Prestigious Haute Route bike race returns to Asheville with riders from around the world
ASHEVILLE — The Western North Carolina version of the Tour de France — albeit a mini tour — will speed across the mountains May 17-19.
The Haute Route, a three-day stage race, which offers the world’s most prestigious multiday events for amateur cyclists, is returning to WNC after its Asheville debut last year, with some 300 cyclists from around the world, a 50 percent increase in participation from 2018.
The course features some of the sweetest cycling routes, starting and ending downtown at Pack Square on May 17 and 18, traversing the sinister twists and steepness of Town Mountain Road, the scenic grounds of the Biltmore Estate, Elk Mountain Scenic Highway and even a stint on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Even though last year’s race was plagued by heavy rains, the Asheville Buncombe Regional Sports Commission reported that the 2018 Haute Route Asheville generated nearly $1 million in local economic impact, including more than 1,100 room nights in local hotels and more than $64,000 in tax revenue.
Sports Commission president Demp Bradford said it’s not just the dollars, but the international exposure that’s good for Asheville, cementing the region as a tour de force as a cycling destination.
“Even with the extreme rains, I think the event was successful because everyone had a good time, the comments were good, and everyone was able to complete it safely,” Bradford said.
"One of the flattering things is some of the Europeans compared Asheville and the terrain favorably to the European rides they were used to,” he said.
The Haute Route began in the mountains of Switzerland and France using the Pyrenees, Alps, Dolomites and infamous climbs like the Alp’ d’Huez for race courses.
There are now Haute Route events in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and North America, and only two in the United States — Asheville and San Francisco.
So far, there are riders signed up from 32 states and six foreign countries: Great Britain, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Colombia and Switzerland.
The first day will circumnavigate Mount Mitchell with nearly 11,000 feet of elevation gain over a 103-mile course. It will include Elk Mountain Scenic Highway and travel the parkway from N.C. 80 to Town Mountain Road. A shorter, “compact” Day 1 will have 55 miles of riding with 6,034 feet of elevation change.
Day 2 climbs nearly 9,000 feet over 97.5 miles, winding through the gardens of the Biltmore Estate before heading west toward Canton, through Haywood and Madison counties, returning along the French Broad River. The compact course is 57 miles with 3,616 feet of climbing.
Day 3, a Sunday, is a 5.6-mile time trial up Town Mountain Road, with a gain of 1,209 feet and an expected crowd of spectators yelling and clanging cowbells.
The winners, including women, who typically comprise 10-20% of the race field, will have posted the best times over all three days and segments.
Last year’s male winner was Corey Davis, of Greenville, South Carolina, who also won last year’s 100-mile Assault on Mount Mitchell, which is May 20 this year. The female winner was Danielle Baker of Durham.
“Asheville has a storied cycling history, including hosting major cycling races, being home to several champions, and developing into a renowned training hub for road cyclists and mountain bikers,” said Jim Rutberg of Haute Route North America.
“Asheville is a vibrant and welcoming city … the breweries, restaurants, galleries, and nearby attractions give athletes and their families a lot of options during their three-day stay.”
Learn more
The Haute Route Asheville is May 17-19. No roads will be closed to vehicles during the races. For more on the Haute Route, visit www.hauteroute.org.
by Karen Chávez, Asheville Citizen Times
'We owe him a debt of gratitude': Roberson community honors life of Riley Howell
WLOS - SKYLAND - The voice of Rob Wilcher broke as he spoke over the PA before the start of T.C. Roberson's final regular season soccer game against rival Reynolds.
"The Roberson community has been touched by tragedy today," he said. "Riley Howell lost his life, saving others."
It had been less than 24 hours since Howell died in a April 30 campus shooting at UNC Charlotte, attempting to disarm the gunman — and in the process, saving lives.
Wilcher, like many others in the stands, was still coming to terms with the reality of the news.
Howell and 19-year-old Ellis Parlier of Midland were killed when a shooter opened fire in a classroom building at the UNCC campus. Four others were injured, three of whom were critically wounded.
Campus police disarmed and apprehended the suspect, later identified by police as 22-year-old Trystan Andrew Terrell, a former student, in the room where a handgun was used to carry out the shooting.
