Collegiate players take center court

LAKEWOOD RANCH — Dozens of the nation’s top collegiate tennis players will take the court in what has been deemed by some players as the Wimbledon of college tennis.

Seventeen men’s and women’s tennis teams from across the country will compete in the 2011 Dick Vitale Intercollegiate Clay Court Classic Nov. 11-13, at the Lakewood Ranch Athletic Center. The three-day competition is the only clay court college tournament in the nation and the only event of its kind that brings men’s and women’s teams together for one event.

“It’s like going to Wimbledon,” Pepperdine men’s tennis player Finn Tearney, who is ranked 20th in the nation but will be unable to attend the tournament after making it to national indoors, said of the Clay Court Classic. “It’s the best and most fun tournament of the year.”

This year’s Dick Vitale Intercollegiate Clay Court Classic will feature players from Arizona, Pepperdine, Minnesota, Miami, Florida, Ole Miss, Virginia, Alabama, Duke, Temple, Memphis, Oklahoma State, Mississippi State, Notre Dame, Tennessee, Baylor and Clemson.

The doubles competition will begin at 9 a.m. Nov. 11, followed by women’s singles at 10 a.m. and men’s singles at noon.

“The thing that distinguishes this tournament from other tournaments is that the men and women get to play together at the same tournament,” Lakewood Ranch head tennis professional Chris Marquez said. “It’s like a Grand Slam. It’s a good mix and it creates good camaraderie. It makes it more exciting for the players.”

New to the tournament this year has been the addition of ESPN sportscaster and Lakewood Ranch resident Dick Vitale’s name. Last year, Vitale hosted a party for the players, coaches and sponsors, which he plans to do again this year, and with a passion for college athletics, it only made sense for Vitale to get involved.

“This event is going to feature some of the greatest players on the collegiate level,” Vitale said in a statement. “Lakewood Ranch is blessed to have teams like these, all coming here.  I would encourage anyone who wants to get involved to sponsor the tournament with a banner that will hang at all of the weekend events — including the party at my house.”

“He was a very gracious volunteer host last year, and with his love of college athletics and sports — it was a no-brainer for him,” Marquez said. “This year he decided to put his name on the tournament with proceeds benefiting the V Foundation. He’s done a remarkable job talking about the tournament and getting sponsorships.”

Admission to the Dick Vitale Intercollegiate Clay Court Classic is free and open to the public; however, donations will be taken for the V Foundation for Cancer Research.

This is the second year Lakewood Ranch has hosted the Clay Court Classic, and Marquez said the club plans to continue to host the annual tournament, which counts toward individual player rankings.

“It’s been awesome,” Marquez said. “This puts Lakewood Ranch on the national scene for college athletics.”

In addition to the competition, players will spend the weekend with host families and attend a welcome party at the Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club, among other activities.

“The athletes feel like they’re getting treated like pros,” Marquez said.

Contact Jen Blanco at [email protected].