. Mays was instrumental in connecting us with the city, pivotal in our first fundraising attempts, and essential for Board formation.

Mays served on the Board always providing wise counsel which was impactful and provided

sustainability to the program. Most of all Mays LOVED the athletes.

The Montgomery Open committee observed all the tournament participants and voted on Dream Court athlete Sylvester Crosby to be the recipient of the 2024 award. Susan Jemison, Mays’ widow and two of her grandchildren joined us for this special moment in presenting the special ball “trophy” signed by all tournament players and volunteers.

Wiley Steen Award

The intention of this award is to honor the memory of Wiley Steen, longtime former Montgomery Parks and Recreation Director. Wiley worked for the City of Montgomery for 43 years. Gateway Park, Crampton Bowl Multiplex and Wiley Steen Miracle Park were constructed due to his tremendous efforts.

Rebecca Johnson from Dream Court Chapter in Huntsville is the recipient of the 2024 Wiley Steen Award due to her outstanding tennis skills and positive influence on the event as a whole.

Community Support

Dream Court would like to thank the Kiwanis Club of Montgomery for their generous support of the Montgomery Open. Dream Court was awarded a $10,000 grant that went towards the tournament equipment and expenses. They are a big help in furthering our mission to serve hope and change lives!

Ball People

Ball boys and ball girls play a critical role for the players in any tournament and especially one involving athletes in wheelchairs. Having ball people allows athletes to channel all their efforts and energy into their match performance. We are so grateful to the 100-plus people who signed up to serve 4-hour shifts as ball people.

If you are interested and considering joining our Ball People Team in 2025, watch this 2 min Vance Law Firm Tutorial Video which provides information on what to expect in your role as a Ball Person. Watch Video Here

Hospitality

Players, Parents, Coaches, and every volunteer that serves at the Montgomery Open gets complimentary coffee, doughnuts, lunch, dinner, snacks, waters, Gatorades, and sodas all weekend long. This is only made possible through the generosity of our partners who have graciously provided beverages and meals for this event.

A BIG THANK YOU SHOUTOUT to Druid's Charity Club, Jason’s Deli, Moe’s Original Barbeque, Chick-fil-A, Zaxby’s, Hilltop Cafe, Buffalo Rock, and Blue Bell Ice Cream.