"He will be missed and remembered as an individual, who, in the moment of greatest peril, sacrificed for the lives of others," said Wilcher, who had been Howell's varsity soccer coach before he graduated in 2016. "He lived his life in service of others and his light was extinguished way too soon. We join countless communities who have experienced the same violence in mourning one of our sons, one of our brothers, one of our students, one of our players, one of our own."
Rams and Rockets players linked arms at midfield and bowed their heads as Wilcher spoke and in a moment of silence. Tears were shed on both sides. It was a loss felt across rivalry lines.
Roberson coach Josh Martin wiped his eyes as he looked at the American flag being flown at half-mast.
Martin said earlier in the day he had spent the morning "crying his eyes out." He had coached Howell when he played JV soccer for the Rams.
"You can’t really put into words what a good human being he was," Martin said. "There aren’t words to describe how we’re all feeling. This is tragic."
'That's what a hero does'
Rich Larson, who has announced Roberson soccer games for the past 30 years, has fond memories of watching Howell play.
"He was a nice kid. A good player," Larson said. "He gave up his life for someone else. That's what a hero does."
Howell has been heralded as a hero across the nation. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Chief Kerr Putney said his actions "saved lives."
A GoFundMe account to help with Howell's funeral expenses, started this afternoon, has already raised over $4,000.
Wilcher said he wished that he could tell Howell how proud he had made his family, but also how desperately they wished they could have him back.
"I wish I could thank him for saving countless lives," Wilcher said. "We owe him a debt of gratitude for the sacrifice that he has made. We are all proud and better people for knowing him."
David Thompson and Jennifer Bowman, Asheville Citizen Times
Haute Route cycling event returns to Asheville May 17-19
Mountain Xpress - The Haute Route, which offers the world’s most prestigious multi-day events for amateur cyclists, is returning to Asheville May 17-19. Last year was Asheville’s first time hosting an Haute Route event; organizers confirm the number of registered riders has increased by more than 50% compared to 2018.
As one of only two American cities to host an event, Asheville will count itself among rarefied company in the cycling world. The Haute Route selects its host sites based on their significance to world cycling heritage. Host sites, such as the Alpe d’Huez and Mont Ventoux in France, cover some of the most famed and cherished landscapes in all of cycling. Haute Route courses trace the paths of the sport’s most legendary riders, and the famed grounds where they trained and competed.
According to Jim Rutberg of Haute Route North America, Asheville was a natural choice for the acclaimed event. “Asheville has a storied cycling history, including hosting major cycling races, being home to several champions, and developing into a renowned training hub for road cyclists and mountain bikers,” he says. “In addition to the area’s cycling bona fides, Asheville is a vibrant and welcoming city, and we are happy to have support from the community and the Asheville Buncombe Regional Sports Commission.”
Based on Sports Commission reports, the 2018 Haute Route Asheville generated nearly $1 million dollars in economic impact for the Asheville area, including more than 1,100 room nights in local hotels and more than $64,000 in tax revenue.
The 2019 course features a number of sites famous both in- and outside of the world of cycling. Starting and ending downtown at Pack Square on Friday and Saturday, the course traverses Town Mountain Road, the grounds of the Biltmore Estate, and Elk Mountain Scenic Highway, among others. Haute Route even secured a rare permit to hold a portion of the event on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
In addition to world-class cycling terrain and history, Asheville also offers a unique and vibrant downtown scene to visiting participants — who come from at least 30 states and 7 countries. “The riding is only part of what makes Asheville appealing to Haute Route riders,” says Rutberg. “The breweries, restaurants, galleries, and nearby attractions give athletes and their families a lot of options during their 3-day stay.” He says many returning riders are bringing family and friends with them to turn the 3-day event into a vacation.
Stage One of the Haute Route kicks off Friday, May 17 at Pack Square.
To learn more about Haute Route, visit https://www.hauteroute.org/ or email Dan Arnett at dan@darbycommunications.com.
UNCA doubles team seeded for NCAA Tennis Championships
WLOS — ORLANDO, Fla. – A historic season for Oli Nolan and Henry Patten will continue at the NCAA Division I Men's Tennis Doubles Championship.
