Winter 2009-2010 • Volume IV • Issue 3assets.usta.com › assets › 649 › USTA_Import › images › sitecore... · 2010-04-08 · NETPLAY • WINTER 09-10 • 610.935.5000

Winter 2009-2010 • Volume IV • Issue 3

2010 USPTA Middle States Convention For Coaches and

Teaching Professionals

Download an official conference brochure at http://usptadivisions.uspta.com/html/MS08ConferenceBrochure.pdf

FriDay, FeB 5Upgrade Testing, Buffet Luncheon, Jim Loehr, Dave Price, Anthony DeCecco, Social Party with Live Band (Four Seasons located across street from Hempfield Rec)

SaturDay, FeB 6Jim Loehr, Break out sessions w/Linda Strange, Daniel Watts, Bill Sember, Bill Mountford, Feisal Hassan

February 5-6, 2010 at Hempfield Area Recreation Commission in Landisville, PA

“Embracing Change”

Feisal Hassan Dr. Jim Loehr Bill Mountford

For more information on the conference or USPTA Middle States offerings contact [email protected] or 610-730-0442

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10 Diversity Fourteen-year-old Madison Keys lit up the Philadelphia tennis scene this summer, and she has no plans to stop.

13 Community DevelopmentUSTA Middle States and the Philadelphia Department of Recreation are granting the city’s youth access to the game of tennis.

Departments4 Welcome Letter

5 Guest Columnist – Shara Aaron

7 Tennis Shorts

13 Member Spotlight

27 Tennis 2.0

28 Districts

• AMD makes its mark at the 2009 PIAA State Championships

•A CPD teen finds tennis is his ultimate therapy

•A DD man represents the U.S. in the Super Senior World Championships

•It’s all about family in EPD

•A NJD teen has fun, learns lots at Brown University Leadership Camp

•Tennis…onyourtimeandtermsinPATD

USTA MIDDLE STATES

11 NJTL The City of Reading Tennis Program is named USTA National Junior Tennis & Learning (NJTL) of the Year.

14 Growing the GameAkshay Damany from Allentown, Pa., is using the game of tennis to impact the life of a 7-year-old boy with Autism.

19 Adult Competition What is your most memorable tennis

moment? For New Jersey native Mark Tepes, winning his first USTA Gold Ball this fall is a memory he’ll never forget.

USTA League

Winter 2009-2010 • Volume IV • Issue 3

NJTL of Trenton spearheads a landmark program for children in Trenton, focusing on health, fitness, nutrition, and of course, tennis!

Winning isn’t everything – at least not for Delaware native Erin Bailey. Bailey, who claims tennis is her favorite sport, played USTA League tennis for the first time in 2009, and loved every second of it.

26 Officials One of USTA Middle States’ own,

Lois Huggins, is honored by her peers as the year’s top umpire.

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NETPLAY • WINTER 09-10 • 610.935.5000 • [email protected]

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Published by USTA Middle StatesVolume IV Issue 3 Winter 09-10

Editorial Nathaniel Harrison Marge McGann Carrie RuppBen Zislis

ContributorsShara AaronTom BenicKasey ConnorsLoretta DeWaltMonique HollowayKaren JenningsAnn LoPrinziMarlynn Orlando

Special ThanksJudith ArnoldFred BevansCindy ClancyAnn GrunertMarlene Harmon-PerkinsJon KingMary MooreReading EagleSpecial Olympics DelawareUSPTAUnited Spinal AssociationJamie Yousaitis

USTA Middle States OfficersPresidentJeffrey Harrison

Senior Vice PresidentPatricia Weger

SecretaryEllen V. Williams

TreasurerRuth Roulston

USTA Middle States1288 Valley Forge RoadSuite 74, PO Box 987Valley Forge, PA 19482(610) 935-5000(610) 935-5484 fax [email protected]

Print & DesignBentley Graphic Communications, Inc. Pottstown, Pa. www.bentleygraphics.com

Greetings,Happy 2010! We hope you all enjoyed a festive holiday season and are ready to forge ahead into a new decade. As 2009 ended, we reflected on the past year with pride for the overall accomplishments of the Middle States section and our players. On page 21, you will read about the success of our section at the 2009 USTA League National Championships, including two teams who took home the ultimate prize. Learn more about our Jr. Team Tennis (JTT) program on page 16, meet the four teams who represented the section with the utmost of pride and sportsmanship at the 2009 JTT National Championships.

Our volunteer and staff team worked together to improve and expand our program offerings. Even with a difficult economy both our JTT and USTA League programs realized noteworthy growth. The trend was felt throughout the country with results from the 2008 Tennis Health Index showing tennis participation is up more than 18 percent since 2003. We are also pleased to report that according to a study conducted by the USTA and Tennis Industry Association (TIA), tennis participation in the United States topped 30 million for the first time in over two decades.

So how do we top 2009? Well, first we’re going to keep doing what has worked in the past like offering great tennis programs and play opportunities for tennis enthusiasts across the section. In addition, we’re going to focus our attention on the youth tennis population, particularly the 10 and under age group. Our JTT program and QuickStart Tennis (QST) play format provide wonderful opportunities for children to learn the sport at a very young age and most importantly, allows them to have fun while they learn. Gone are the days when children take a tennis lesson and stand on an adult size court waiting in line for the ball to be fed to them. With QST, kids play on appropriate size courts with appropriately scaled equipment hitting and rallying just like adults. They experience success faster and master the skills of tennis quicker. And the best part about QST is you don’t need an official tennis court. You can play anywhere; in your driveway, in a parking lot or at a local gymnasium. This means that almost any child can have access to tennis when and where they want. For more information on QST go to: quickstarttennis.com. While QST provides a format for kids to learn tennis, JTT gives them a social team format to play and have fun. Just like many other youth team sports, JTT allows team competition with children from similar ages and abilities.

We are enthusiastic about the future of tennis and the outlook for success in Middle States. We thank you all for your support, and your assistance in helping our sport grow. We look forward to working with many of you as we make the 2010 decade the best in tennis ever. Warm regards,

Jeffrey Harrison Marlynn Orlando President Executive Director

Jeffrey Harrison and Marlynn Orlando

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Whether the sun is shining outside or you’ve had to move your tennis game indoors, staying active through the winter is important to keep your body fit. Not only does exercise maintain strong bones and muscles but it helps with weight control, keeps your mood elevated and wards off a host of chronic diseases. Eating a nutritious diet

that includes foods, which keep the body strong, is the perfect complement to your practice regimen. Here are four foods sure to help keep your game going strong.

Milk –As an excellent source of calcium and phosphorus, two minerals that help to build bones and teeth, milk is important to maintain skeletal density over the long term. Milk also has vitamin D added to it because it’s necessary for the absorption of calcium and phosphorus and their use in bone formation. Weak bones can lead to fractures and in older adults, osteoporosis. Less than half of women have adequate calcium intakes. Women need 1000 mg of calcium each day or the amount in about 3 cups of milk. Have milk at each meal and you’ll meet the quota no problem.

Tips: Make a smoothie using milk and frozen fruit (or fresh fruit and ice); use milk in oatmeal instead of water.

AlMonds – With over 20 percent of the daily value for magnesium, a mineral that is a component of bones and teeth, in each 1 ounce serving, almonds help to build and keep bones strong. Almonds supply protein, another building block of bones and muscles. Bonus: Almonds are chock full of energy to keep you going strong through a match and can easily be thrown in your tennis bag.

