Purpose Statement

This page is designed to be a hub of information to help celebrate Coach Mark Blume. It provides information about the Mark Blume JV Invitational Tournament, Ceremony, 24 Hour GripNRip, and ways you can show your appreciation for Coach Mark, including a Kudooboard page where you can submit messages and videos and a GoFundMe page for Coach Mark and his family.


Background

If you have been part of the Iowa adult or junior tennis community in the past 25 plus years, chances are you know the name Mark Blume (pronounced "Bloom Ah"). Mark is one of the top tennis pros in the state. After many years developing tennis players in Eastern Iowa, Mark moved to Central Iowa where he has led many of the Thrive tennis clinics and camps at the Genesis Health Club. It is no wonder that Mark won the USPTA’s (United States Professional Tennis Association) Professional of the Year in Iowa in 2022.

For those of you who do not know, Mark unfortunately was diagnosed with lung cancer earlier this year, and he is now battling this awful disease.

The Ankeny High School girls’ tennis program has been blessed to have Mark heavily involved from the time Coach Smith started coaching the girls team. The program wants to support him and his family (wife, Jen, and three children; Payton, Brynn and Jameson) as much as possible in this difficult journey, including by hosting the Mark Blume JV Invitational tournament and ceremony on April 26th in Ankeny.

During the ceremony, we will be inviting players who Mark has touched to communicate their appreciation to him. There will be several options for these players to give back to Mark, including: (1) writing a note to Mark; (2) submitting a video of them saying something to Mark; (3) participating in a live players panel at the ceremony; and (4) a few spots for the brave players to give a testimonial to Mark live at the ceremony.

If you know of others that Mark has impacted, please spread the word by contacting them directly, sharing and liking social media posts and pointing them to this website.

Let’s rally and show Mark and his family some tennis LOVE!


Tournament Information

In appreciation of how much Coach Mark has meant to the Ankeny High School tennis programs, the Ankeny girls team will be hosting the Mark Blume JV Invitational Tournament Friday, April 26th from noon until 4 PM at the Prairie Ridge Tennis Complex in Ankeny. Dowling Catholic, West Des Moines Valley and Des Moines Lincoln have all agreed to participate in light of the huge impact Coach Mark has had on their programs.

Tournament Schedule of Events:
Friday, April 26th at Prairie Ridge Tennis Complex in Ankeny, Iowa
  • 11:00 - 12:00: Team Warmup
  • 11:30 - 11:45: Coaches Meeting
  • 12:00 - 1:15: Round 1 (Ankeny vs. Valley, Dowling vs. Lincoln)
  • 1:15 - 2:30: Round 2 (Ankeny vs. Lincoln, Valley vs. Dowling)
  • 2:30 - 3:45: Round 3 (Ankeny vs. Dowling, Valley vs. Lincoln)
  • 4:00 - 4:30: Tournament Wrap Up
  • 4:30 - 5:00: Team Blume Rocks Exhibition Match
  • 5:00 - 6:30: Mark Blume Appreciation Ceremony (in the Prairie Ridge Middle School gym)
  • 5:15 - 5:30: Ceremony Introduction
  • 5:30 - 6:15: Player Appreciation
  • 6:15 - 6:30: Wrap Up

24 Hour Grip-N-Rip

Starting on Friday, May 3rd at 10:30 am until Saturday, May 4th at 10:30 am! See the attached PDF for all the specifics.
Social hour for this event will be on Friday, May 3rd from 6pm - 9pm.


Show Your Appreciation

If Coach Mark Blume has touched your life, we encourage you to show your appreciation in at least one of the following ways:

If you are able, we encourage you to attend the exhibition match and ceremony.

If you are a former player or tennis colleague of Marks, you can show your appreciation in additional ways:

First, if you would like to give a testimonial or be part of the player appreciation panel, please contact Coach Steve Smith by Monday, April 22nd.

Second, if you can't attend or don't feel comfortable being part of the ceremony, we encourage you to either submit a note or video to Coach Mark on our KudooBoard to show your appreciation. Stories and other memories are greatly valued.

Finally, if you'd like to support Coach Mark and his family financially, you have two options:

  • We have partnered with Genesis to create a GoFundMe Page.
  • We also have created a Team Mark Blume Rocks webstore through Wee's Tees in Ankeny where you can order T-shirts for the event. You will be able to choose whether to pick up the shirt at Wees Tees on your way to the event or have it shipped directly to you. If you choose to have it delivered and want to wear it at the event, please order by Monday, April 22nd.

Thank you again for helping us celebrate Coach Mark Blume!!