CHARLESTON — Charleston attorney Rusty Webb is using his love for his community to sponsor a tennis tournament to expose kids in the area to non-traditional sports.
Webb said Thunder in the Mountains, the three-day tournament will include a clinic for kids to play and will be instructed by players from both West Virginia University and Marshall University.
Webb said the free event will also include a lively atmosphere for those who are attending.
Webb
"I'm trying to replicate a pro tournament here in Charleston," Webb said. "I want this to be as close to a pro event as possible. We're setting up tents, we'll have food trucks and craft beer. It'll be a much more festive and fun atmosphere."
Webb said he hopes the event will inspire kids in the area to consider new sports.
"I want this to inspire kids to consider non-traditional sports — something different from just football or basketball," Webb said. "Sometimes the only sports kids are exposed to are basketball and football and there are so many scholarships available for other sports, like tennis."
The event will occur from Sept. 23 through 25 in Charleston at the Schoenbaum Tennis Courts.
"The individual who wins the most matches in the tournament will win the tournament and receive the Mayor's Cup," Webb said. "Mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin will be present for that."
Webb said he would also get to play the top players from both Marshall and WVU on Saturday.
"That won't last long," Webb laughed. "It'll be a lot of fun, but I will likely not score a point."
There will also be two visiting teams to play in the tournament: the University of Cincinnati and Virginia Commonwealth University.
Webb said the night before the event, there will be a pro-am match with eight local players in a double-style format to get the tournament rolling.
The matches between Marshall and WVU players will be on Friday evening.