Tips: Sprinkle toasted, chopped almonds over steamed green beans or asparagus. Make a trail mix with almonds, whole grain cereal flakes, dried cranberries and raisins.

leAn Beef – With an abundant amount of readily absorbable iron, lean beef keeps muscle strong. Iron is an important constituent of a protein called myoglobin. Myoglobin, like the more commonly known hemoglobin, is an oxygen-carrying molecule, which distributes oxygen to muscle cells, especially to skeletal muscles and to the heart. A deficiency of iron can cause fatigue, weakness and loss of stamina. The leanest cuts of beef include eye of round, top round and bottom round.

Tips: Cut beef tenderloin into bite sized pieces, marinate in pineapple juice, soy sauce and ginger mixture for several hours or overnight, place on skewers with pineapple chunks, peppers and onions, grill until cooked through, serve with brown rice.

leAfy greens (eg. spinach, kale, broccoli) –Vitamin K, abundant in leafy greens, is necessary to maintaining healthy bones thanks to its role in assisting calcium to be incorporated into bone. It is also thought that vitamin K may both prevent the formation and increase the rate at which osteoclasts, the cells that break down bone, die. So it protects against the breakdown of bone as well.

Tips: Steam broccoli florets and serve with a side of dip; use generous amounts of oregano, thyme and parsley (all good sources of K) in tomato sauce to use over pasta or in lasagna. Shara Aaron is a registered dietitian, group fitness director at Pennsbury Racquet and Athletic Club in Morrisville, Pa., and the author of The Baby Fat Diet and Chocolate – A Healthy Passion.

Allegheny Mountain

Tom Benic

Central PA

RichardRauenzahn

Delaware

MoniqueHolloway

Eastern PA

LorettaDeWalt

New Jersey

Ann LoPrinzi

Philadelphia

Karen Jennings

DistrictContributors

Guest Colum

nistGuest Columnist

Shara Aaron, MS, RD

Foods to Keep Your Body Strong

15 Twosome Drive - Moorestown, NJ 08057- 856-234-8484 www.moorestowntennisclub.com

5 indoor Deco Turf Hard courtsClimate controlled air conditioned and heated courtsSupervised child careViewing area upstairs and downstairsState of the art Tennis facilityVideo analysisQuickStart Tennis Format

Programs for beginners, intermediate, and advanced.Elite junior program for the competitive players Junior ladder matches for all levels on SundaysAdult clinics and drills in the mornings and eveningsAdult singles and doubles leagues

Head Pro: Young Min Kwon

Junior Director: Omar Gonzalez

adult Director: Kevin Hudson

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Tennis Shorts

Joelle Kissell, a 17-year-old senior at Latrobe Area High School was featured on the cover of the November issue of ESPN’s Rise Magazine. Kissell’s journey to the top of the rankings as well her relationship with her very talented sisters, Michaela and Stacia, were the focus of the piece. All in all, it wasn’t a bad month for Kissell who captured the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) AAA Singles title the weekend after the publication was printed.

Allegheny Mountain

The College of New Jersey (Ewing) women’s tennis team clinched its astounding 27th consecutive New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) title with a 9-0 victory over Richard Stockton College at the NJAC championships. The Lions went undefeated in match play during the season including an impressive performance against the University of Delaware, a Division I opponent. Former Middle States juniors, Lauren Balsamo, Wall Twp., N.J., and Emily Petersack, Mercerville, N.J., each won their singles matches by 6-0, 6-0 scores while Jackie Shtemberg, Ramapo, N.J., won 6-0, 6-1.Photo courtesy of the College of New Jersey Athletics

Physical Education teachers from across the Commonwealth came to the Valley Forge Convention Center for the 2009 Pennsylvania Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AHPERD) Convention. Highlighting the event was a USTA School In-service Training where P.E. teachers were trained on how to incorporate tennis into their curriculum using game-based drills and instruction for children of all ages. Foam balls were bouncing everywhere as USTA staff members transformed a conference room into a tennis classroom demonstrating how easy is it make a classroom into a dynamic tennis playing environment.

More than 130 people attended the 2009 Delaware District (DD) Hall of Fame at the Wilmington Country Club to honor Laura LeRoy Travis (third from left), head coach of the men’s and women’s tennis teams at the University of Delaware, and Tom Ellis (second from left),

a dedicated USTA League coordinator. For the first time, the event, which raised more than $6,000 for the Delaware Tennis Foundation (DTF) also recognized the local USTA League champions, who advanced to section and/or national championships.

Jerre Pietsch of Lancaster, Pa., teamed with Art Barnes of Hanover, Pa., to win the 70-74 age group at the 2009 National Senior Games in Palo Alto, Calif. The games which are the largest multi-sport event in the world for men and women over the age of 50 featured more than 13,000 athletes. The pair swept past the competition surrendering just 14 games in four matches en route to the title.

The Oakmont Tennis Club in Allentown, Pa., celebrated its 90th anniversary in 2009. The historic non-profit tennis club features seven red, brick-dust clay courts in the heart of the city. Founded in 1919 by a group of Army World War I officers who were stationed a few blocks away, the club once hosted champions Bobby Riggs and Don Budge. From 1926 to 1947, the Pennsylvania Clay Court Championships were held at Oakmont.

delaware

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Philadelphia

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ryin the beginning. I’m not quite sure they totally understood why they were there. As the program progressed and they were having fun and saw their fitness improve, they became more vested.”

Another organization that contributed was Gold’s Gym. Serving Up Health Program Manager, Judith Arnold, got the gym and its trainers involved.

“When we got the call from Judith to be involved in a program for overweight kids, she didn’t have to say anything more,” said Beth Bright, Manager and Certified Fitness Trainer, Gold’s Gym. “To be able to inspire and motivate these kids is really important, and to show them that fitness should be as much a part of their lives as brushing their teeth is our ultimate goal.”

Bright, and several other trainers including Rose Carroll-Dey met the children and their families at the hospital every Thursday. They introduced the children to several fitness games focusing on strength, speed and agility.

“Our goal was to make the exercise portion as fun as possible so the kids would want to come back,” Bright said. “Between the upbeat music, the movement and the constantly changing activity it was more like accidental fitness. We used some equipment, but the majority of the activities we did could all be done at home.

Ten young people on a Trenton, N.J., tennis court are practicing their skills just like anyone new to the game. But for these children – all in the 95th percentile for weight – the serves and volleys are part of a landmark program in the Trenton area – Serving Up Health.

Developed to combat childhood obesity, Serving Up Health is the brainchild of NJTL of Trenton Executive Director Dan Faber, Dr. Ventakarao Isola, a pediatrician at Capital Health and Capital Health Foundation Executive Director Arline Stephan. With the financial backing and support of sanofi-aventis U.S., an international pharmaceutical company, as well as ACME Supermarkets, Serving Up Health saw its inaugural class of 10 children and their family members graduate from a 12-week program in October.

“The pediatricians at Capital Health have stressed the need for a good, full-blown, full-service obesity program, one that works for the particular cultures in the city of Trenton,” Stephan said. “Having been friends and colleagues with Dan for a long time, I knew the tennis league would be a perfect fit for this program.”

The ten children, all considered obese by national standards, were chosen for the program by Capital Health physicians because of their dire need for immediate health and lifestyle improvements. The children’s families were also encouraged to take part in the program which focused on fitness, specifically tennis, and nutrition.

“Very few of the children involved had ever picked up a tennis racquet before, and at first, I saw a lot of doubt on their faces,” Faber said. “Before long, we couldn’t get them off the court.”

The participants met three days a week for 12 weeks. Mondays featured tennis outdoors, Wednesdays featured tennis indoors using the USTA QuickStart Tennis format as well as a nutrition lesson, and Thursdays featured an exercise and cooking component.

On the first day of the program, nurses from Capital Health weighed and measured the children, took their blood pressure, fitness levels and did Body Mass Index testing.