The national championship-winning doubles duo are seeded fourth at the championship that will be conducted May 20-25 at the USTA National Campus in Orlando, Fla., after the conclusion of the team championship, which runs from May 16- 19. UCF and the Greater Orlando Sports Commission will serve as hosts.
All matches shall be the best-of-three sets. No-ad scoring and a seven-point tiebreaker (first to seven points, must win by two points) at six-games-all will be used for all matches. In doubles, a 10- point match tiebreaker will be played in lieu of a third set.
Automatic qualification into the Division I doubles championship is awarded to any conference with one or more eligible doubles teams ranked in the ITA Top 60 for eligible/entered doubles teams.
The No. 4 national seed at the NCAA Division I Men's Tennis Doubles Championship marks the first national seed in the history of Big South men's tennis. The Bulldog duo are just the second doubles pairing in the history of the league to earn a spot in the NCAA Doubles Championship according to conference records.
Nolan and Patten are currently ranked second nationally in the latest Oracle Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) rankings. The duo was ranked No. 1 nationally for three consecutive polls early in the spring semester.
The duo was undefeated during the 2018-19 regular season. The doubles pairing went undefeated playing together during the fall and won three titles including the national championship victory at the Oracle ITA National Fall Championships at the Surprise Tennis & Racquet Complex.
Nolan and Patten were a perfect 7-0 this spring en route to earning first-team all-league accolades. Patten was named the Big South Men's Tennis Player of the Year for the third straight year, while also being named the All-Academic Team for the third consecutive year. Nolan was also named to the All-Big South team in singles as well as doubles.
Patten will be participating in the NCAA Championships for the second straight year.
Patten last year became just the second player in Big South history to advance to the second round of the NCAA Men's Tennis Singles Championship with a thrilling 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 win over Alex Lebedev of Notre Dame on May 23.
The win was the first win for the UNC Asheville men's tennis program in the NCAA Men's Tennis Singles Championship.
As a team, UNC Asheville men's tennis finished the 2019 spring campaign with an impressive 20-5 overall record. The Bulldogs were a perfect 10-0 in matches played at home at the Asheville Racquet Club Downtown. UNC Asheville's 20 wins this past season was a program record.
by Stan Pamfilis
More than 30 Asheville runners to compete in prestigious Boston Marathon April 15
Karen Chávez, Asheville Citizen Times
Asheville will be well-represented at the 123rd Boston Marathon, which takes flight the morning of April 15 in Hopkinton, Massachusetts.
Arguably the world’s most coveted marathon, it is certainly one of the oldest and the most infamous, for its troubled – and not-so-distant - past of barring women from running, to its strict eligibility requirements to the deadly finish line bombing in 2013 that claimed three lives and seriously injured hundreds of others.
But Boston remains Boston Strong, as the catch phrase that emerged in the aftermath of the bombings and runners and humans from across the globe rallied to raise money for the victims, find the killers, and continue the ultimate legacy in the running world.
And Asheville has always had a close connection with Boston.
More than 30 runners from Asheville and Western North Carolina have signed up to run Boston this year. Below is a list of those registered – many having signed up a year in advance. So, some may not be running due to anything from illness and injury to change of heart, but this is the most up-to-date list, according to the Boston Athletic Association, which produces the marathon.
They are among the more than 30,000 runners who will be competing in the 26.2-mile race from Hopkinton to Boston. Just getting your name on this elite list is a feat and an accomplishment worth celebrating.
The Boston Marathon is one of the only such event in the world that requires a time qualification in a certified marathon, based on age and gender. So it’s not just like signing up – you’ve got to prove you’re among the fastest marathon runners in your age group just to qualify, and then you have to beat the buzzer by registering before all the other qualifiers.
For marathon runners, making it to Boston is often a life’s goal and the pinnacle of a running career, whether amateur or elite. The field boasts Olympic runners, including last year’s winner Des Linden, celebrities and crossover athletes, such as NASCAR legend Jimmie Johnson, who is running this year.
Here are the kinds of times you can expect: Last year’s female winner, Des Linden, crossed the line in 2 hours, 39 minutes, 54 seconds. (Consider the average female marathon runner finishes in 4 hours, 30 minutes.)
