Shots were fired in the neighboring parking lot of Minor Park Tennis Courts Tuesday, Aug. 30 around 6:30 p.m. during Sion’s tennis match against Lee’s Summit West. Nobody was injured but the courts were immediately evacuated. Although the event took place in a parking lot far south of the courts, the tennis team has not been allowed to return since, according to High School Division Head Natalie McDonough.

“After Tuesday’s event and with a history of a few dicey situations in the past, we decided it was not safe for our girls to return,” McDonough said. “We would rather err on the side of safety and be overprotective than to risk allowing the team to go back.”

Two other schools, Lutheran High School and Lincoln Prep, were also in the middle of a match. Junior yearbook photographer Mariah Lynn said at first she thought it was fireworks. It was not until the second round occurring less than a minute later that the noises registered with people as gun fire and tennis players and spectators began to leave the courts.

“I was freaked out. I’ve had nightmares about that happening because it’s so sketchy and weird things have happened there before,” senior Zoé Trouvé said. “I definitely sprinted to my car with stuff falling out of my bag and dipped out of there real quick.”

No one was arrested and no one was found in possession of a gun.

Since Tuesday, the tennis team has not been allowed to return to Minor Park and they currently have no permanent court to practice or host home games on. According to McDonough they are working quickly with Coach Brad Drummond to find different courts to play on so they can get back to practice and cause as little interruption to their season as possible. The team practiced at Leawood City Park Thursday.

“We are researching a lot of options including Leawood Park and Oakwood Country Club which both have six courts,” Athletic Director Kate Pilgreen said. “Both are great environments and great communities that we would be lucky to practice and play at.”