“We publicized the program as a health promotion program, we weren’t necessarily looking for weight loss, we were looking for behavioral changes,” said Margaret Eslow, a Capital Health nurse. “It was a slow process

HealthnJTL of Trenton strives to fight childhood obesity

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We wanted to bring back the playing in the backyard as a family type of feeling. I think that is something many of the families hadn’t done in a while; it was great to see the smiles on their faces.”

“They learned to enjoy the fitness component,” Carroll-Dey said. They were motivated to set their own goals and strive to reach them.”

In addition to the exercise and tennis components, a major focus was nutrition. Instructors from the Rutgers Cooperative Extension program provided nutrition counseling and cooking sessions were conducted by local chefs. The education portions were targeted to both the children and parents and included a trip to a local ACME where parents learned tips to reading nutrition labels and making healthy choices.

Dorothy Jardine and her son Tyler, 13, were one of the families that definitely bought into the program.

“I was excited for Tyler to be involved,” Jardine said. “I knew it would be a good thing for him, and also for me. We’ve learned so much about nutrition, about what we’re putting into our bodies, times that we should or shouldn’t be eating, and to read more labels and look further into what you’re eating.”

Jardine also said she and Tyler enjoyed the tennis component, “I played a little when I was younger, but that was it. You really don’t realize how great of a workout tennis is until you get out there. Tyler caught on quick; he loves it.

Tyler and the other participants who completed the 12-week program received a brand-new tennis racquet as well as tennis balls to take home. Faber hopes the gift will encourage the children to continue using what they learned, “We certainly hoped the children would see measurable differences at the end of the program, but even more rewarding would be to see the families continue their lessons at home. Ideally, we would love to see a child and parent stopping by a park to play a game of tennis, and then hopefully having a healthy meal afterward.”

NJTL of Trenton and Capital Health along with sanofi-aventis U.S., ACME, Gold’s Gym and Rutgers are planning round two of Serving Up Health in February with 15 new families. Additional discussions are ongoing about offering a full-year program.

Eslow mentioned the program has made a name for itself, “we’ve had tons of calls from pediatricians who want their patients involved.”

“We hope we can build on this on an ongoing basis, and for Dan and NJTL of Trenton, that it can become a national program,” Stephan said. “We’d be proud to be the founders and developers of it and most importantly to continue it for the people of Trenton, to show them that we care and we’re committed to their health care.”

Several of the families involved in the inaugural Serving Up Health program have mentioned they’d love to be involved in the next 12-week session. For Dorothy and Tyler Jardine, they’ve taken the support and instructions they received and have implemented it at home.

“Tyler is really starting to do things on his own, before I’d push him a little bit and suggest we do something together, but now he’s seen that he is capable of doing things,” Jardine said. “He’s learned that exercising isn’t just something he has to do, but something that he enjoys doing. He really embraced the program and I am so proud of him. We are so grateful to have been a part of it.” •

- Carrie Rupp

Photos courtesy of NJTL of Trenton & Judith Arnold Photography


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MP committee to host USTA League Captains workshopSpearheaded by the USTA Middle States (USTA MS) Multicultural Participation (MP) Committee, the section is planning to host a free USTA League Captain’s Informational Meeting at the Althea Gibson Community Education & Tennis Center in 2010. According to USTA MS Diversity Manager Renee Bridges, the meeting is just one example of the committee’s efforts to grow tennis participation among all populations. The meeting will be facilitated by USTA MS Director of Adult Competition Sally Baird. It will provide attendees with a better understanding of the USTA League program as well as detail opportunities for involvement beyond participation as a player. A date for the workshop will be announced on middlestates.usta.com in early 2010. If you would like to learn more about the USTA League program please contact Sally Baird at [email protected], or if you would like to learn more about the USTA MS MP Committee please contact Renee Bridges at [email protected]. •

The United Spinal Association held its 5th Annual Kids Sports Spectacular at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia on August 22. Laughter and excitement filled the Wachovia Center as children, family members and volunteers came together to make dreams come true. The one-day event, which is sponsored by Comcast-Spectacor, is designed to introduce children living with mobility impairment or physical disabilities to adaptive sports such as basketball, softball, hand cycling and of course, tennis.

“The thrill we see in the eyes of these kids inspires us over and over again and all of us at United Spinal are proud to partner with our kind donors and sponsor for this important event,” said Paul J. Tobin, United Spinal Association President.

Many of the participants have never played or participated in a competitive sport, so the day often leaves a lasting, life-long impression. One young participant, Natalie, said, “I never played tennis before today, but I really enjoyed it!” •

- Carrie Rupp

Kids Sports Spectacular brings smiles to all

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Reading Tennis is jamming again. More than 30 children from the City of Reading (COR) Tennis program visited Alvernia University in October for a little tennis action. The event took place at the Physical Education Center on campus where the participants practiced their tennis skills and played games using the USTA QuickStart Tennis format against the Crusaders women’s basketball team, as well as members of the men’s and women’s tennis teams. The event, titled “The Reading Tennis Jam,” provided some children the opportunity to step on a college campus for the very first time. COR Tennis Director, Larry Zerbe, and Crusaders Women’s Basketball coach, Kevin Calabria, who teamed up for a similar event last spring hoped this event would serve as a kickoff to future volunteerism in city programs.

“We have created a tennis program that is focused on fun,” Zerbe said. “Fun with other kids, fun with adults and finally fun just playing the game.”

Events like this are just a small example of the opportunities COR is providing the youth of Reading.

“When you come from a city where the focus can sometimes be on our financial shortfalls and rising poverty,

our program’s mission just reaffirms what we are all about,” said Matt Lubas, Athletic/Aquatic Supervisor, COR. “We are using tennis as a way to connect with our kids by providing programs that increase wellness, self-esteem and teach life skills essential to development.”

It’s also one of many reasons the organization was named USTA National NJTL of the Year. The COR, which became an NJTL in 1999, will be recognized at the USTA Community Tennis Development Workshop in San Diego, Calif., on January 23.

“Our initial reaction was one of overwhelming excitement, yet very humble knowing we will now be associated with some of the best run NJTL programs in the country,” Lubas said. “I immediately started to think about every staff member, volunteer and community supporter who has been associated with our program. They are the ones who laid the foundation for such an honor. To come from an eight-week summer program 12 years ago when I first started, to where we are today has been an amazing transformation.” •

- Carrie Rupp

Congratulations to the following community based programs receiving 2009 Recreational Tennis Grants:• Arthur Ashe - Philadelphia• Orthotic & Prosthetic

Assistance Fund, Inc. – Washington Crossing, Pa.

• City of Reading, Department of Recreation – Reading, Pa.

Reading Tennis is JammingOrganization receives national award

Photos courtesy of Jon King, Alvernia University

Q: Why has CRC made a point to partner with the USTA?

A: We value our partnership with the USTA. By being partners, we give ourselves credibility as a serious tennis facility and show, without saying a word, our desire to be an active part of growing the game. The partnership shows that we support the governing body of tennis in our country and are interested in all that the USTA’s research and development has to offer. It also allows us to be kept abreast of the many opportunities and events that the USTA has to offer.

Q: Tell us about the Building a Tennis Community initiative CRC has participated in with USTA Middle States.

A: Courtside provides every junior member with a complimentary USTA membership as part of their club membership. We also offer high school players in our area a free club and USTA membership. There are several values to this; first and foremost,

we are growing the game in our area, which will in turn make the level of play higher and interest in tournament play stronger at Courtside as well as in the Section. Secondly, the high school coaches value this because the more tournaments the kids play, the better they become and the stronger their teams become. By providing these memberships, we remove at least one of several potential barriers for junior players to get more involved. Our hope is that the kids will come and learn at Courtside and go forward playing high school and if capable, college tennis.