The male winner was Japan’s Yuki Kawauchi, in 2:15:58.
And then there are the gritty, determined, everyday runners from Asheville who hold down full-time jobs, are mothers and fathers, endure setbacks such as shin splints, plantar fasciitis, and even broken toes and other bones, and put in hundreds of miles training throughout every kind of weather during the winter months to get to the start line.
Like Uta Brandstatter, 47, an Asheville nurse who is also in grad school, and formerly ran the Facebook group Let's Run Asheville, and Stephanie Wallace, 40, of Asheville, who is a mom of two little girls, works at Habitat for Humanity, and has endured training setbacks due to injuries.
But Wallace made it to Boston Friday night and reported: “The energy here is amazing. Despite dealing with injury these past few months, I feel light and confident that the community will carry me. A Boston finish is in my future!”
The hordes of runners, as well as the millions of spectators, will have to endure another year of cold, rainy Boston weather, as the forecast is calling for.
But when you’re Boston Strong, what’s a little rain?
Congratulations and good luck to everyone running and cheering and holding down the fort in Boston!
Want to follow your favorite runner? Track them at www.baa.org.
WNC runners registered to run the Boston Marathon:
Name;Age;Gender;Hometown
1. Short, Katherine;24;F;Asheville
2. Murphy, Kyle;36;M;Asheville
3. Voorhees, Marc;64;M;Asheville
4. Marshall, Susan;46;F;Asheville
5. Burkhalter, Todd;45;M;Asheville
6. Chen, Peiweng;38;M;Asheville
7. Knechtel, Daniel;45;M;Asheville
8. Wallace, Stephanie;40;F;Asheville
9. Crane, Nicole;51;F;Asheville
10. Bernard, Adele;25;F;Asheville
11. Stern, Colette;42;F;Asheville
12. Kuhne, Jody;49;M;Asheville
13. Deholl, Devi;27;M;Asheville
14. Rollins, Elizabeth;38;F;Asheville
15. Cooper, Meg;36;F;Asheville
16. Johnson, Tracey;52;F;Asheville
17. Brandstatter, Uta;47;F;Asheville
18. Ponder, Elizabeth;40;F;Asheville
19. Dunn, Patrick;57;M;Asheville
20. Chappelear, Emily;40;F;Burnsville
21. Kain, Elizabeth;35;F;Marshall
22. Sloan, Leslie;41;F;Fletcher
23. Caldwell, Ralph;65;M;Waynesville
24. Mcneil, Thad;18;M;Fletcher
25. Baker, Dustin;38;M;Fletcher
26. Hilty, Kay;58;F;Franklin
27. Norton, Ellie;30;F;Sylva
28. Carlinnia, Brian;48;M;Fletcher
29. Jakushev, Kimberly;32;F;Franklin
30. Bodnar, Jason;48;M;Candler
31. Bodnar, Jennifer;47;F;Candler
32. Langteau-Ball, Kelly;43;F;Waynesville
33. Devan, Rhonda;48;F;Swannanoa
ASHEVILLE AND GREENVILLE SERVE AS BOOKENDS TO 75-MILE ADVENTURE
Asheville, NC - April 2019 – On the morning of April 13th, teams of runners from across the country will start a 75-mile odyssey from Highland Brewing Company, Asheville’s first brewery, towards a finish roughly 12 hours later in downtown Greenville. The Ville to Ville Craft Brew Relay presented by The Cliffs is only in its second year, but already one of the most popular races of its kind in the nation.
This unique relay is designed to celebrate the region’s outstanding craft beer tradition and its majestic natural beauty. "Our goal," states race director, Zack Hall, “is to deliver a high-quality event that encourages healthy living and celebrates our local communities.”
Teams of six runners will each run two legs ranging from 3.5 miles to slightly less than 9 miles along the course. Every team will utilize a support vehicle along the 75-mile course, transporting runners from one designated transition area to the next. The first leg will run from Highland Brewing Company to the popular Mountains to Sea Trail and the Blue Ridge Parkway before turning south. Stops along the course include Fletcher, Hendersonville, East Flat Rock and Travelers Rest, SC as runner’s race towards a festive finish line celebration in downtown Greenville, SC. In total, two thousand runners and beer enthusiasts from 31 states are represented.
