August Captain of the Month
Wed, 08/27/2025 - 3:37pm
Meet our JR Team Tennis Captain of the Month: Michael Waters
Michael Waters has been a dedicated JTT captain for the past two years, bringing his leadership and passion for tennis to the Golden Triangle/Starkville community. Although primarily serving as a primary captain, he has also supported various JTT teams intermittently over the years, helping to grow the sport at the grassroots level.
As President of the Starkville Tennis Association (STA), Michael has championed the promotion of junior tennis, leveraging strong volunteer support to expand and improve the Junior Team Tennis programs. His commitment is driven by a love for the game and a desire to foster a love of tennis in others.
Originally from Columbus, MS, Michael now resides in Starkville with his wife, Emily Waters, and their three children—Ray, Lennox, and Fox. A family passionate about tennis, they all enjoy playing competitively at different levels. Ray and Lennox have played in JTT for several years, with Lennox’s 12U team recently qualifying for the sectional tournament in Rome, GA. The Waters family also participates in tennis at Starkville Academy and actively engages in their church community at Starkville Global Methodist Church.
Michael has coached and assisted with multiple teams each year, continually striving to grow participation and improve skills across the community. His goal is to share the mental and physical benefits of tennis with as many people as possible.
A lifelong tennis player, Michael was introduced to the sport at age six by his grandparents. He played high school tennis at Heritage Academy and continued at Millsap's College. Today, he competes in Adult League tennis and cherishes memories like winning the 2005 USTA 18+ 4.5 sectional team and competing nationally. He is also a proud supporter of Mississippi State Tennis—#HailState!
His favorite professional players include Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi, but Rafael Nadal has become his all-time favorite for his resilience, sportsmanship, and work ethic—qualities that resonate deeply with him both on and off the court.
