I don’t write about myself that much. But this year I’m making some exceptions. The AC “A” Board announced that I’ll be inducted into the Austin College Hall of Honor in the summer of 2025. My sport is tennis, and Legends Weekend 2025 is igniting a bunch of Marc tennis stories. Here’s one:
Valerie Vance Locher, a tennis player from Houston and a sister my AC buddy David Vance, commented on a recent tennis story about me & Matthew McConaughey. That story just happened to be shared on the day journeywoman Madison Keys won her first Grand Slam tournament (the Australian Open) after nearly 50 attempts. Valerie wrote: “Super fun Marc! Now you just need a full circle story about Madison Keys. What an amazing and inspiring story!”
Valerie, I almost pulled it off thanks to Westwood High School.
Westwood High School in Austin, TX is tennis elite today. The Warriors won a Class 6A state title in tennis this year, their third in a row and fifth in the last seven years. Westwood finished the year with more than just state honors; Universal Tennis Magazine ranked Westwood the #1 tennis school in the nation in 2024-25. Nobody beats Westwood tennis.
Well, almost nobody. Marc beat ‘em.
My A&M Consolidated Tigers met the Westwood Warriors in 1985-86. Our Tigers were an exceptional Class 4A (now 5A) team that earned 3rd in the State of Texas. Westwood was no San Antonio Churchill, your 1985-86 Class 5A (now 6A) State Champions. However, at that time they were still a very good Class 5A (now 6A) team that would advance to Regionals.
The matchup between the Tigers & Warriors took place in Austin. Because of court renovations at Westwood High School, the clash was instead held at the Westwood Country Club. That contest on February 1, 1986, was a close one. So close that the whole doggone thing came down to my singles match.
All other matches were done as Mike Genshon and I began our third set. Lose, and Westwood would earn the victory. Win, and Consol would get the W thru a tiebreaker. I pulled it out 6-3 in the third, and then got to enjoy the celebration with teammates, fist bumps from a few classmates I admired, and a mention in the Consol student newspaper. It’s a good tennis memory.
The Big Brother that is social media is always listening. After Valerie and I chatted about Madison Keys during the McConaughey story, I was “gifted” an advertisement online: “Australian Open Champion Madison Keys is headed to Austin! Catch this American at the ATX Open.” I told Valerie, who mentioned that she and husband Scott would be attending on Friday, February 28th. So, Dianne and I bought tickets too. We’ll see them on Friday.
The tournament takes place at the Westwood Country Club. Back in 1986 when I faced Westwood High School there, the club was just another place to play some tennis. Things have changed a lot in Austin since then. Today, it is the host site of the ATX Open women’s tournament, the only professional tennis tournament in the city of Austin.
Sadly, Madison Keys had to drop out of the ATX Open at the last minute. Oh well, what might have been. But Valerie, I came THIS CLOSE to writing a “full circle” story about Madison Keys. You and I almost got to watch Madison Keys at the ATX Open on perhaps (it has been a few years) the very same court where Marc took down the Warriors of Westwood High School.
Still, Friday will be fun no matter what. See you then, Valerie & Scott!