“We are thrilled to serve as the starting point and sponsor for this event,” said Molly McQuillan, Marketing Manager for Highland Brewing Company. “We were blown away with the energy and excitement we witnessed in the first year. We can’t wait to play host to an even larger crowd this year!”
The event is presented by The Cliffs, a collection of seven vibrant, luxury Carolina mountain communities. “The Ville to Ville Craft Brew Relay stretches from Asheville to Greenville highlighting the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountain region of the Carolinas, where our seven communities are located,” said David Sawyer, managing partner and president of The Cliffs Clubs. “We are excited to be a sponsor of this year’s event and welcome participants from all over the country to The Cliffs. The Cliffs at Mountain Park will serve as one of the race transitions, where we look forward to supporting the runners and our talented local craft breweries.”
With a commitment to benefiting local charities, The Ville to Ville Craft Relay delivers more than just a good time for its participants. This year’s charity partners are: Big Brothers Big Sisters of WNC, Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Carolinas, Poe Mill Achievement Center, Meals on Wheels of Greenville, and the YMCA of Greenville Foundation.
Similar relay races exist across the nation; however, very few have a focus on craft beer – or have such a demand for a spot on the starting line. The fact that the 2019 race sold out in less than 36 hours is a testament to its popularity. "We continue to be thrilled by the overwhelming response" said Hall.
Although the race is sold out, the welcome reception at Highland Brewing Company is open to the public and will feature food trucks, live music, and of course lots of local craft beer. Welcome festivities run from 2 pm to 8 pm on Friday, April 12th. Registration for the 2020 event begins on April 15th with a limited number of 350 team slots. More information about the relay can be found at www.villetovillerelay.com.
Warren Wilson College Athletics to Join NCAA Division III Membership Process
NCAA exploratory membership will mean more sports and more opportunities for college athletes.
Asheville, NC – March 12, 2019 – The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has approved Warren Wilson College’s application for exploratory membership in NCAA Division III. The membership process will bring additional sports and wider opportunities for the college’s student athletes.
“This is a very exciting time to be a part of Warren Wilson Athletics!” said Joni Williamson, Director of Athletics and Adventure Sports at Warren Wilson College. “The acceptance of our exploratory application is a huge step forward for the College and our student-athlete experience.”
Warren Wilson College plans to introduce a new team sport in the near future to meet NCAA Division III requirements. The benefits of membership would also include closer travel, conference and postseason championship opportunities, resources, grant opportunities, professional development and more.
The NCAA Division III philosophy supports a college environment focused on academic rigor while integrating the experience of passionate participation in competitive athletics. In preparation for this move, the college has already established a Student Athlete Advisory Committee and a faculty athletics representative.
“The NCAA Division III philosophy is a natural fit, and we are looking forward to beginning this journey with the NCAA,” said Williamson.
Currently a member of the United State Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) Division II, Warren Wilson College will maintain dual-affiliation until the process for full membership in the NCAA is complete. Current varsity teams at the college include Men’s and Women’s Basketball, Cross Country, Cycling, Soccer, Swimming and Tennis. The process will not affect the Cycling Team, as it is not a NCAA-sponsored sport.
Warren Wilson College will begin their exploratory membership year during the 2019-2020 academic year. NCAA staff and a representative from the NCAA Membership Committee will visit campus to evaluate the college’s philosophical and operational readiness for the provisional membership process, and they will educate college staff on NCAA Division III compliance concepts. After this exploratory year, the college will have an opportunity to enter into the five-year membership process.
Warren Wilson College is a vibrant, independent college with an innovative curriculum that purposefully integrates the liberal arts with community engagement and work experiences to prepare students for not only professional success, but also a life of meaning. Visit https://www.warren-wilson.edu.
Photo: WWC_Athletes.jpg
Caption: The Warren Wilson College Men’s Basketball Team prepares to compete. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has approved the college’s application for exploratory membership in NCAA Division III. Photo credit: Reggie Tidwell.
For more information, please call Joni Williamson at 828-771-2027, or email jwilliamson@warren-wilson.edu.