Q: What types of benefits has your relationship with the USTA created?

A: We have had some excellent benefits come our way through our affiliation, such as the honor we received this year. But what has been the most beneficial is the ability to use the USTA Middle States (USTA MS) office and its staff as a resource for information, education and to help open doors. They have been nothing short of amazing in terms of helping us to grow and gain access to areas that might not have been available. They are a pleasure to work with.

Q: What benefits does CRC receive from hosting USTA tournaments?

A: Hosting a USTA tournament has many values. We get excellent exposure throughout the section on the USTA MS Web site and via the tournament schedule. Hosting tournaments allows our members to view some excellent tennis and see some talented up-and-coming juniors. It also allows us to show our junior players how great the game can be, by providing them an opportunity to see not just the challenging aspects of junior tennis, but also how fun it can be.

I think having the chance to watch top level players can provide a level of motivation.

From the business side of the event, we always have a good day in the tennis shop when tournaments are at the club, and sometimes we also gain new members through players and their parents having a great experience at Courtside.

Q: With the launch of QuickStart Tennis in 2008, the USTA is really focusing on developing the sport among children 10 and under. How is CRC reaching this audience?

A: This audience is the future of our sport, and we definitely agree they are an important group to focus on. We’ve had programming for children 10 and under for a long time. We’re starting to incorporate some of the USTA QuickStart Tennis (QST) guidelines into our clinics and so far they’ve been very well received. QST is a logical way to teach the game; it definitely provides all of the tools to teach children tennis in the simplest way, and most importantly, a fun way. We’re planning to host a QST workshop in 2010. •

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Courtside Racquet Club (CRC) in Lebanon,

N.J., was honored by the USTA Technical Committee as a 2009 Outstanding Facility Award recipient. The distinguished honor is based upon a number of criteria including the facilities’ support of USTA programs and the club’s overall contributions to grow the game. We asked General Manager Bruce Levine how CRC makes the most out of its relationship with the USTA.

Make the most of your relationship

with USTA. Contact Ben Zislis at

[email protected]

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Harry McGonigle of Kutztown, Pa., certainly is used to watching the sport of tennis. The 2008 Berks County Tennis Association Hall of Fame inductee has seen all sides of the game – as a high school player at Wyomissing in the ‘60s, as a well-respected coach and as a chairman and facilitator of numerous tennis committees and organizations.

This spring, McGonigle will open his 39th season as the boys tennis coach at Kutztown Area High School, having wrapped up his 13th season as the girls tennis coach in the fall. A political science and history teacher for nearly forty years at Kutztown, McGonigle will coach his 800th high school match this spring, boasting records of 463-124 as the boys coach and 115-96 as the girls coach,

A USTA High School No-Cut coach, McGonigle has kept as many as 50 players on his roster through creativity and patience, and feels obligated to keep kids involved in the sport.

“Tennis provides them structure and focus, and most importantly something they can do their entire lives,” said McGonigle.

In the past some of McGonigle’s best players as seniors were players who probably would have been cut as freshman, “Not everyone is a county champion, but you never know what kids will do when they are given an opportunity to succeed.”

Opportunity is something that McGonigle has provided hundreds of girls in the past 13 years as their tennis coach. The program was on the verge of being disbanded when McGonigle went to school administrators

and took over the program despite having never coached girl’s athletics.

“I love it. They certainly provide a different challenge based on their unique dynamic,” said McGonigle. “We learn a lot from each other.”

Another challenge McGonigle is more than capable of taking on is that of a USTA official. He gained his Middle States sectional certification in 2009 after completing on-court training at various venues, including the District 3 and Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) tournaments. He attended a USTA officials training at the Middle States section office in Valley Forge, Pa., and shadowed Richard Green, the chairman of the Middle States Association of Tennis Officials.

“Harry is an ‘exception’ to the normal recruits we train as new umpires because he has been a coach, ran tournaments, played tennis, etc., and has a vast knowledge base to help him become an official,” said Green. “He is already way ahead of most recruits that apply.”

With his certification, McGonigle became one of approximately 130 tennis officials in USTA Middle States.

“It is different. It requires a different kind of focus, but it keeps me involved in tennis which is all that matters,” said the now retired teacher. “I thought about it as being a great way to stay involved outside of Kutztown. The sport of tennis has been very, very good to me and I hope I can always give back.” •

- Nathaniel Harrison

Harry McGonigle (far left) was a 2008 inductee of the Berks County Tennis Association Hall of Fame.

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“Not everyone is a county champion, but you never know what kids will do when they are given an opportunity to succeed.”

- Harry McGonigle

Never lose sight of the ball


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For most competitive tennis players the sport is their passion. They train hard, they play hard and their number one goal is to improve as an individual player. For Akshay Damany of Allentown, Pa., tennis is not only a way to improve individually, but also a way to improve others. For the last seven months, Damany a junior and No. 1 singles player at Emmaus High School in Macungie, Pa., has taken Asa Frantz, a 7-year-old boy with high functioning Autism, under his wing – using tennis as a way to help Frantz physically and behaviorally.

“I wanted to volunteer in some way,” Damany said. “Since my strength and interest both lie in tennis, it was natural that I would use tennis to try and contribute to society. I knew tennis could benefit people in many different situations, including obesity and diabetes, but Autism fascinated me.”

Frantz’s mother, Kristie, is a patient of Damany’s mother, Suparna, a physical therapist at Hands on Healing Physical Therapy in Allentown. Knowing Kristie’s son was autistic; Suparna approached her and asked if she’d allow Asa to take “lessons” with Akshay.

“I was hesitant at first, because of the transition of learning a new activity,” Kristie said.

The Frantz family had concerns about Asa’s health when he was 18 months. They visited a developmental specialist and a neurodevelopmental pediatrician. At the age of two-and-a-half, Asa was confirmed to have Autism. Although he has participated in sports such as soccer in the past, Asa’s restrictive communication and short attention span have sometimes impeded his progress in team sport settings.

The appeal of one-on-one clinics, coupled with her son’s love of Wii Tennis was what convinced Kristie to allow him to participate.

Nearly every Sunday for the last seven months, Damany and Frantz have worked on tennis skills on the courts of Westend Racquet Club in Allentown.

“Seeing him improve has been so rewarding,” Damany said. “He has not only improved in his autistic behaviors, but has also been doing well playing tennis. He gets excited about certain games, especially knocking targets down; it’s fun

to see him smile!”

A few specific areas Damany noted progress in are Asa’s eye contact, coordination, attention span, conformance to discipline and endurance.

“Initially, Asa would not look at me or only quickly glance at me,” Damany said. “Gradually, he started making eye contact and more recently he can hold my gaze for a short conversation. He is very selective with the people he interacts with and even then communication can be inconsistent. But he has been very excited about playing “real” tennis and he gradually started to communicate directly with me.”

Another area of growth Damany has witnessed is Asa’s willingness to try new things, especially with eating and drinking.

“Asa has very atypical eating and drinking habits, and according to Asa’s mom this is one of the biggest issues they face,” Damany said. “One pattern was that he would only drink out of juice boxes, he would not try anything from bottles. Within weeks of his tennis lessons he was willing to try Powerade® out of the bottle.”

Kristie has also noticed some changes in her son, “Akshay has really helped Asa with his hand-eye coordination. He has also helped him to be more focused, concentrating on one activity for a longer period of time. His hyperactivity is definitely decreased after a tennis lesson. I believe he’s been successful because of the one-on-one attention he receives on the tennis court. It’s definitely helped him with some of the difficulties he faces with Autism.”

While Damany, who says his only other experience working with children was as a math tutor, is certainly helping Asa grow and learn, he’s also learning a lot from this experience, especially patience.

