Professional tennis player and Calhoun native McCartney Kessler returned to her hometown over the weekend, bringing the community together for a unique tennis tournament while giving back to the program that helped launch her career.
Kessler hosted the Hometown One Point Slam on Sunday, welcoming players of all ages and skill levels to the same Calhoun tennis courts where she first learned the game.
The event featured a fast-paced, single-point elimination tournament, with competitors needing to win just one point to advance. The last player standing earned a $2,500 grand prize.
While the competition provided plenty of excitement, the event held a much deeper meaning for Kessler, who grew up playing tennis in Calhoun before continuing her career at the collegiate level and eventually becoming a professional player.
“These are the courts I grew up learning how to play tennis on,” Kessler said. “My parents taught me and my siblings had to play.”
The tournament also served as a homecoming for Kessler, allowing her to reconnect with the community that supported her early development as a tennis player.
Calhoun High School girls’ tennis coach Marley Allen, who once played alongside Kessler on the school’s tennis team, said seeing her former teammate return to give back was a special moment.
“It’s just so cool to have McCartney back in Calhoun, you know, where she came from, and everybody showing the love of tennis together,” Allen said.
For current Calhoun High School players, Kessler’s success serves as an example of what can be accomplished through dedication and hard work.
Team captain Louisa Engel described the opportunity to see Kessler return to the same courts where she now competes as an unforgettable experience.
“Just to think that she was like on these courts playing, where I play my matches, just like hallowed ground,” Engel said. “The fact that she’s coming back here and she’s giving back to the community that she started in … it’s incredible.”
Kessler’s visit included more than just the tournament. She also surprised Calhoun High School with a donation and New Balance tennis gear for the girls’ tennis program.
Kessler said she wanted to use her success to create additional opportunities for young players in her hometown.
“I had a donation in mind, and I knew that I wanted it to go towards the tennis community here,” Kessler said. “It’s a small town, but there is a big tennis community, and just to give younger kids an opportunity to play, and then maybe pursue a college career or professional career or something like I was able to do.”
The event also drew support from members of Baylor’s tennis program, who joined local players and spectators in celebrating the sport and Kessler’s return.
For Kessler, the Hometown One Point Slam was about more than winning points or awarding prize money. It was an opportunity to celebrate her roots, support local tennis programs and encourage the next generation of athletes to pursue their dreams.
Her return to Calhoun demonstrated how a hometown athlete’s success can make a lasting impact on the community where it all began.