Ingles SoCon Fan Experience to debut March 8-10 in conjunction with SoCon Basketball Championships
Ingles SoCon Fan Experience to debut March 8-10 in conjunction with SoCon Basketball Championships
Joe Lasher, Ryan “RnB” Barber – Boogie Therapi, The Carolina Lowdown Band & Lyric comprise concert lineup
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference and Ingles announced Monday the lineup of activities and performers for the inaugural Ingles SoCon Fan Experience, which will take place Friday, March 8, through Sunday, March 10, outside the U.S. Cellular Center at 68 Haywood Street in Asheville, North Carolina. Admission to the event is free.
The Ingles SoCon Fan Experience will be highlighted by four concerts during its three-day run and will feature other family friendly activities. In addition to the concerts, there will be basketball-themed interactives, face painting, a TapSnap booth, an Ingles SoCon Mascot Challenge voting area with large mascot cutouts, and a chalk drawing area for kids. Also on site will be a large jumbotron showing live tournament action, live radio remotes, a concessions area and a SoCon merchandise booth.
The Ingles SoCon Fan Experience will be open from 3-7:30 p.m. on Friday, March 8, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. on Saturday, March 9, and 1-4 p.m. on Sunday, March 10.
Concerts will be performed by Joe Lasher on Friday, March 8, at 6:15 p.m., Ryan “RnB” Barber – Boogie Therapi on Saturday, March 9, at 11 a.m., The Carolina Lowdown Band on Saturday, March 9, at 4:30 p.m., and Lyric on Sunday, March 10, at 2 p.m.
Joe Lasher is a rising country star whose dynamic performances have been captivating his home state of North Carolina for years. His songs, style and performances appeal to a broad spectrum of music lovers. He has become one of the hottest performers in the Southeast, having performed with the likes of Tim McGraw, Rascal Flatts and Montgomery Gentry, and touring with Colt Ford and Luke Bryan.
Ryan “RnB” Barber is at the forefront of Asheville’s funk and R&B community. He has released six full-length studio albums. He has also been featured on many high-profile projects, including producing on two of R&B stalwart W. Ellington Felton’s recent albums, and singing and rapping on the 2017 Grammy winning album “Infinity Plus One” by Secret Agent 23 Skidoo.
The Carolina Lowdown Band is a popular Asheville band performing rock and roll and dance hits from the 80s through today.
LYRIC, led by Leeda “Lyric” Jones, plays a mixture of pop, soul and funk. The five-part band has developed a dedicated following in Asheville and the surrounding areas. Readers of Asheville’s independent weekly newspaper, The Mountain Xpress, have named LYRIC the top local act in both the soul and R&B/blues categories. She has shared the stage with the likes of George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, Gladys Knight, Booker T. Jones and Dionne Warwick.
The Ingles SoCon Fan Experience will also benefit Eblen Charities and its Hoops Against Hunger program. Hoops Against Hunger helps to provide snacks and meals to school-age children without enough food at home. Fans are encouraged to bring donations of ready-to-eat or easy-to-serve food items. People donating food items can receive a voucher for $5 off a general admission session ticket to the Ingles Southern Conference Basketball Championships presented by General Shale.
-www.SoConSports.com-
USTA hosts community events during Fed Cup
Press release from the Untied States Tennis Association:
As Fed Cup returns to Asheville, the USTA is once again hosting a variety of community events for players and fans of all ages and abilities to turn the United States’ First Round tie vs. Australia February 9-10 into another week-long celebration of tennis and to build on the sport’s growing popularity in Asheville since it first hosted Fed Cup last year.
World No. 17 Madison Keys, No. 23 Danielle Collins, No. 37 Sofia Kenin and doubles No. 13 Nicole Melichar will represent the U.S. in the 2019 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group First Round vs. Australia February 9-10 at the U.S. Cellular Center, the first site to host consecutive Fed Cup ties in the U.S. in 12 years.
In the year since the U.S. defeated the Netherlands in the 2018 Fed Cup First Round at the U.S. Cellular Center last February, tennis participation in Asheville has grown on multiple levels, especially among youth. The impact on tennis in the area since then includes:
A 12-percent overall increase in USTA League participation.A 20-percent increase in annual pass-holders and a 90-percent increase in junior (youth) play at Aston Park Tennis Center, Asheville’s flagship public tennis facility.Increases of 62 percent among juniors and 34 percent among adults participating in July’s Asheville Open Tennis Championships, the longest-running USTA tournament in North Carolina.
