On Friday, April 17, members of the MICDS community gathered to formally dedicate the new Michael W. and Quirsis V. Riney Family Tennis Center. The facility has been in use since the fall of 2025, with MICDS students, faculty, staff, and families enjoying this tremendous resource. We were happy to celebrate both the center and the generous family who made it happen.
Head of School Jay Rainey began by welcoming guests. He recollected meeting the Rineys for the first time before he began his tenure, recognizing their gracious and selfless natures immediately. He spoke about how, despite our best efforts, a pandemic with its resulting supply chain issues forced a construction delay, and mentioned all the efforts by our partners at Centerbrook Architects and Planners, Tennis Coaches Patrick Huewe and Brad Heinemann, our facilities team led by Chief Operations and Finance Officer Beth Miller, Director of Development Elizabeth Coulter, and of course, the Riney Family, to ensure the design of a world-class tennis center. In true MICDS collaborative style, the end result is a phenomenal resource that serves both our athletes and their spectators. It not only foments spirited competition but fosters tennis education. And the icing on the cake is that it not only complements but adds to our campus beauty while offering a versatile gathering space. Mr. Rainey quoted writer David Brooks, who said, “Gratitude is a kind of laughter of the heart.”
Patrick Huewe, Varsity Tennis Coach and JK-12 World Languages & Culture Department Chair, took a few minutes to recognize how much this new resource means to Rams athletes. He said:
In my time at MICDS, we’ve had some very successful teams, including this year’s team, which is off to a fast start this season. However, I’ve also experienced a fair share of heartbreaking losses over the years. But through all of it, one thing has never wavered: our commitment to building a community through tennis. This endeavor has never been just about the wins. It’s about the culture we’ve built together. Every player, parent, alum, administrator and coach can take pride in what we’ve built together and continue to build.
The Michael W. and Quirsis V. Riney Family Tennis Center is the ultimate realization of that mission. This facility expands our reach further than ever through hosting our high school events, our partnership with Net Rushers serving youth in underserved areas of St. Louis, through our summer camps, and UTR events. We are no longer just a school site. We are a regional destination for tennis—and honestly, we’re having a hard time keeping up with all the requests from colleges and USTA to host here.
To the Riney Family: thank you. You’ve given our student-athletes a stage that matches the caliber of their effort, dedication, and character. You’ve ensured that one of the winningest programs in school history has a home that is sustainable, safe, and truly world-class—a gift that will benefit generations of MICDS players.
Mike, I was still a very new coach when you played in our program, and I’ll be honest—I wish I’d worked with you more. Not that Coach Kalmar wasn’t great, but had I known then what I know now about your character and spirit for MICDS, I’m sure I would have saved a place for you on varsity. No question.
I’ve had the privilege to work with donors over the years, but you and Quirsis have set the standard — giving not just resources, but relationship. I am honored to carry your legacy forward through this community. De todo corazón, from the bottom of my heart, thank you.
To our partners who served on committees and attended numerous planning meetings, especially Spencer Burke ’65, whose counsel touched nearly every facet of this project, thank you for your continued investment in MICDS Tennis. Spencer, I’m looking forward to coaching the next generation of Burkes in a few years. No pressure.
To the Administrative Team, Jay Rainey, Director of Athletics Josh Smith, and logistics and operations genius Beth Miller, thank you for all of your support and countless hours dedicated to this endeavor.
To Tennis Coach Cameron Thomas, whose wisdom as a coach and connector in the St. Louis tennis community has been invaluable—sustaining our Net Rushers partnership, expanding access to tennis for underserved communities, and leading a tremendously successful JV program for both our Girls and Boys teams.
And then there is Brad Heinemann: Girls Head Coach, Boys Varsity Assistant, and one of my closest friends. Brad has logged more hours preparing this facility than anyone. This season, he made sure every detail was in place so that players and spectators had everything they needed. In the fall, he hosted the inaugural Girls Tournament of Champions—the premier tennis tournament in Missouri—and launched UTR Tennis alongside it. Words fall short. I am deeply, deeply grateful to coach beside you every day.