“Akshay is an incredibly patient young man,” Kristie said. “He is showing his character by committing himself to something that he really doesn’t have to do. He is very mature and talented for his age and we have been very blessed to have Akshay teach Asa and to be such a great role model for him.” •

- Carrie Rupp

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Junior Competition

This fall, two talented junior tennis players from the Pittsburgh area put aside their racquets to form a “Dream Team” with seven other students. The team’s mission –

to educate others about the G-20 Summit – the momentous event hosted in their own backyard.

Kelly Whelan (Sewickley, Pa.) and Claudia Escribens (Upper St. Clair, Pa.) and their seven “teammates” spent countless hours creating a video aimed at educating others about the event as well as detailing the importance of the summit and why Pittsburgh was selected to host.

The idea originated from Whelan’s mother Nancy, who attended a town hall meeting in which organizers encouraged attendees to participate in supporting and promoting the event. The Whelan’s brainstormed and came up with the idea of creating the video to distribute to hundreds of middle schools across the state. Kelly invited some friends to join in on the idea, including Escribens, whom she met while playing in a USTA tournament in 2007.

“The making of the video was a long process,” Escribens said. “It required a lot of organization; we had to assign roles, do a great deal of research, plan the video, write the script and participate in several long days of shooting.”

“We met every Monday night at my house,” Whelan said. “My mom ordered pizza and the girls brought their laptops and we just spread out all over the house working on our sections.”

Whelan served as Project Manager, coordinating and assigning tasks as well as being the liaison between her teammates and the adult leaders. She also took the lead for section three of the video which involved research on the participating countries. Escribens also played a large role in section three, researching France and Argentina and speaking about Mexico, Argentina, Brazil and Canada. Escribens’ multicultural background was a huge asset to the team. The 15-year-old who is the No. 1 singles player at Upper St. Clair has lived in several different countries and speaks three languages.

As the event quickly approached, the girls ramped up their work time, spending Wednesdays and a few Saturdays working on the project.

“During the filming we worked several extremely long days in-a-row,” Whelan said. “We wanted to have everything finished before school began; we all knew there would be very little free time once our classes and high school tennis began.”

Although the physical distribution of the video to as many middle schools as originally intended did not come to fruition, the city council did post a link to the video on its Web site, as did the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. It was also shown at the official welcome center in downtown Pittsburgh.

Both girls, who aspire to play collegiate tennis, believe the summit was great for the City of Bridges.

“I think the G-20 provided a great opportunity to showcase our wonderfully clean, accessible, multicultural American city,” Whelan said. “Hopefully the good press will prompt more tourism and perhaps other companies will decide to open subsidiaries or hold conferences here which will benefit the city in the long run.”

Escribens added, “We saw the G-20 as a blessing that only comes once in a lifetime, and we tried to attribute that positive connotation in our video.”

The girls are extremely proud of their video and admit they learned a great deal throughout the process.

“My favorite part of making the video was going to the nationality rooms in the Cathedral of Learning at the University of Pittsburgh,” Escribens said. “I learned to appreciate my background and my experiences. During the project I was able to learn how several different countries, some of which I have visited, interact with each other.”

Whelan, a stand-out, and state champion, at North Allegheny High School, learned the importance of leadership skills in group settings and also, about the intricacies of working on a project with friends.

Although the project had nothing to do with their commitment to tennis, both girls noted the sport has impacted their lives in ways that have made them successful off court.

“Tennis has given me a lot and it has helped me in many different aspects of my life such as helping me stay in shape, forcing myself to stay organized and helping me set priorities,” Escribens said.

“Because time has always been a valuable commodity for me, I have a greater appreciation for everything I do and I also recognize how valuable the time others give to me is,” Whelan said. “I’ve come to think of time as a gift. Everyone makes choices; I appreciate when others give me their time too.” •

- Carrie Rupp

Global Thinking Pittsburgh teens contribute to G-20 awareness

Claudia Escribens & Kelly Whelan

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The number one reason kids play sports is to have fun. According to www.parentsforgoodsports.com, you increase your odds of winning when you place 100 percent attention, not on winning, but on the process - the learning and development, and the continual movement toward mastery. During matches this means having a moment-to-moment, concentrated focus on executing skills and maintaining a positive attitude. USTA Jr. Team Tennis (JTT) provides a fun atmosphere for kids to learn the game of tennis by creating a team environment that promotes social skills and values by fostering a spirit of cooperation and unity, as well as individual self-growth.

Adam Blasinsky, a player on the section’s 14 & under Advanced section championship team - the Head Hunters - says his favorite moment at the 2009 JTT National Championships was when his coach “sat down beside me between sets and put her arm around my shoulders and told me positive things about my play. I also loved being cheered for during my matches.

Tennis as a team sport creates an opportunity for young athletes to grow and develop as human beings, connect with teammates and opponents of different backgrounds, and strengthen the bonds within their local communities. The 14 & Under Intermediate section championship team – Doylestown Racquet Club – from the Philadelphia District came together as one big family to raise funds to travel to the National Championships. They held a tennis mixer that included an auction of items donated by community members, many club members and staff spent time collecting items for the team. One winner received an ice cream cone a week for a year.

At 10 and 11-years-old respectively, Amanda Cyr and Lucy Grierson, both members of the Doylestown team, were the section’s youngest representatives at this years JTT National Championships.

“Before I left I was really excited and kept thinking it was going to be really hard,” Grierson said. “When I got there it was a challenge but it was really fun, more fun than I expected.”

Ryan Reidy the coach of the Doylestown team wanted his team’s experience to be one of fun. All season, Reidy emphasized sportsmanship and staying positive. A testament to his encouragement was witnessed during the team’s final match at the championship when Reidy let his team decide their own lineup. Grierson’s older brother, Henry, asked if he could play mixed doubles with her, his reasoning: “I knew it was probably going to be the only time I could ever play with Lucy in a National Championship so I just wanted to take the moment and play with her.”

After the match, Lucy said, “It was the most fun in a doubles match I ever had, and it just made me feel good.” The Grierson’s are a great example of how JTT is a platform to teach valuable, life-long lessons about fair play, respect and teamwork.

Reidy concluded, “I think every child, just one time, needs to play team tennis. And once they do, they’ll be hooked on tennis for life.” •

- Kasey Connors


1. To have fun

2. To do something they are good at

3. To improve their skills

4. For the excitement of competition

5. To stay in shape

6. For the challenge of competition

7. To make new friends

8. To learn new skills

9. To play as part of a team

10. To go to a higher level of competition

Copyright National Summit on Raising Community Standards in Children’s Sports presented by the National Alliance for Youth Sports

Are you in?Get your children involved in Jr. Team Tennis today!

Top Ten Reasons Kids participate in Youth sports

Henry & Lucy Grierson

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Jr. Team Tennis

If the USTA gave out a “Best Dressed” award at its Jr. Team Tennis (JTT) 14 & Under National Championship the Head Hunters from Pittsburgh, Pa., would have been first in line for the trophy. Thanks to the generosity of Adidas, the team received custom designed shoes from the sports apparel company. A few tennis friends told team member Peter Hazlett about the option to customize your own shoes on the Adidas Web site. Hazlett, who says he has worn Adidas Barricades for years, went on the Web site and designed his own Barricade. This creativity spearheaded his idea to design a shoe for his JTT team.

“I customized a shoe with our colors, black and gold, and the next day I asked my team for their opinions,” Hazlett said. “Everyone thought it was cool, but didn’t think their parents would pay for them. That’s when I started thinking about writing to the President of Adidas.”