Below is a calendar of events leading up to and during the weekend’s matches, once again geared toward engaging the community. All are open to media:
Wednesday, February 6
Net Generation Kids’ Day and U.S. Captain Kathy Rinaldi Press Conference
9 a.m. – 1 p.m.; U.S. Cellular Center Exhibition Hall
The USTA and USTA North Carolina will be hosting 260 kids from Buncombe County elementary schools for special Net Generation clinics. Team USA Captain Kathy Rinaldi will join the clinic at 11 a.m. for her pre-draw press conference. Net Generation is the USTA’s unified youth initiative to inspire the next generation of tennis players. Ingles Markets and Mission Health will support the Net Generation kids’ activities in Asheville.
Friday, February 8
Fed Cup Official Draw Ceremony
12 p.m., U.S. Cellular Center Lobby
Members of the U.S. and Australian Fed Cup teams and several special guests will take part in the official draw ceremony to determine the matchups for the weekend’s competition. The ceremony will be held in the U.S. Cellular Center lobby.
Adaptive Tennis and ‘Try Tennis’ Programs
5-7 p.m., Asheville Racquet Club Downtown
Local organizers will host a free adaptive tennis program for wheelchair players at the Asheville Racquet Club Downtown.
7-9 p.m., Asheville Racquet Club Downtown
USTA North Carolina is also hosting a free ‘Try Tennis’ event at the Asheville Racquet Club, an extension of the program that introduced more than 2,500 players to tennis in the state last year.
Saturday, February 9, and Sunday, February 10
NJTL Net Generation Clinics
9:30 a.m.-12 p.m., U.S. Cellular Center
On Saturday and Sunday, the USTA and USTA North Carolina will be hosting kids from local National Junior Tennis and Learning network (NJTL) organizations. NJTL is made up of more than 350 tennis and education chapters nationwide that are supported by the USTA Foundation through grants, scholarships, and technical assistance. These chapters reach more than 200,000 under-resourced youth on an annual basis. Following the clinics, participants will then attend the matches.
Green Ball, Middle School, and High School Net Generation Clinics
8 a.m.-12 p.m., Multiple locations
At locations off-site, USTA North Carolina will be hosting local middle school and high school players for Net Generation tennis clinics. It will also be hosting a ‘Green Ball’ camp for youth players age 10 and under, which is the highest level of play within the age group. Following the clinics, participants will then travel to the U.S. Cellular Center to attend the matches.
Sunday, February 10
Pride Day Brunch
The Bier Garden
A Pride Day Brunch will be hosted at The Bier Garden ahead of Sunday’s matches and will feature and appearance from a prominent local speaker.
USTA Player Development will also utilize the tie as a development tool for four top American juniors. Fourteen-year olds Katrina Scott (Los Angeles), Reese Brantmeier (Whitewater, Wisc.), Sophie Williams (Charleston, S.C.) and 12-year old Clervie Ngounoue (Washington, D.C.) will train alongside the team with USTA National Coach Richard Ashby.
In addition, local kids involved in the clinics will have a special role in the matches as part of the Net Generation initiative. Prior to the matches, kids will play on stadium court as part of a Net Generation demonstration. Local kids will also escort the players during the Opening Ceremony on Saturday and participate in the coin toss for each match with the chair umpire and competing players.
The USTA has partnered with Explore Asheville, Ingles Markets, Mercedes Benz of Asheville, Mission Health, New Belgium Brewing Company and Omni Grove Park Inn to bring this event to Asheville.
The First Round tie vs. Australia – a best-of-five match series – starts on Saturday, Feb. 9, with two singles matches beginning at 1 p.m. ET. Two reverse singles matches and the doubles match will follow on Sunday, Feb. 10, also beginning at 1 p.m. Fed Cup is the world’s largest annual international team competition in women’s sport, with approximately 100 nations taking part each year.
