ROCK HILL The fourth annual Rock Hill Rocks Open will feature North Carolina tennis player Cory Ann Avants-Dockins, 27, of Monroe competing in the $25,000 USTA Pro Circuit women’s event Oct. 14-21 at Rock Hill Tennis Center, 897 Maplewood Lane.
The tournament, open free to the public, features players from around the world competing for prize money and ranking points.
Coached by her parents, Hank and Sharon Avants, Avants-Dockins played USTA Junior Tournaments (for amateur players up to 18 years old) until she turned 16 in 2001. She trained at her parent’s tennis facility, Racquet Club of the Carolinas, in Gastonia where she was raised and homeschooled. Her best year was 2000, when she won the singles and doubles USTA National Clay Court Championships for girls 18 and under. That year she also won her first USTA Pro Circuit event, playing as an amateur, in Raleigh.
The following year she turned pro and joined the circuit. She signed with IMG, a sports management company, and played International Tennis Federation Pro Circuit events in Italy. Her Pro Circuit wins as a professional came in 2004 in singles at Houston and doubles at Hilton Head. That year she was ranked 226 in singles and 193 in doubles, partnered with Varvara Lepchenko, currently ranked 20th in the world. Lepchenko played in the first RHRO in 2009.
Avants-Dockins left the circuit in 2006 to teach tennis at clubs in North Carolina and Texas. She works at Windyrush Country Club in Charlotte. Her husband, Greg Dockins, is an automobile technician.
“I really love what I do,” she said. “I have a great group of kids and adults who keep me on my toes and make my job a blast at all times.”
For information about Rock Hill Rocks call 803-326-3842 or email rhtc10s@cityofrockhill.com.
BASKETBALL
Youth registration open in Clover
CLOVER Clover rec is registering for winter youth basketball, boys ages 3-18 and girls ages 3-12, through Oct. 26.
Register from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday at Clover Community Center, 120 Bethel St., or online at cloversc.org. Cost is $50 per child.
For more information, call 803-222-9493.
FOOTBALL
Giants fans
gathering
New York Giants fans get together in a special room reserved for game day at Madison’s on The Corner at the corner of Highway 160 West and Gold Hill Road in Fort Mill.
Fans can watch the game on a projection screen and several flat screens.
Enjoy a hot buffet for less than $10, or order from the menu. The group typically doesn’t meet for games shown in prime time.
All fans are welcome, but a head count for the buffet is needed before the game. For more information, email to elifor6@gmail.com or call 803-802-3990.
Visit the group on Facebook at Big Blue Fans in Fort Mill.
Bills Backers meet at Towne Tavern
Buffalo Bills fans are invited to Towne Tavern at Fort Mill, home of the York County Buffalo Bills Backers Fan Club. Join fellow Bills fans in suite 160 and view all Buffalo Bills games on a 10-foot HD projection with theatre sound.
Specials, giveaways and Western New York fare. For membership information, contact Towne Tavern at 803-802-2340 or towntavern@comporium.net.
Jets fans join at Skyline Grill
Jets fans who want to watch the game with other local fans can stop in at the Skyline Grill at Regent Park Golf Club in Fort Mill. Fans can keep track of all of the games aired on the NFL Package and enjoy $1.50 domestic beers on game day. Call 803-548-3777.
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