Hazlett did in fact send a very persuasive

letter to Adidas CEO Herbert Hainer. Hazlett didn’t have to wait long. He received a call from Adidas’ Global Marketing Research Manger Jorge Fuenmayor who delivered the good news. Fuenmayor said Adidas would be happy to provide the team with 12 pairs of the black and yellow Pittsburgh themed Barricades designed by Hazlett.

“When I found out that we were actually going to get the customized shoes I was ecstatic!” said team member Megan Adamo. “I felt so privileged to be sponsored by such a well-known, amazing company.”

The shoes arrived the day of their last practice before

leaving for Mobile, Ala. Hazlett’s team fully embraced their city’s slogan – City of Champions – by proudly donning black and gold Adidas uniforms that matched their shoes. At the event, even the parents got their “black and gold” on with matching shirts with their names on the back. •

- Carrie Rupp

Four teams represent Middle states at JTT national Championships

Team fizzle – 6th Place, 18 & U Intermediate, Sewell, N.J.

The Head Hunters – 5th Place, 14 & U Advanced, Pittsburgh, Pa.doylestown ‘A’ – 10th Place, 14 & U Intermediate, Doylestown, Pa.

Md High strung – 10th Place, 18 & U Advanced, York, Pa.

Adidas sponsors Pittsburgh JTT team


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With more than 330,000 unique USTA League players throughout the country, earning a spot at a national championship event is not an easy task. Thousands of dedicated USTA League participants have never felt the glory of winning a section championship or tasted the sweetness of competing at a national championship. The wait for 22-year-old Travis Weidman was not long. In just his second year of participation he had the opportunity to travel to Las Vegas for the USTA League 4.5 Adult National Championships held October 31 – November 2.

Although it is his first time at a USTA League National Championship, and his first time in Las Vegas, Weidman is no stranger to events of this scale; in fact, Weidman is a seasoned competitor on the national level as a participant of the USTA Tennis On Campus program. Weidman and his Pennsylvania State University (PSU) club tennis teammates finished fourth at the USTA National Campus Championship in 2007, eleventh in 2008 and ninth in 2009. Just weeks prior to his trip to Sin City, PSU captured its fourth consecutive Campus Championship – Middle States to once again secure a spot at the 2010 National Campus Championship, which will be held

in Surprise, Ariz., in April.

Two section championships in two different programs is quite the accomplishment, but Weidman, a senior at PSU, is no stranger to success on the tennis court. The Reading, Pa., native played No. 1 singles for Wyomissing High School and the team finished second in the state of Pennsylvania his junior year. Although he showed interest in playing the sport in college, Weidman opted to follow in his father’s footsteps and attend PSU where he is an Accounting major.

Playing varsity tennis wasn’t something Weidman wanted, but he certainly wanted to stay involved in the sport, making the decision to join PSU’s storied club tennis team an easy one.

“Tennis On Campus is a great program; every event I’ve been to has had a great atmosphere and has been lots of fun,” Weidman said. “There are so many kids at bigger schools who are talented tennis players looking to continue to play. There are several kids on our team that could play tennis at a smaller Division I school but didn’t want to. Tennis On Campus gives us the opportunity to continue playing the sport we love; it’s nice to have that kind of option.”

In Las Vegas, Weidman’s team fell just shy of qualifying for the semifinals, falling to USTA Northern in a battle for the top spot in their flight and a place in the semis. But, a national championship still isn’t out of reach as he has another opportunity to win at the National Campus Championship in April with his Nittany Lion teammates.

“Honestly, every year we [PSU] expect to make a run at winning the national championship,” Weidman said. “Unfortunately it just hasn’t happened yet. We know we have the talent, so it’s been a little frustrating. Last year we played a tournament at Georgetown and beat Wisconsin who finished second in the country. We’re excited, we have some new team members and we have high expectations. We’ll just have to see how things unfold.” •

- Carrie Rupp

Pennsylvania State University (PSU) topped the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) 30-15 in the championship match at the 2009

Campus Championship - Middle States held October 17-18 at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa.

Wind, rain, cold temperatures and even the chance of snow couldn’t keep 20 teams from competing in the premier event for collegiate club tennis and intramural tennis teams across Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware.

The top overall seed, PSU emerged unscathed from pool play, which consisted of match play in five pools of four. The top team from each of the five pools then advanced to the Gold Bracket pool to determine who walked off with the newly established “Campus Cup” trophy. UPenn, the event’s No. 2 seed, finished second while Villanova University who was seeded No. 3 appropriately finished third at the event. Also winning their respective pool and advancing to the Gold Bracket were the University of Delaware and the University of Pittsburgh. •


Penn State senior Travis Weidman competes at the USTA League 4.5 National Championship in Las Vegas.

Tennis On Campus veteran turns USTA League rookie

Nittany Lions claim section title

Visit middlestates.usta.com for complete results and a list of participating schools

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In September 2008, Tepes came close to capturing a Gold Ball, at the 2008 USTA National Men’s 30 Grass Court Championship. Tepes finished second in singles and third in doubles – his first two USTA balls.

Just one year later, at the same tournament at the same club, Tepes finally claimed the prize that had alluded him for so long – a USTA Gold Ball by defeating Chris Cagle 6-4; 7-6(2) in the tournament finals.

“It was such an amazing feeling to win a national tournament,” Tepes said. “But to win it on grass at the historic Philadelphia Cricket Club, that is something very special to me.”

What made the win even sweeter for Tepes is that he had his own personal cheering section, Jamie and the girls

rooted him on as he accomplished his goal.

“The memory of my family being there with me is priceless,” Tepes said. “My most important goal is to stay involved with my kidsandhelpthemasmuchasIcan…athome, in school and in sports.”

And if it is up to Tepes, tennis will certainly be one of the sports the girls play. In fact, Samantha is already learning.

“I think it’s very important for kids to be goodatsomething…anything,”Tepessaid.“To learn the importance of practice, and to understand that being successful is not easy but that it can be very rewarding.”

It won’t be long until Julia and Victoria will join their older sister on court, and Tepes, just like his father did, will instruct them and guide their progress. And one day, Tepes will be the one on the sideline cheering as his daughters accomplish their goals, and maybe even win their first USTA Gold Ball. •

- Carrie Rupp

Adult Com

petition

Mark Tepes (Medford, N.J.) poses on the courts of the Philadelphia Cricket Club with daughters Samantha and Julia.

For those talented enough to win a coveted USTA Gold Ball, the experience, more often than not, is a memorable one. For a few lucky individuals it is a feat accomplished numerous times, on varying surfaces, at a multitude of locations. For Mark Tepes of Medford, N.J., winning his first USTA Gold Ball in September was a sought-after feat he was happy to finally grasp.

Tepes, a seasoned player, began playing tennis at age four. His father, Konrad, was his coach and mentor, taking Mark and his brother to the courts at The College of William & Mary in their hometown of Williamsburg, Va., to practice each and every day.

One of Tepes’ fondest memories, at age 11, was when he beat his father for the first time, “It was on clay, and we only played one set,” Tepes said. Adding, “I owe everything I’ve learned to my dad.”

When Tepes was 14, Konrad put his son in the very capable and well-respected hands of Brent Hughes, a former University of Georgia standout and the Head Tennis Pro at Kingsmill Tennis Club in Williamsburg. Under the tutelage of Hughes, and the ever-present guidance of his father, Tepes excelled in the USTA

Mid-Atlantic section and beyond, winning the ATP Junior Championship in Ponte Vedra, Fla., in 1993. Tepes’ success lured many scholarship offers, including one from Virginia Tech University, where Tepes competed from 1994 to 1998.

