Dexter tennis programs teach life lessons through community benefit

Eric Boles spends all day making sure his Dexter High School biology students learn not only lessons regarding the science of life but the actuality of it, as well.

Boles, as well as his wife Kristi, an engineering educator at Dexter High, both carry that role over to their Bearcat boys and girls tennis squads, respectively, in the form of the recent Courts for Cancer benefit.

“I wanted my students to understand the connection between (tennis) being a lifelong sport,” Eric said, “and, you have an obligation because you have the ability to do something that others don’t, to give back to your community.

“At some point in your life, you may need the community to help you out.”

The Bearcat boy’s and girl’s tennis squads each helped raise funds for the fifth consecutive year, all of which goes to a student, educator, school employee, or relative of one, who is battling cancer, from one of the participating schools, if applicable.

This spring, Dexter hosted Sikeston, Jackson, and Poplar Bluff boy’s teams for a “fun tournament,” according to Eric, and twice as much money ($2,200) was raised than in the initial year of the event.

The funds went to Friends of Kids with Cancer (affiliated with Children’s Hospital in St. Louis), 18ForeLife (a Stoddard County cancer charity), and a Dexter High School family, who is navigating this difficult time. In the past, recipients have come from Bloomfield, Richland (Essex), as well as from within the Bearcat family.

“Tennis isn’t just about winning matches, winning District titles, going to state, and all of that stuff,” Eric said. “It’s a lifelong activity that you can do well into your 80s and 90s. It’s a physical fitness activity that you can do forever. You can’t do that with football or basketball or volleyball. But you can with tennis.

“Tennis is an analogy for life. There are going to be times when things are going well and times when they aren’t going so well, and you are going to have to fight through that.”

The event isn’t just an opportunity for the Boles family to teach through the sport, this event can trace its origins to a very personal level for Eric, Kristi, and current Bearcat senior, Peyton Boles, who is Dexter’s No. 1 singles player.

Five years ago, the Boles’ oldest son, Ryder, was diagnosed with testicular cancer, which gave the Boles an impetus for the event.

Fast-forward to 2023, and Ryder is a healthy, active student at Murray State University, where his younger brother will also attend college in the fall.

“Peyton and Ryder are really, really, really close,” Eric said. “He is our number one player, and he sets the tone for everybody else. Peyton takes the tournament seriously and he does enjoy it.

“He really enjoys it when Ryder can come back and see him play.”

The event has raised over $10,000 over the course of its existence and will expand to the girl’s season in the fall.

The benefit will begin alternating between the girl’s and boy’s seasons in 2023.

“We are not connected to any other (benefit) event,” Eric said. “It is all homegrown and all on the kids. They have to get all of the sponsors, they have to sell the raffle tickets, they have to sell the stickers, it is completely their work.”