Karl Torp

OKLAHOMA CITY - An Oklahoma City nonprofit that gives children access to tennis is expanding its mission, using the sport to teach lessons that can carry far beyond the court. First Serve OKC began as a free summer camp for 30 children in 2014. Today, the organization offers youth tennis programs serving nearly 2,000 students. “I think you hear under-resourced a lot of time and we think, oh, well, these kids need somebody to save them,” a First Serve OKC representative said.

An Oklahoma City nonprofit that gives children access to tennis is expanding its mission, using the sport to teach lessons that can carry far beyond the court. First Serve OKC began as a free summer camp for 30 children in 2014. Today, the organization offers youth tennis programs serving nearly 2,000 students. "I think you hear under-resourced a lot of time and we think, oh, well, these kids need somebody to save them," a First Serve OKC representative said.

After a race defined by grit, endurance, and emotion, winners of the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon say the finish line is about more than medals; it’s about community. Ashley Carreon and Al Maeder claimed top honors in 2025, but both described their victories as a shared experience with the city rather than individual achievements. “You can really see that community togetherness of this race, it’s just really contagious,” Carreon said.