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Meet Our team
Kirt & Karen Whiteside
Owner
Married in 1975
Three Children: Tenille, Cortney, Sheleah
Six Grand Children: Kajsa, Kai, Mia, Liam, Alia, Leia
Resides in Delaware, OH
Kirt is owner of Whiteside Mfg (Manufacturers of Tools and Equipment for the Professional Garage); Former H.S. Coach; Former Summer Ball coach; Former Coach of the French National team Lyon Tete d’Or; Started the first indoor softball league in Cleveland Ohio in the late ‘80’s; Developer of the Indoor Cup initially started in Lyon, France, now held in Schiedam, The Netherlands; Initiated the Queen of Diamonds Showcase North in 1992; Initiated the Queen of Diamonds Showcase South in 2006; Developed the first new wave catcher’s mask now used in both baseball and softball.
Karen is a Quilt Instructor; Involvement in ball--well, I used to keep score and be the Team Mom. Now I'm the behind-the-scenes supporter of my family and I also do the Hospitality Table for the staff and college coaches at the Tournaments.
Hobbies: Softball, inventing products, traveling together, quilting
Tenille Schoonover
CFO
Four children—Mia (b. March 2003), Liam (b. March 2006), Alia (AL-ee-ah, b. Oct 2007), and Leia (b. April 2010)
Resides in Delaware, OH
Tenille played volleyball and softball at Cleveland State University and still holds school records in both sports. She went on to play in the Professional League in 1998 for the Carolina Diamonds. She was inducted to the Cleveland State Hall of Fame for volleyball and softball in February 2008.
Outside of spending time with the kids and all of their extracurricular activities, Tenille was also a softball coach at the local private school and has coached softball in the summer as well. She also loves college football and being outdoors!
Kevin & Cortney Rider
COO
Engaged in Paris at Cup 2020!
Cortney's children: Kajsa (Kai-sa) (2000) & Kai (2003)
Kevin's children: Andrew (2000), Ryan (2002), Beth (2004), Caleb (2006), and Eli (2009)
They all Reside in Delaware, OH
Kevin is an expert witness for his own consulting company, specializing in human factors and occupational safety. Kevin played a host of sports in high school and growing up, with his real love being in soccer. He graduated from the University of Tennessee with his Bachelor and Master degrees in Industrial Engineering. Kevin then went on to receive his Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering at the University of Michigan. He has been a wonderful addition to our team!
Cortney helps Kevin in the operation and finances of his business. She was 1st Team All-State in softball and volleyball at Marion Pleasant High School, going on to play softball two years at Cleveland State University. Cortney graduated from The University of Phoenix in 2006 with a degree in Business Marketing. and has been involved in the inner workings of the QDS since 2000 and Cup since 2001.
Hobbies: Kevin and Cortney love spending time talking, watching college football, playing cards, and spending time with family.
Monte Gaddis & Jasmine
I’ve been part of The Cup since 2010, when Kirt first invited me to coach. That same year, my oldest daughter, Kalle, made her debut trip; a few years later, my youngest, Abreana, took the field too. I’d been coaching both of them since they were five, and by 2008 I was already a high school coach in East Central Indiana. For more than a decade I coached at The Cup, then in 2024 I stepped into an administrative role.
That’s also the year Jasmine joined the adventure—jumping right into the admin team alongside me.
Professionally, I’m in law enforcement - my job? Catch all the bad people I can!
Over the years, The Cup has become more than a tournament—it’s become a family tradition and a second home. From the first practice to the last out, the sense of community is unmatched. The friendships
I’ve made—especially with the Toet family, who are now like family in every way—are priceless.
In 2025, during the opening ceremonies with a Jason Aldean song playing, I asked Jasmine to marry me. Her “yes” turned a tournament into a lifelong milestone. For me, The Cup is where coaching, family, and friendship come together—and where our story keeps growing.
Watch out for yet 'another' big happening this year!!!
Bill and Trish Grannis
Bill has been a dedicated part of the softball community for more than 27 years. His connection to The Cup began when his daughter, Brittany, competed in 2012 and 2016. Inspired by that experience, he began coaching at the event in 2013 and continued through 2023.
Today, he supports The Cup behind the scenes—helping with equipment setup, broadcasting, and making sure everything runs smoothly for athletes and fans. Over the years, Bill and Trish have experienced so much that they’re often called on to give tours, directions, and assist at every level of the event.
Beyond softball, Bill and Trish love hiking, traveling, and one very unique tradition—following Morgan Wallen concerts across America. They now have front-row seats, know every song by heart, and even the dance moves.
Trish has been attending The Cup for a decade and is always ready to step in wherever needed. Together, Bill and Trish bring a passion for softball, adventure, and community that enriches every team they’re around.