Neenah High School will name its tennis courts in honor of longtime boys’ coach Tom Berven in a dedication ceremony on the courts on Friday, Sept. 21 at 5 p.m.
The courts, located behind the high school, will bear the name of the legendary coach who spent the past 48 years as the team’s head coach. Berven, 77, won 41 conference championships during his career and five WIAA state championships. He posted a 454-54-1 career dual meet record and won his last 121 conference matches before retiring this past summer.
The ceremony will be held prior to the Neenah-Kimberly football game, which kicks off at 7 p.m. in nearby Rocket Stadium. Berven will also be honored at halftime of the football game. Parking for the dedication ceremony will be available in Lot H behind the high school and adjacent to the courts. Permanent signage for the Berven Courts will be unveiled in the spring during the boys tennis season.
It marks only the fourth Neenah Joint School District facility to be named in honor of an individual associated with the District. The high school fieldhouse bears the name of former boys’ basketball coach Ron Einerson, the Shattuck Middle School gymnasium is named for longtime coach and athletics director Ole Jorgensen and the Shattuck tennis courts bear the name of Berven’s predecessor, Ivy Williams. Incidentally, Berven worked with all three of the other legendary coaches upon coming to Neenah as a 23-year-old social studies teacher in 1964.
“With so few facilities in Neenah named after individuals, it clearly takes a person of legendary status for this to happen,” said Neenah High School Principal Brian Wunderlich. “Tom exemplifies everything that is Neenah. Not only in his coaching success, but also in his pride and dedication to this school district. Having these courts bear his name forever is appropriate for someone who has meant so much to our community.”
In addition to hosting Neenah High School tennis matches, practices and physical education classes, the courts are also home to the Neenah Summer Park and Recreation program, which Berven has overseen for the past 51 summers. Over 300,000 youths have participated in the summer program.
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