Keep up with Team USA using hashtag #TeamUSATennis on Facebook (@USTA), on Twitter (@USTA), and on Instagram (@USTA). Wilson is the official ball of the U.S. Fed Cup team. Deloitte is the official team sponsor of the U.S. Fed Cup Team.
- Mountain Xpress
Fed Cup 2019: U.S. returns with sport's young talent
Fed Cup: Even sans Venus and Serena, young U.S. team ready to take the torch, captain says
ASHEVILLE — U.S. Fed Cup captain Kathy Rinaldi came to Asheville a year ago accompanied by two of the biggest stars tennis has ever known. When she returns next week, she won't be.
But even without Venus and Serena Williams, Rinaldi said the U.S. squad returning to Western North Carolina to take on Australia in the first round of Fed Cup is ripe with young talent that could be a force for years to come. It is headlined by the world's 17th-ranked singles player, Madison Keys, and Danielle Collins, who Rinaldi says had a "breakthrough" last year culminating in a January appearance in the Australian Open semifinals.
The team also includes Sofia Kenin, the world's 36th-ranked player who goes by "Sonya," and Nicole Melichar, who, like Rinaldi, grew up in Stuart, Florida, crossing paths on the court dating back to when Melichar was a child.
The event also is expected to draw sold-out crowds, boost the local economy and again put Asheville in the spotlight for hosting a prominent sporting event.
"We do have some youngsters — even younger than (the current roster) — coming up through the ranks and the pathway is solid, the structure is pretty good and we hope these players, the young ones will keep stepping up," Rinaldi said. "Venus and Serena (have been) holding the torch for so long and have done so much for American tennis that it’s nice now to have some younger players able to step up."
This year is Rinaldi's third leading the U.S. Fed Cup team, winning a title in 2017 and finishing as runner-up to the Czech Republic a year ago. She said last year's team — which came to Asheville featuring the Williams sisters, CoCo Vandeweghe and Lauren Davis — had an "absolutely amazing" experience.
Last year's U.S. team cruised to a 3-1 first round Fed Cup win over the Netherlands, most notable as it marked Serena Williams' return to competitive tennis following the birth of a child with Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian.
Rinaldi said it "should speak volumes" that Fed Cup returned to Asheville in consecutive years, the first city to host back-to-back in more than a decade. She and members of the U.S. team took part in the event's weeklong festivities a year ago, shared time together at the Omni Grove Park Inn and even toured Biltmore Estate.
"You could just feel it everywhere, every corner," she said. "Everybody was excited that Fed Cup was there. It just meant something, whether they were a tennis fan or they were not — all ages.
"That’s what makes Fed Cup so special, and I think Asheville just showed what Fed Cup is all about."
In October, U.S. Tennis Association Senior Director of Team Events Jeff Ryan said the decision to come back to Asheville this year ultimately was "very easy," citing the city's passion for the sport and its partnerships with local entities including with Explore Asheville and U.S. Cellular General Manager Chris Corl.
Corl said this week hosting last year's Fed Cup already has opened the door for the city and the venue to have conversations about other major sporting events.
Major renovations to the arena, which opened in June 1974, also are a contributing factor, he said.
"The conversation is a lot easier to get started," Corl said. "Before, it was 15 phone calls and 20 emails and I would nag them to get on the phone. Now I send an email and I just say, 'Would like you to consider us?'"
And part of that selling point also comes with the experience of hosting an event like Fed Cup.
"Not only should you consider it, but one of the larger sporting entities came back two years in a row, which is something they don’t do," he said.
Most of the team and USTA representatives are expected to arrive in the community early next week. Tennis exhibitions for local school students are planned for Feb 6-8 at the U.S. Cellular Center with the event's draw ceremony planned for Feb. 8. Other outreach clinics, which are expected to draw more than 1,000 children, are scheduled during the week.
Fed Cup play is Feb. 9-10. Tickets for the event still are available online at ticketmaster.com.
"We know we’re going to have a lot of support behind us and that really counts a lot in Fed Cup play because anything can happen," Rinaldi said. "It’s always nice to play in front of your home country and the fans there were so great to us last year, the community was so great to us.
"We’re all excited to get back and have that support and feel that support."
By Dillon Davis, Asheville Citizen Times