VERO BEACH — Vero Beach may be a city that loves tennis, but unfortunately it was not one of the top ten in the United States Tennis Association search for the “best tennis town” in America.
Gaby Dwyer and Michele Modica of the Riverside Racquet Complex led the effort to get Vero Beach on the list of 10 finalists and in the running for the $100,000 first prize. Through their hard work they were able to get many of the tennis clubs on board and even produced a five-minute video touting Vero Beach’s rich tennis tradition. Cities that did make the cut include, Baton Rouge, La.; Cary, N.C.; Las Vegas; Independence, Kan.; Ojai, Calif.; Hickory, N.C.; Grand Junction, Colo.; Midland, Mich.; Springfield, Mo.; and Tempe, Ariz.
Dwyer and Modica were joined by Tom Fish from the Windsor Country Club and the Mardy Fish Foundation; Jim Buck from the Orchid Island Golf & Beach Club and the Indian River Tennis Foundation; Brad Leu from the Sea Oaks Beach & Tennis Club; and Ron Perry from the Boulevard Village & Tennis Club to help push the promotion.
Representatives from the top three finalists will attend the U.S. Open in September and the winner will be announced during the 2009 U.S. Open.
