The GCTA Supports theThe Area Qualifier has boys' and girls' 10, 12, 14, 16, and 18 age divisions. There are nine Area Qualifiers in the Ohio Valley. These tournaments qualify players to the District Qualifier. The Columbus Area Qualifier is directly supported and underwritten by the GCTA. The number of players that move to the next level is determined by the percentage of USTA junior memberships for the area. Over 375 players participate in the Columbus Area Qualifier. The tournament begins in mid-May and runs for several weeks. It plays at several sites in the Columbus area. There is a consolation round to the tournament, and the tournament does have an entry fee. This fee has been kept to a minimum because of GCTA support.
Whereas the Area Qualifier has boys' and girls' 12, 14, 16, and 18
age categories, the GCTA only runs the girls' 16 District Qualifier.
Other categories are run at different locations. The Columbus District Qualifier
Tournament qualifies girls' 16 players to the Midwest Closed Tournament.
That tournament then feeds into the Summer Nationals. The girls that participate
in the District Qualifier come to Columbus from the ten areas of the Ohio
Valley after qualifying in their Area Qualifier. The number of qualifiers
from each area is determined by the percentage of junior USTA memberships
for the specific area based on a set of formulas. When these players come
to Columbus, there is a 64 draw. Player rankings are considered. This is
much easier now because the rankings are computerized. The tournament has
been held at the Ohio State University under the chairmanship of Carol
Alexander starting in 1978. For the last five years it has been held at Upper
Arlington High School.
Applications to this tournament are given out by the areas to the juniors
who have qualified by playing in their respective Area Qualifier.
The GCTA thanks those who made this 2008
Girls' 16 District Qualifier
run so well:
Jim Hendrix, Chair
Art Haus &Robert Schafer, Referee
Guy Parks, Gabe Higgs, Gene Fields, Bryan Nibert