Cincinnati teenager receives largest tennis scholarship in Midwest area
Up to date: 4:27 PM EDT Aug 14, 2024
YEAR. NOW, TO SOME GOOD NEWS TONIGHT. A CINCINNATI TEENAGER HAS RECEIVED THE LARGEST TENNIS SCHOLARSHIP IN THE MIDWEST. IT’S A $5,000 SCHOLARSHIP THROUGH THE KEVIN MINOR LEGACY FUND, WHICH HONORS THE MEMORY OF KEVIN MINOR, A TENNIS PLAYER IN CHICAGO. THE MONEY WILL GO TOWARDS HELPING 13 YEAR OLD JERA MCNEALY CHASE HER TENNIS DREAMS, AND OF COURSE, I AM JOINED RIGHT NOW BY JERA AND HER DAD, JARVIS MCNEALY. THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE WITH US, GUYS. THANK YOU. NOW OF COURSE, THIS IS AN EXCITING TIME IN CINCINNATI. WE HAVE THE CINCINNATI OPEN AND SO MANY DIFFERENT TENNIS STARS. I JUST JOKE WITH YOU, ONE DAY I’M GOING TO BE WATCHING YOU LIKE EVERYONE IS WATCHING COCO GAUFF, RIGHT? YES, BUT RIGHT NOW, JERA TALK TO US ABOUT WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT TENNIS? WELL, I STARTED PLAYING TENNIS, SO ME AND MY SISTER CAN HAVE SOMETHING FUN TO DO TOGETHER. AND I LOVED IT, SO IT JUST TOOK OFF FROM THERE. THAT’S AWESOME. AND YOU’VE BEEN PLAYING HOW LONG NOW? SIX YEARS. YOU GOT THE SCHOLARSHIP AS A DAD. ARE YOU TALKED TO TALK ABOUT THE COST OF TENNIS AS A PARENT? IT’S NOT IT’S NOT CHEAP HERE TO GET YOUR DAUGHTER IN MULTIPLE KIDS IN THIS SPORT. ABSOLUTELY. IT’S AN EXPENSIVE SPORT. YOU HAVE TOURNAMENT FEES, WHICH COULD BE ANYWHERE FROM $50 TO $250. YOU HAVE RACKETS, YOU HAVE STRINGING, YOU HAVE EQUIPMENT LIKE RACKET BAGS. YOU HAVE TRAVEL AS WELL. YOU HAVE TO EAT WHEN YOU TRAVEL. AND I HAVE TO DO THAT TIMES TWO, BECAUSE BOTH GIRLS PLAY COMPETITIVE. SO IT DOES ADD UP QUICKLY AND TALK ABOUT HOW DOES THIS $5,000, THE SCHOLARSHIP, HOW IS THIS GOING TO HELP YOU GUYS? IT’S A BIG IMMENSELY IT’S A BIG IMPACT BECAUSE WE’VE BEEN IN SEVERAL CITIES THIS YEAR, MICHIGAN TWICE, INDIANA THREE TIMES, FLORIDA. SHE WENT DOWN TO EVERT ACADEMY TO TRAIN FOR THREE DAYS. AND IT HELPS WITH THE TRAVEL. IT HELPS WITH HOTEL LODGING. IT HELPS WITH SOME EQUIPMENT. SO IT’S A MAJOR IMPACT FOR US. AND WE’RE REALLY THANKFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY AND JERA WHAT ARE YOUR TENNIS GOALS? YOUR DREAMS? WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO? MY MAIN THREE GOALS ARE TO PLAY DIVISION ONE, COLLEGE. BE NUMBER ONE IN THE WORLD AND WIN THE CINCINNATI OPEN. OF COURSE. AND I JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN WITH IT. WIN SOME GRAND SLAMS AND HOPEFULLY WIN AN OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL. OH, NO BIG DEAL. ALL RIGHT. AND I HAVE NO DOUBT YOU’RE GOING TO COMPLETE ALL OF THOSE GOALS. HOW OLD ARE YOU? I’M 13 YEARS OLD. 13 YEARS OLD. SUCH BIG DREAMS AND A BIG FUTURE AHEAD. NOW, HOW HAS THIS SCHOLARSHIP ALREADY HELPED YOU GUYS? IT’S HELPED. WE’VE HAD WE’VE HAD A LOT OF TRAVEL. LIKE I MENTIONED THE LAST FEW MONTHS, AND WE’VE HAD A