FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact: Samantha Parlato

Sports Marketing Intern
508-366-3450 ext. 114
maimonis@newengland.usta.com

BEVERLY RESIDENT TO BE AWARDED NEW ENGLAND TENNIS LIFETIME

ACHEIVEMENT AWARD

BEVERLY, MA – Beverly resident Michael Louis Mercier has been selected by The United States
Tennis Association (USTA) of New England as the 2017 recipient of the Gardner Ward Chase
Memorial Award for lifetime achievement.

Mercier will be honored on Saturday, June 9 at the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport,
RI as part of USTA New England’s Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

The Gardner Ward Chase Memorial Award is the most prestigious annual award given out by
USTA New England. To be considered for the award, you must show or have shown a unique
passion for tennis and inspired countless others to contribute to the sport.

“Our award winners exemplify the very best of tennis in New England,” said Peter Parrotta,
President and CEO, USTA New England. “Mike has made such an enormous impact on tennis
not just in his community, but throughout New England, and he’s truly deserving of our lifetime
achievement award.”

Mercier has volunteered in New England tennis for over 40 years at hundreds of events. He has
worked with players of all abilities from beginners to top New England juniors and professionals.

Mercier is currently the head tennis professional at Harvard University and helps to provide
individual, group and private instruction for over 100,000 Harvard alumni, family and affiliates. He
volunteers in a variety of Harvard community programs including: Harvard University
Men/Women Club Tennis Team, Tenacity, Special Olympics, Wheelchair Tennis, Harvard Alumni
events, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Harvard Tennis teams’ racquet stringing, among
others.

Mercier is also currently serving as the USPTA New England President and has served on a
number of USTA New England boards and committees. He was the immediate past chair of the
Wheelchair Committee and now volunteers, along with his family, at Adaptive Sports Partners of
the North Country and their wheelchair tennis programming.

Mikes quote

Mercier will be honored along with the New England Tennis Hall of Fame Class of 2018: Teryn
Ashley Fitch, Jonathan H. Bates and Heather Crowe Conner.

About USTA New England

USTA New England, one of 17 regional sections across the country that comprise the United
States Tennis Association (USTA), is a not-for-profit organization committed to promoting and
developing the growth of tennis and increasing participation in the sport in New England by
offering quality recreational and competitive programs for people of all ages and abilities. For
more information, visit www.usta.com/newengland.