WVU Medicine WV Open To Begin Thursday

The Wheeling Oglebay Tennis Club will host the WVU Medicine WV Open from July 30 to August 2, 2026, at the Horne Family Racquet Center/Oglebay Park Resort and the Wheeling Park tennis facilities. This is a USTA national level 4 event, making it a highly competitive tournament.

"WVU Medicine and the West Virginia Open share a commitment to promoting physical fitness and strengthening our communities, making this partnership a wonderful fit," Jessica Moore, Associate Vice President of Foundation and Community Relationship for WVU Medicine, said. "We are proud to support this event and its athletes while highlighting the importance of healthy living, injury prevention, and sports medicine."

The $5000 prize money provided by WVU Medicine will be distributed among the top finishers in Men's and Women's Open Singles, Men's and Women's Open Doubles, and Mixed Open Doubles. The amount given in each division is based on the number in the draw.

“We appreciate the generous support from WVU Medicine and additional sponsors,” Tournament Director Debbie Pickens said. “With their help, the WOTC is able to offer prize money, hold national tournaments, offer youth and adult programs, and assist the parks with facility improvements."

In addition to the open events, the tournament will offer divisions for players who participate as part of the National Tennis Rating Program (NTRP); this is an ability-based system of determining categories. Available divisions are Men's 3.0, 3.5, 4.0 Singles; Men's 6.0, 7.0, 8.0 Combination Doubles; Women's 6.0, 7.0, 8.0 Combination Doubles; and Mixed 6.0, 7.0, 8.0 Combination Doubles. A doubles combination event adds the NTRP of each player together, and the total cannot exceed the combination rating level.

The deadline to register on the USTA website is Saturday, July 25, at 11:59 PM.

The tournament ID # is 26-55199.

Past tournaments have drawn 100 + players with the majority coming from Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia, but others have travelled much farther to compete for the prize money and recognition.

The 2025 champion in the Women's Open Singles, Ava Catanzarite, sent the following message to the WOTC: "I am now playing on the ITF/WTA circuit full time. I will be in South America the entire month of August. The WVU Medicine WV Open is a great tournament, and I enjoyed playing it. Good luck with this year's event."

As for the Men's Open Singles, defending champion Mitch Maroscher will be returning to defend his title.

A Wheeling team will return to defend its title in the Mixed Open Doubles. Teaching professional Jeremy McClelland and his long-time student Madeline Bradshaw have their eyes set on another championship before Bradshaw heads to Dennison University to begin her collegiate career.

"Jeremy has been coaching me since I was 7 years old and has helped me grow tremendously on and off the court,” Bradshaw said. “He also played in the WV Open when he was my age, so it is really special to be able to share the court with him again."

As of press time, the champions in the Men's Open Doubles, Illia Sherbakov and Xander Jhaveri, as well as the Women's Open Doubles champions, Hailey Goris and Sara Medved, have not committed to returning this year.

Finals of the Open Divisions will be played on Sunday, August 2.

During the opening ceremony, WVU Medicine as well as other sponsors will be recognized, and finalists will be introduced.

"The WVO was one of my first tournaments that I trained at before I was certified,” Frances Lewis, the USTA head referee for this tournament, said. “I really enjoy officiating at this tournament as there is little conflict between the players and it is pure tennis. The venue is very beautiful and well organized. Hoping for another successful event."

The tournament is one of the major events that the WOTC presents to raise funds for its youth and adult programs. Youth events offered by the WOTC include an Elementary Play Day, Spring and Fall Millie Mulhern Youth Tennis, the OVAC Kick-off, Summer Camps at Oglebay, and Fall and Winter Match Play. Adult events include Round Robins, Socials, Summer Camp at Oglebay, and a Member Tournament. For additional information on any of the WOTC programs, go to the club website, wotennisclub.weebly.com.

Tennis enthusiasts should mark their calendars to come watch the talented players in the open divisions as well as local competitors in their NTRP divisions.