Honoring a popular San Fernando Valley based African-American tennis coach who recently passed away, Jeryl Prescott, in conjunction with Sports Explorer’s Ronita Elder, has decided to initiate a scholarship fund in his name, and a tennis tournament held annually during the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day weekend. The inaugural event is titled “Friends & Family Tennis Challenge”, a doubles tournament held at the Burbank High School tennis courts the weekend of January 14 and 15.
North Hollywood resident Jeryl Prescott wears many different hats in her life. As a mom and the only women in a household with 3 males, she’s trying to teach her two sons that women want to be seen well rounded, healthy, and active. As a Professor with PhD in American Literature she likes to teach writing and literature skills. As an actor, writer, and director for film and television she has filled some interesting roles and works with life and character. And as a tennis player Prescott loves to compete in a spirited match of doubles and mixed doubles, always smiling and going for every ball. She calls her tennis level “Competitive Scrappy Club Player.”
Born in Washington, DC, and raised in South Carolina, Prescott came to love the value of tennis as a form of natural stress relief as a 20 year old college student. She went on to get her PhD in Tampa, Florida, and developed another passion, community theater, American musical, and dramatic acting. Prescott continued playing tennis in her community and, in her own words, “…trying hard to avoid becoming an actor.” Well, that didn’t happen. Her acting credentials to date include a multitude of film and television roles, for productions such as The Walking Dead, Parks & Recreation, Criminal Minds, and Southland. Her latest film project just finished. Titled H4 it features Michael Dorn of Star Trek – The Next Generation fame and is basically a movie adaptation of Shakespeare’s drama Henry IV.
While still in Florida Prescott developed the idea of a tennis tournament for charity on the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. The event is still being held today and is growing every year. After moving to Hollywood, she renewed her interest in the performing arts and started acting, writing, directing, and producing for film and television. But her passion for tennis got a boost from one man: Phil Harris. She remembers, “I had a one year old and needed to stay in shape, so I hit the tennis wall in a nearby park. Phil Harris happened to be there sitting on a bench watching me. I asked him to hit with me and he subsequently became my coach and friend.”
Trying to repeat the success of the Florida MLK tournament event, she searched for opportunities and partners and found Ronita Elder of the non-profit Sports Explorer organization. Everyone familiar with tennis personalities in Los Angeles and the rest of Southern California knows Ronita Elder. Her organization is a USTA Community Tennis Association with the motto “Broadening kids' minds through athleticism.” Like a match made in heaven, Prescott and Elder made plans for a charity tennis tournament on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day this year.
The new tournament’s name is “Friends and Family Tennis Challenge” and its purpose is to
- Provide scholarship funds for graduates of Crenshaw High School
- Volunteer for a service project on the MLK National Holiday
- Teach Kids using the USTA’s 10 and Under Tennis format
- Partner with the American Red Cross & LA Regional Food Bank
The tournament will be held Saturday and Sunday, January 14 and 15 at the Burbank High School tennis courts on 902 N. 3rd Street. For registration please contact JerylP@msn.com.
Unfortunately, Coach Phil Harris passed away from complications after a kidney transplant recently. In memory of her coach, Prescott decided to develop a scholarship fund in his name titled the Coach Phil Scholarship. More information about this fund and its purpose will be forthcoming in the near future.
Did you enjoy this article? Receive e-mail alerts when new articles are available. Just click on the "Subscribe" button above.
Comments