COUPLE SITUATIONS WHERE I HAD TO GO WITH MY YOUNGER DAUGHTER TO ONE LOCATION, JERA MY WIFE WENT TO ANOTHER LOCATION AND IT HELPS WITH THE LODGING AGAIN, WITH THE TOURNAMENT FEES AND THE SHOES, EQUIPMENT, EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING. IT IS AN EXPENSIVE SPORT AS WE SAID, AND HOW DID YOU GUYS FIND OUT ABOUT THE MINER LEGACY FUND AND HOW DID WHAT PROMPTED YOU TO APPLY FOR IT? WELL, WE’RE TIGHT AND TIGHT WITH CINCINNATI TENNIS FOUNDATION HERE. ONE OF THE COACHES RECOMMENDED, AND WE APPLIED. WE HAD TO DO A TWO MINUTE VIDEO AND IT WAS REALLY, REALLY JARI’S WORK BECAUSE WE HAD OLD FOOTAGE OF WHY SHE LOVED TENNIS AND WE THOUGHT WE WOULD GO FOR IT AND JUST HAVE OUR STORY TOLD. AND JERA TELL US ABOUT WHO MAYBE YOU’RE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITES ARE FROM THE PAST AND EVEN RIGHT NOW THAT YOU’RE WATCHING MY FAVORITE RIGHT NOW FOR WOMEN’S IS NAOMI OSAKA. I LOVE, LIKE, HER AGGRESSIVE STYLE BECAUSE IT’S VERY SIMILAR TO MINE AND FOR MEN’S. I LIKE CARLOS ALCARAZ BECAUSE LIKE, HE’S AN EXTROVERT, LIKE ME AND HE’S FUN TO WATCH. I LOVE IT. CANNOT WAIT TO SEE YOU ON THE MAJOR CIRCUITS AND TO SEE WHAT YOU DO WITH YOUR GOAL. JERA JERA MCNEALY. THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE WITH US. CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN AND GOOD LUCK IN THE FUTURE. YOU CAN FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SCHOLARSHIP AT THE MINER LEGACY.COM. AND IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DONATE, THEY ARE ALWAYS WELCOMING YOUR DONATION
Cincinnati teenager receives largest tennis scholarship in Midwest area
Up to date: 4:27 PM EDT Aug 14, 2024
A Cincinnati teenager has obtained the most important tennis scholarship within the Midwest area.Jaira McNealy, 13, obtained a $5,000 scholarship by means of the Kevin Minor Legacy Fund, which honors the reminiscence of Minor, a tennis participant in Chicago.The cash will assist Jaira chase her tennis desires.On Wednesday, WLWT was joined by Jaira and her father, Jairus McNealy, who talked extra about what the scholarship means.Watch the total interview within the video participant on the high of the story.For extra data on the scholarship and the Kevin Minor Legacy Fund, click on right here.
A Cincinnati teenager has obtained the most important tennis scholarship within the Midwest area.
Jaira McNealy, 13, obtained a $5,000 scholarship by means of the Kevin Minor Legacy Fund, which honors the reminiscence of Minor, a tennis participant in Chicago.
The cash will assist Jaira chase her tennis desires.
On Wednesday, WLWT was joined by Jaira and her father, Jairus McNealy, who talked extra about what the scholarship means.
Watch the total interview within the video participant on the high of the story.
For extra data on the scholarship and the Kevin Minor Legacy Fund, click on right here.
