A Piece of History: The Muterspaw Championships
By: Sheryl Bon
 
 When I walk around and hear people talk about the Muterspaw national tournament, most people don't even know how to pronounce it, let alone know why the tournament has a weird name. And without this tournament, Vegas wouldn't be able to enjoy the experience of hosting what's becoming a very popular national tournament. With a 32 player draw, this year more than 600 players had signed up for this tournament but only 256 were accepted. And having more alternates than actual players can really show you how much this tournament is growing.
 
 During the Pacific Life Pro tournament, I had a chance to speak with Mrs. Muterspaw, the mother of the two boys this tournament is dedicated to, about what the whole deal was with the Muterspaw Championships. Well, it just so happens that Andre Agassi had helped in the dedication of this tournament to the Muterspaw family. Why, you ask?

 

 The whole family had been involved in tennis since 1981 and the two boys, Joshua and Jason, were growing up playing tennis with Andre Agassi and Marty Hennessy, just to name a few. They were such great students, players and sons. Jason was on a road to the business world and Joshua was on his way into the medical world. But in 1994, a tragic accident had occurred in the Muterspaw family and Joshua Muterspaw's life had ended on the 15th of August. You'd think this was tragic enough, but just after a few years later, on February 26, 2000, Jason's life had also ended.

 

 Their family, friends and people who knew them well were devastated. How can two great young men's lives be cut so short? But just then, the close friend of the Muterspaw's, Andre Aggasi, raised and donated enough money to make a tournament dedicated to the family. The tournament had started on May 1st, 2001. So in memory of the Muterspaw boys, juniors from everywhere come to Vegas and play this great tournament that we have here today.