Community tennis tournament draws multi-state competitors to Jackson

By Ceagus Reed

JA Guest Writer

The Battlefield Community Tennis Association (BCTA) hosted its 24th Annual Battlefield Memorial Tennis Tournament Aug. 7–9 at the Parham Bridges Tennis Center, bringing nearly 100 competitors to Jackson for three days of competitive tennis, fellowship, and community engagement.

Despite soaring August temperatures, the tournament attracted players and tennis organizers from across the Mid-South and beyond, including Dallas, Texas; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Memphis, Tennessee; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and Pine Bluff, Arkansas. The event has become one of the state’s largest African American-sponsored tennis tournaments.

“This is my second year playing, and I love this event,” said Jason Kelly, a Buffalo, New York, native who recently relocated to Baton Rouge.

Connie Hill, representing the Tulsa tennis community, said, “I’ve made the rounds and attended all of our events so far.”

Robert “Buddy” Hodges, a Dallas resident and longtime Weekend Warriors Tennis Circuit participant, called the Jackson tournament “one of my favorite events.”

Tournament directors and tennis community representatives also traveled in-state from Greenville, Meridian, and the surrounding metropolitan area, to participate in and support the event.

For the past seven years, the tournament has operated under the direction of David Linzey, senior assistant Hinds County district attorney. Tournament umpire/referee Cleon McKnight, a local tennis teaching professional, former Hinds Community College tennis coach, and Mississippi Tennis Hall of Famer, organized and led play for the event.

From Humble Beginnings to a Regional Tradition

The tournament has humble roots. The inaugural event was held in 2002 at the Dorothy Vest Tennis Center at Battlefield Park.

“I can remember we had about 30 participants at the first event,” recalled Henry “Hawk” Harris, who served as the center’s director during the early 2000s.

Since then, the tournament has grown into a multi-state competition and memorial event honoring local tennis players who have passed away. That growth eventually contributed to the formal establishment of the Battlefield Community Tennis Association as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

For more than two decades, BCTA has operated as a grassroots community organization focused on introducing youth and adults to tennis while developing additional programs to benefit the community.

During the summer of 2023, BCTA partnered with First Tee of Central Mississippi, a youth-development organization, to introduce local youth to golf as part of its summer tennis camp.

“We are planning similar ventures to add soccer and swimming,” said Arthur Jones, BCTA president.

The organization has also expanded its community outreach beyond the tennis court. Recently, BCTA partnered with Chase Bank on a school supply drive at Jackson State University. Volunteers engaged students and parents with indoor tennis activities while families received academic supplies.

Part of a Growing Regional Tennis Circuit

The Jackson tournament is also an important stop on the Weekend Warriors Tennis Circuit (WWTC), a regional amateur tournament series featuring competitive adult tennis in cities throughout the South and Midwest.

“Some of the individuals at our event represent the Weekend Warriors Tennis Circuit,” Jones said. “Likewise, we travel to these sites to represent our organization and state as well.”

The 2026 WWTC schedule includes tournaments in Little Rock, Houston, Memphis, Wichita, Dallas, Jackson, Nashville, and Tulsa.

Date, Event, Location

May 1–3, Jim Cox Classic, Little Rock, AR

May 22–24, Houston Tennis Classic, Houston, TX

June 26–28, AD-In Tennis Classic, Memphis, TN

July 10–12, Wichita MTC Air Capital Open, Wichita, KS

July 24–26, Dallas 40 Love Tennis Classic, Dallas, TX

Aug. 7–9, Battlefield CTA, Jackson, MS

Sept. 11–13, Mid Tenn Slam, Nashville, TN

Oct. 2–4, Lacy Slam, Tulsa, OK

Oklahoma City’s longtime “Ghetto Classic” tournament is taking a pause this year, but the remaining WWTC events continue to provide opportunities for players to compete, travel, and build relationships throughout the region.

Southern Hospitality Meets Competitive Tennis

Nearly 100 players competed in this year’s BCTA tournament, an event known not only for competitive tennis but also for its Southern hospitality.

Deja Brew Bistro, led by Chef Cynthia Pickens, provided a catered soul food lunch featuring fried chicken, lasagna, cabbage, green beans, and cornbread. 

“The attraction that keeps players coming back to each year’s event is ‘The Pot,’” said retired tennis player Robert Anderson. The Pot has been prepared for the past two decades by Hall of Famer and former Women’s basketball coach at Jackson State University, Andrew Pennington. Pennington said, “The signature dish combines seafood and traditional Southern cooking, featuring crab legs, shrimp, turkey necks, chicken drumettes, and a vegetable medley. Refreshing cool watermelon was also served by the tournament crew.

Complementary massages were provided on-site to the group by Christopher Jordan, owner of IRevive Bodyworks Massage. Jordan’s office is located at 1900 Dunbarton Dr., Suite B, Jackson, MS 39216.    

Organizers said the three-day event also reflected the inclusive nature of tennis. Hosted by a Black-led community organization, the tournament welcomed mixed-gender teams and players representing a variety of races and ethnicities.

Experienced Leadership and 

a Commitment 

to Community

The BCTA board and tournament staff bring decades of combined tennis experience to the organization and its events. Board members and staff include Arthur Jones, David Linzey, Maxine Johnson, Shirley Thomas, Lori Swanier, Ceagus Reed, Natalie Holmes, Kay Greer, Donna Ross, Larry Christian, Andrew Pennington, and Cleon McKnight.

Collectively, the group brings more than 300 years of combined tennis and court experience. Members have participated on United States Tennis Association (USTA) league teams and competed for and won regional, state, and local championships at various levels.

Their experience, organizers said, helps BCTA provide a welcoming environment for longtime competitors while encouraging newcomers to discover the sport.

Community Support Makes the Tournament Possible

Sponsors played an important role in making this year’s tournament possible. Sponsors included Chase Bank, Capital City Beverages, Jackson Municipal Airport Authority, Cleon McKnight, Dr. Louis Saddler, and Trustmark Bank.

BCTA organizers expressed appreciation for the sponsors, volunteers, players, and community members whose support continues to help the tournament grow.

As the Battlefield Memorial Tennis Tournament enters its 25th year, the organization says its goal remains bigger than tennis: to create opportunities for competition, introduce young people to sports, strengthen community partnerships, and showcase Jackson as a welcoming destination for players from across the region.