Finally, to our players and their families. Thank you for the sacrifice you made last school year, traveling day after day to Villa, CBC, and Dwight Davis while this center was being built. You never complained. You never made excuses. And remarkably, the Boys team went undefeated in every match away from home and repeated as State Team Champions. But that’s not all: Owen Kizer ’26, who is here today, won the boys state singles title, while Jai Patel ’25 and Arjun Puri ’25 claimed the doubles title, completing the rare state triple crown. Let that sink in. That is the character of this program.
Thank you all for being here and for being part of this family, and again, thank you to Quirsis and Mike Riney for this beautiful tennis center. Let’s Go Rams!
Mr. Riney offered a few thoughts as well, expressing his family’s motivations behind the creation of the new tennis center. Here are some of his remarks.
As a proud graduate of the MICDS Class of 2004, I never imagined that years later I’d return to campus to help dedicate a new tennis center for a place that shaped so much of who I am.
My connection to tennis started long before high school. As a kid, I would go out with my dad and just hit balls—no scoreboard, no pressure, just the simple joy of being on a court together. I didn’t realize it at the time, but those moments were about more than tennis. They were about time, connection, and learning to love the game.
When I got to the Upper School, I played junior varsity tennis, and I was fortunate to have a coach, Doc Kalmar, who made a lasting impact on me. He and I shared a special bond, and his kindness and mentorship—both on and off the court—are something I remember and cherish to this day. He taught me that the value of the game goes far beyond winning points; it’s about character, respect, and how you carry yourself in competition and in life.
Tennis gave me friendships. It gave me confidence. It taught me how to compete with intensity, but also with respect—for your opponent, your teammates, and yourself. It taught me that growth doesn’t come from easy victories, but from the matches that challenge you.
Those are lessons that stay with you long after the final point is played.
Today, tennis has come full circle in my life. Quirsis and I now share the game not only with each other but with our children, Rodger and Valentina. What started as hitting balls with my dad is now something we enjoy together as a family. Some of our best moments aren’t about keeping score—they’re about laughing, encouraging each other, and just being present together on the court.
And that’s really what inspired us to help make these courts a reality.
Because tennis is more than a sport. It’s a connector. It brings people together across generations. It creates friendships that last, teaches resilience in the face of challenge, and reminds us that competition can be both fierce and joyful at the same time.
These courts will be a place where students grow—not just as athletes, but as individuals. A place where teammates become lifelong friends, where lessons in discipline and perseverance take root, and where memories are made that will last far beyond the time spent here at MICDS.
As a member of the Board of Trustees, it’s especially meaningful to see what’s possible when a community comes together with a shared vision. We want to sincerely thank the architects at Centerbrook and the contractors at BSI, my fellow Board members, Board leadership, and Facilities Committees—both present and past, the coaches, the school leadership, and all of you here today for believing in this project and bringing it to life.
Your support has not just built tennis courts—but has truly built opportunities.
We would also like to offer a special thank you to Mr. Jay Rainey. Early in his tenure, he embraced the vision for this facility and helped us begin dreaming about what this could become. It’s an incredibly proud moment to be standing here with Jay to see this dream come to fruition. As he and Ruth prepare for their next chapter in Atlanta, we both thank them for their vast contributions to the MICDS Community and wish them both every happiness and continued success.
Finally, to the students playing here now and in the years to come: take advantage of this. Compete hard. Support your teammates. Respect your opponents. But most importantly—have fun.
Because one day, you’ll look back and realize that the moments you remember most won’t just be the matches you won, but the people you shared them with.
We hope that maybe one day, you’ll find yourself back here, reflecting on your own journey, and helping create opportunities for the next generation.
Then the celebratory moment was at hand! The Riney family—Mike, Quirsis, and their children Rodger ’35 and Valentina ’36—stepped out onto the courts to cut the red ribbon.
We are immensely grateful to the Michael and Quirsis Riney Family for their vision and their gift to the entire MICDS community. This wonderful new tennis center benefits not only Upper School players but also Lower and Middle School students who are learning the game of tennis through physical education. In the summer, scores of young athletes will converge here for tennis instruction, and other members of our MICDS family are already enjoying the courts. The impact of Michael and Quirsis Riney’s generosity ripples throughout our community and will impact generations of students for decades to come.
