Rusty Webb
CHARLESTON – A Charleston attorney is helping bring back the annual Thunder in the Mountains Tennis Tournament next weekend.
But Rusty Webb, owner of The Webb Law Centre, has given the role of tournament director back to Mindy White, head tennis pro at Charleston Tennis Club. Webb had held the role of tournament director since 2021.
The tournament, which is scheduled for September 18-20, brings together collegiate players and some of the region’s top junior tennis talent together to compete. Players are expected from Marshall University, West Virginia University, the University of Charleston, West Virginia State University and James Madison University.
“It makes me feel good to have those four local schools participating,” Webb said of Marshall, WVU, UC and State. “The only disappointment I have, really, has been in contacting teams that have been there in the past. I’ve learned some of them have terminated their women’s tennis programs. That’s very discouraging to me. Radford, for example. It once was an all-women’s college. So that’s especially discouraging to see.”
Marshall and WVU serve as anchor institutions for the event. Webb, who is a member of the Marshall Board of Governors, said he loves helping keep the rivalry between the state’s two largest universities alive.
“Anytime Marshall and WVU are playing against each other … people would watch them play marbles or chess,” he said. “Because it’s Marshall against WVU. The (tennis) coaches have a relationship where they continue to play each other.
“It’s always good for the state when Marshall and WVU play against each other in anything.”
White was the original tournament director when Thunder in the Mountains began in 2019. The tournament was canceled in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It has been a privilege to serve as Tournament Director of Thunder in the Mountains for the past five years,” Webb said. “We have watched this tournament grow and bring outstanding college and junior tennis players to Charleston.
“I’m very pleased that Mindy is coming back to lead the tournament. She was there at the beginning in 2019, and there could not be a more fitting person to take it forward.”
Webb also praised strong community and public support for helping the tournament be successful.
“I especially want to thank Mayor Amy Goodwin and the City of Charleston,” Webb said. “Their support of Thunder in the Mountains has been extraordinary and has been essential to our ability to continue bringing this event to Charleston year after year.”
Webb also thanked state Senators Anne Charnock and Tom Takubo and Delegate J.B. Akers, all from Kanawha County, for their contributions and support of the tournament through legislative funding.
In addition to Webb’s law firm, other supporters and sponsors include the Charleston Convention & Visitors Bureau, Subway, Jimmy John’s and Chick-Fil-A along with the many individuals, volunteers, officials and others.
“This has always been about more than playing matches,” Webb said. “It is about bringing talented young athletes to Charleston, giving college and junior players an opportunity to compete against outstanding competition, and showcasing our city as a place capable of hosting first-class sporting events.”
Webb said he has loved seeing players take part year-after-year.
“I’ve watched freshmen come in and leave as graduates,” he said. “I’ve been able to watch them grow and become better players. Getting to talk to them has been satisfying. It’s been extremely rewarding.”
Webb said he also loves presenting flags to seniors to represent their home country or home state.
“The flags definitely have been a highlight,” Webb siad. “They don’t expect it. The coaches and players say when they see their flag that it made them feel good. Some of them have even cried when they see it.”
