USTA League Southern Section Championships: News

News of tournament teams

Veteran Moves Family Reunion To Play In Tournament

eluded capture in vietnam

By Kathryn Osbon/USTA Southern intern

Russell Kruchten concentrates on the next shot.

Trey Love/All American Imaging

Vietnam veteran Russell Kruchten showed true dedication to his team when he rescheduled his family reunion so he could play in the USTA League Southern Section Championships.

Kruchten was in Vietnam in 1963 and was ambushed by the Vietcong. Their goal was to capture him. Thanks to the fast work of his unit, he was not taken prisoner of war.

He served two tours in Vietnam. One of his most striking memories was when was served rat by the local villagers.

Now that his war days are long behind him, Kruchten is focusing on the things that make him happy, like dedicating himself to his tennis team. His family reunion was planned for this weekend, but when he discovered that it was the same time as these championships, he called his daughter and told her to move the party. Kruchten said his daughter was upset at first, but moved the party anyway to accommodate her father’s busy schedule.

The men’s team, who has been playing together for two years, is used to putting time aside for tennis. Every Wednesday after their weekly practice is their weekly trip to the pub, where they share stories and drinks. The team says that some of their favorite memories of the season come from those late nights at the pub.

Captain Richard Dunlap said he loves having Kruchten on the team and says he brings a great child-like energy to the team that is contagious. Dunlap also says the team loves spending time together and that they are all just good guys to be around. One of the team’s members, Alan Fergeson, pays his six-year-old son $1 a match to be the team’s mascot.

Kruchten has said that while he loves spending time with his family he knew his team needed him, too. They are all looking forward to continuing their quality time here in Mobile.

Team	Tennessee Men’s 3.0
Home Courts	Racquet Club of Memphis
Captain	Richard Dunlap
Fun Fact	Most of the time nobody can remember what they talked about at the pub on Wednesday night.