Tennis anyone?

The first annual NIU tennis campus open is being held the weekend of September 18 through 20th at the newly-finished tennis courts near the residence halls.

NIU students and faculty members, as well as community members, are being encouraged to participate in the event sponsored by the NIU men’s tennis team and the Office of Campus Recreation.

Deb Owen, OCR Intramural Sports Coordinator, said she hopes “the event will bring students and the community together.”

NIU men’s tennis coach Chuck Merzbacher, who masterminded the idea for the tennis championship, said he wanted “to give back to the community” and views the event as NIU’s own U.S. tennis open for tennis players and fans.

Merzbacher said he expects a variety of talent will be represented at the tennis championship, from amateur levels to the seasoned veterans of the game.

However, he said that the competition is for fun and anyone interested in the game is welcome.

The event is divided into several different categories. Among the men’s competition is the men’s open event, the men’s 35 & over event, the men’s 45 & over event and the men’s double event.

Women’s competition includes the women’s open event, the women’s 35 & over event, the women’s 45 & over event and the women’s doubles event.

OCR will be providing tennis balls for competitors. Trophies will be presented to the winners and runners-up of each category of competition.

There will also be door prizes for players, as well as a free gift for everyone who enters.

The deadline for entering is Tuesday, Sept. 15. The fee for students and faculty is $6 per person. The fee for community residents is $7 per person.

Owen said interested students and faculty members can pick up an entry form at the OCR. Any community members interested in participating can call 753-9420 or 753-6845 and request an entry form sent to them.