1916

Fort Wayne High School Tennis Trophy

For over 100 years, Fort Wayne has produced some outstanding tennis players. The first city singles championship of the Fort Wayne Tennis Association was played at the Old Kekionga Golf Club on East Washington Street (now Memorial Park) on 20 August 1909. Dr. Miles J. Porter, Jr. won that first championship and also won the first city doubles finals on 5 September 1909 partnered with his brother-in-law, Dr. B. P. Weaver. Porter continued to hold the city singles championship title until 1916.

Fred Shoaff, considered to be the "father of tennis" in Fort Wayne, was one of the better players of the time. While several of the early players in Fort Wayne could have gone on to national prominence, most preferred, instead, to pursue tennis as recreation. Today, there are many courts, both indoor and out-door, on which young players can learn and play in Fort Wayne.

Willard Plogsterth was considered an elite tennis player in Fort Wayne, winning this silver-plated loving cup for Fort Wayne High School in 1916. It is engraved, "Boys Singles Championship F.W.H.S. 1916 Won by W. T. Plogsterth." Plogsterth, along with Leslie Popp, were also doubles champions. After graduating high school, Plogsterth competed at the collegiate level for Indiana University.