Aly (Ferguson) McCann : tournament to honor former Delta player

Article published Jun 10, 2007

 

Wheelchair tennis tournament founded to honor former Delta player

By THOMAS ST. MYER

tstmyer@muncie.gannett.com

 

Nearly two years ago, Aly (Ferguson) McCann died in a car accident in Indianapolis when the other driver, fleeing from the police, struck his car into hers.

 

A 1997 Delta High School graduate, McCann ranks sixth at the school in career singles tennis victories. She then played at Indiana Wesleyan where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in recreational therapy.

 

At the time of her death, the 26-year-old McCann lived in Carmel and worked for Normal Life in Sheridan where, as the Director of Supported Living, she took care of mentally and physically disabled.

 

In honor of her dedication to tennis, and treatment of those she cared for, Joy Wegener organized the McCann Memorial Wheelchair Open. Held at the Muncie Northwest-YMCA, the tournament kicked off Friday and concludes today with mixed-doubles matches.

 

"She was on my (USTA) team," Wegener said. "I went to her (calling) and found out she had worked with people with disabilities, so that got me thinking about the possibility."

 

Wegener said she then attended a USTA training seminar where they demonstrated wheelchair tennis, and that motivated her to pursue the tournament. With the exception of allowing two bounces rather than one before a return, wheelchair tennis follows the same basic rules of standard tennis.

 

The McCann Memorial Wheelchair Open represents the first USTA sanctioned wheelchair tournament held in Indiana. The tournament attracted players from as far away as Chicago. The total prize purse is $750. Champions in each division win $50, and second-place finishers receive $25.

 

Source: Chronicle-Tribune, Marion, IN