Since his days in Blacksburg, Va., life has changed for the now 33-year-old. A job within the family business was the impetus for his relocation to New Jersey, but also a marriage to wife Jamie and the birth of his three daughters, Samantha (age 5), Julia (age 3) and Victoria (age 1) have shifted his priorities that for so long revolved around tennis.

Tepes still manages to play two to three times per week at the Berlin/Voorhees Tennis Center (Berlin, N.J.) under the supervision of Dave Okun, but notes that he increases his practice amount prior to playing in tournaments, an activity he hopes to continue.

“I would love to continue to play national and regional events, but it is a big commitment with work, family and the cost,” Tepes said. “My tennis goals right now would be to keep training regularly and zero in on couple national events a year.”

Official USTA gold, silver and bronze balls are awarded respectively to the top

three finishers of adult and junior USTA sanctioned National Championship

tournaments (Level 1).


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Each fall USTA League teams from each of the USTA’s 17 sections compete in the USTA League National Championships. The fall national championships include men’s and women’s adult and senior teams in each of the six National Tennis Rating Program (NTRP) levels (2.5-5.0). In addition, national championships are held for adult mixed doubles teams in six different levels. Teams who reach the national championships advanced that far by winning at the section and district level.

A team from Westfield, N.J., claimed the 3.0 men’s title by defeating a USTA Hawaii team from Honolulu, 4-1 in the men’s finals of the USTA League 3.0 National Championships held at the Reffkin Tennis Center in Tucson, Ariz., Oct. 9-11, 2009. Paul Chong and Robert Halfmann secured the national title with a grueling 2-6, 6-2, 1-0 (10-6) tiebreak win.

The team advanced to the final in similar fashion. With the overall score tied at 2-2 in the semifinal, the doubles duo of Chuck Molinary and Brian Liebeskind won in a tiebreak to advance past the USTA Caribbean team.

USTA

League

“It took a lot of consistency, a lot of heart,” Chong said. “To win on two tiebreakers, Brian and Chuck got us to the finals, and then we got the deciding match. It’s surreal.”

“It was great, great,” Halfmann added, “like a big weight off our shoulders.”

“We stopped making errors and pulled it together,” Chong added.

The team, captained by Chong, features: Oscar Suarez-Cohen, Bruce Allan, Don Rosenberg, Chuck Molinary, Keith Winters, Robert Halfmann, Steven Yglesias, Gil Moura and Brian Liebeskind, and plays at the Westfield Indoor Club.

The section’s second national champion came at the USTA League 6.0 Mixed Doubles National Championships held at the Randolph Tennis Center in Tucson, Ariz., from Nov. 20-22.

The 6.0 team from Warren, N.J., defeated a team from Honolulu, Hawaii 3-0 in the Championship match. Earlier in the day, the Warren team defeated a team from Covington, La. 2-1 in the semifinals.

The team is captained and coached by Christine L. Macur and features Jack Guild (co-captain), Edward J. Abitanta, Edward Notch, Jennifer L. Fox, Andrew Wapowsky, Bill Weeden, Diane Weeden, Bruce Wayne McCoy, John Joseph Glasner, Jorge Vergara, Lisa Carroccia, Megan McGratty, Pat Zaso, Pavel Baresh, Deborah Anne Wilson, and Cristina Gil, and plays out of the Warren Health & Racquet Club in Warren, N.J.

Congratulations to the above teams and all of the teams who represented USTA Middle States at the 2009 National Championships! Best of luck to the teams competing at the 2010 Super Senior National Championships in April! •

2009 UsTA league 6.0 Mixed doubles national Champions 2009 UsTA league 3.0 Men national Champions

Other USTA Middle States teams finishing in the top four include:

•4.0SeniorWomen–4thPlaceMount Laurel, N.J.

•4.0SeniorMen–4thPlaceHershey, Pa.

•7.0MixedDoubles–4thPlaceBasking Ridge, N.J.

Two TeAmscrownedUsTA LeAgUe NATioNAL


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As a child, Erin Bailey was a bit unruly. Her mother, Shirley, claims her daughter never sat still and sometimes had trouble controlling her emotions. She was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) at the age of six. Years later, Bailey, now 27, is

still the center of attention, but in a more sociable, controlled and loveable way.

“When Erin is in the area, everyone knows she is there,” Shirley said.

One of the reasons for the Wilmington, Del., native’s growth has been her involvement in athletics with the Special Olympics of Delaware (SODE) and more recently, participation in USTA League tennis.

In 1999, as a student at Delcastle Technical High School, Bailey was introduced to tennis by two Special Education teachers Kathy Mullins and Kathy Lehm who started a Special Olympics program at the school. Bailey started by learning basic skills; she quickly caught on, catching the eye of Mary Moore a long-time volunteer with SODE. Moore encouraged her to become more involved with SODE and she did, not just with tennis, but also with other sports

including volleyball and basketball.

As Bailey’s skills advanced, so did her level of commitment. Under the watchful eye of Moore, Bailey played more and more tennis, making new friends along the way. She met Fred Bevans, a seasoned USTA League player and dedicated League captain, who Bailey calls “an angel in her life”. Bevans was her basketball coach and later her unified doubles partner on the tennis court. Moore and Bevans supported Bailey in her journey to advance to singles play, and in 2006, she was selected to represent SODE at the 2006 National Games in Ames, Iowa. In Ames, Bailey won a silver medal in singles and won a gold medal in mixed doubles with partner Glenn Jones (pictured with Bailey).

“Mary has been a role model for me,” Bailey said. “Fred has always pushed me to do my best. Without them I would not have gone to Ames and did so well.”

In 2008, Moore, Bevans and Nancy Keiper, a USTA Tennis Service Representative in Delaware, discussed the idea of Bailey joining a USTA League 2.5 team. Bevans, who was helping his daughters get into competitive tennis, was captaining a 2.5 team at the time and thought the idea of Bailey joining the team was a great one.

“I have coached Erin in other Special Olympic sports and her attitude is extremely positive,” Bevans said. “She does well in a team environment.”

Bailey was excited about the idea of playing USTA League, although she admits she was also nervous, “I knew I’d be playing against people who I never met,

Winning isn’t

everything

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USTA

LeagueI didn’t know if they were stronger than me.”

Prior to the start of the league season, Bailey attended a special invitational tennis camp at the University of Virginia for advanced Special Olympic competitors. While at the camp Bailey suffered a major setback – a broken leg.

Although the injury was devastating, Bailey was motivated to get back on court and on to a USTA League team, saying she had too many people supporting her during her injury to be nervous about playing tennis again.

“Even though Erin only knew me, she came to the majority of the 2.5 team’s matches, on her crutches, and cheered for us,” Bevans said.

After several surgeries, and intense therapy sessions at Christiana Care, Bailey was ready to take the court for the 2009 season.

“I was hesitant to allow Erin to play USTA League,” Shirley said. “I knew she could play well, but she had only played against other Special Olympic athletes and I wasn’t sure she was ready to play USTA.”

But Shirley admits her daughter learned a lot from her time on the team, especially about teamwork and

adjusting to different partners. She also mentions Erin’s participation with SODE has helped her concentrate and appreciate when someone does well, “she’ll be the first person to tell you when you made a good shot and come up and congratulate you for winning. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her get upset for losing a game or a match.”

“Truthfully, not all Special Olympic players would be able to play USTA League due to keeping score, court positioning, etc., but Erin had no trouble with either,” Bevans said. “Her attitude is always tremendous whether she’s winning or not. Her record in matches played was one win and four losses and she has an absolute ball.”

Bailey says her favorite part about her first season as a USTA League player was meeting new people and having the opportunity to play with different partners, and she’s already

looking forward to next season.

“I’m coaching her now in volleyball, but all she talks about is looking forward to next year’s 2.5 League team,” Bevans said.

