MTC’s Proud Patriotic Tradition

The United States is one of the few countries where academics and sports are combined at the college level. As an important part of that tradition, the Milwaukee Tennis Classic provides an exceptional college experience for the players and the coaches.

The annual MTC sportsmanship awards adds dimension to focus on bringing out the very best of how the players compete. MTC is proud to be a partner of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA), the college tennis ruling body of the NCAA, which encourages a positive college tennis experience for all participants. Part of that college tennis experience involves recognition of the framework of America, which allows us to present and participate in college events of this type.

The first directors of the Milwaukee Tennis Classic, who planned this exceptional tennis and community event, served in the U.S. military. John D. Roethle (Marines), George J. Gaspar (Army), and Charles C. Mulcahy (Air Force). They realized the important role that our service academies, including the U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy and the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, play in preserving our basic rights and framework of government.

Several people involved with the MTC have longterm connections with the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD. Mulcahy represented Marquette University in the 1958 NCAA men’s tennis championships at the Academy. Jack Myers was a proud U.S. Naval Academy graduate. The entire USNA’s men’s tennis team competed in the 2016 MTC team event.

For perspective, on the eve of the 2016 MTC team competition, USNA Midshipmen Thomas J. Pecor made a presentation to the Milwaukee Area Navy League and MTC tournament officials on the student-athlete experience at USNA. Thomas Pecor is a senior helicopter pilot for the US Navy in Coronado, CA. The demands of the service academies are well known. While this is taking place, the academies are also building people of character. Playing a varsity sport leaves very little personal time. These student-athletes compete in all sports at the academies. Upon graduation, they will be participating in a far more serious and meaningful competition to preserve and protect the freedoms enjoyed by all Americans and to serve as a moral and military force to guide and protect the freedom we all enjoy in America.

The world has become an increasingly dangerous place. The service academies constantly replenish the supply of able, fit, capable and ethical leaders to lead our armed forces to protect the basic rights of all people in the United States of America.