Although Bailey is looking forward to next season, she has a lot on her plate to keep her busy until then. She works for the Bank of America in its Support Services Department. In addition to tennis, volleyball and basketball, she also participates in bowling, cross country skiing, cycling and golf, and she takes part in the Lewes Polar Bear Plunge each February.

Shirley will be the first to admit her daughter’s participation in athletics has changed her life in a positive way, and she knows her daughter isn’t stopping

any time soon, “I just hope she plays her sports with pride and good sportsmanship. She is willing to try almost any sport once; and as she once told a golf pro who gave Erin a bronze medal, “Bronze is okay for golf,

but not tennis. Tennis is my sport, my favorite sport.” •

- Carrie Rupp


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In her own words…Having participated in World Team Tennis last year, I thought I knew just what to expect out of my second experience in San Diego,

but I learned that WTT is full of surprises. In our first few hours in San Diego, my team (Middle States Team Dave - pictured on the right), visited a Chick-fil-a that was near the airport. While we were there, we were served by a man named David Simpson. From the time we ordered our food to the moment we stepped out the door, he was committed to making our experience at Chick-fil-a a pleasure. Dave did his job to the absolute best of his ability, going above and beyond to make us feel more comfortable. He took our orders patiently, refreshed our beverages multiple times, cleared our table as we finished our food, and even brought out mints on a tray--all with a smile and a great sense of graciousness. We couldn’t believe that we were getting this kind of treatment at a fast food restaurant. My team decided that Dave’s positive attitude, respect for others, and excellent work ethic were goals that the whole team wanted to strive to meet. Therefore, it seemed obvious to all of us that we should be called Team Dave. What an amazing event WTT is that Dave’s values--hardwork, consideration, and selflessness--can be

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The Philadelphia Freedoms hope you and yours had a safe and happy holiday season. We look forward to seeing you in 2010. For all the latest news including ticket information, player transactions and events check out www.philadelphiafreedoms.com

emphasize in a competitive environment that also encourages “going for it!” WTT inspires you to be a better tennis player, and also to be a better person on and off the tennis court. It challenges you to be the difference. A prime example of someone who has lived this idea is our gracious host, the legendary Billie Jean King. WTT is truly different than any other tennis competition in which i have ever taken part. It reminds us to think about more than just our own personal records and allows us to compete for the love of the game, for the love of teamwork, and maybe even for the love of Dave!

- Kimmy Borza

Kimmy Borza is a member of Team Dave, which came in 15th place at WTT Junior Nationals this past August. Team Dave is coached by Jim Phipps and its members are Darren Mast, Lancaster, Pa.; Andrew Marczak, Wexford, Pa.; Norman Patten, Holland, Pa.; Kimmy Borza, Pittsburgh, Pa.; Jenny Morgan, New Hope, Pa.; and Morgan

Johnstonbaugh, Pittsburgh, Pa.

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When posed the question, ‘What makes a good leader?’ you are sure to get as many responses as there are fuzzy little strings on a tennis ball. Leaders are listeners and doers who are dedicated to getting the most out of people. They adapt to changes through hard-work, pride and enthusiasm. They don’t force, they inspire. They don’t push, they pull.

When it comes to teaching tennis no distinction may better personify the qualities of leadership than that of a Master Professional of the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA).

“Becoming a Master Professional requires meeting a variety of personal and professional challenges,” said USPTA CEO Tim Heckler. “Those who accomplish it acquire a set of leadership skills that can set them apart in tennis operations and programming.”

For Holly Chomyn there aren’t many challenges she hasn’t met in the sport of tennis. She uses tremendous communication skills to disperse her message, whether on court or off. The longtime professional at DuPont Country Club in Wilmington, Del., was recently recognized as a Master Professional at USPTA’s annual awards breakfast at the USPTA World Conference on Tennis at the Marco Island Marriott Resort, Golf Club and Spa on Marco Island, Fla.

Chomyn joined elite company as only 1 percent of the more than 15,000 USPTA professionals across the globe achieve the status of Master Professional. Chomyn also became just the 15th woman in the organization’s 80 year history to earn the distinction.

It is her attention to detail and willingness to change that sets the former Auburn University player apart from other tennis professionals. Not to mention a tennis resume that features nearly 20 years of teaching in Delaware at DuPont and the Delaware National Country Club as well as a dozen more years as an assistant at the University of Delaware (UD), where she steered the Blue Hen men’s team to the 1997 America East Conference team title and the UD women’s team to six straight America East Conference second place finishes (1996-2001).

Chomyn has been honored with a distinguished service award for community service by USPTA Middle States for her involvement in pro-am tennis events and annual tennis charity events, such as Tennithon and Tennis in the Streets. She also was a USTA League Coordinator for 3.5 women in Delaware for a number of years.

She has had five articles published on a variety of topics in national publications including TennisLife Magazine and expects three more articles to be printed in the near future.

A student of the game of tennis, Chomyn has presented on a variety of her own life experiences including: selecting the right events for your tennis club, different styles of play and having purpose with your drills.

The one area of tennis that Chomyn enjoys the most is high performance coaching because of the strategy involved in match play. As a competition training center coach in Delaware for 10 years she has coached

Tennis Professionals

Masterful Performance

both section and nationally ranked players and often speaks about making the transition from junior tennis to college tennis. She has spoken at junior tournaments and published numerous articles on the subject.

Although she’s earned the title of Master Professional, continuing to grow and learn is a priority Chomyn said, “In this profession you have to observe what is around you and keep an eye on contrasting styles. There is a lot to be learned from other pros and being on court.”

She believes it is her competitiveness as a player that has made her a good professional. A tournament tested player, Chomyn participated in USTA Pro Circuit events after college and has reached the No. 1 spot in both the Delaware District and Middle States section rankings. She has also competed at the USTA League National Championships several times as a member of 4.5 and 5.0 women’s teams; and even led Middle States to a second place finish in 2004.

“My experience at Auburn University taught me how to compete,” Chomyn said. “It also taught me how to be well-rounded and appreciate everything about the sport.”

One thing is for sure, the sport of tennis certainly appreciates leaders like her. •


Members must hold USPTA’s highest certification rating (Professional 1) for more than 10 years before becoming eligible for the Master Professional designation. Then, each must fulfill a broad spectrum of requirements, including making significant achievements in areas such as tennis teaching and coaching, business, education and volunteer work.

WhAT IT TAkES To bE A MASTER PRo

Photo courtesy of the USPTA


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Huggins receives national umpire awardUSTA Middles States’ Lois Huggins was honored this September with the prestigious John T. McGovern Umpires’ Award, presented annually to an umpire or linesperson, with at least 10 years of experience, who contributed most to the cause of tennis officiating during the previous year. The award was presented to Huggins at the 2009 US Open.

Huggins of Newark, Del., is a seasoned official, certified as a professional chief umpire, chair umpire, referee and college official. She currently serves as the National Chair of Officials for the USTA, a position she accepted in 2005.

Huggins, the 2008 winner of the section’s prestigious Mangan Award, served as Section Chair of Officials for 14 years. In this position, she was responsible for the certification, training, assigning and evaluating of over 100 umpires in Middle States.

Huggins has done chairs and lines at numerous professional tennis events such as the US Open, Advanta Championships, Fed Cup, Davis Cup and the Lipton Championships. She is one of 12 National Trainer-Evaluators for the USTA and is responsible for teaching classes to officials throughout the United States.

Huggins was awarded the Edward Mellor Award for outstanding service to tennis officiating in Middle States. She’s served on state and local grievance committees and section nominating committees. She was also elected to the Middle

States Hall of Fame in 2005 and the Delaware Tennis Hall of Fame in 2002.

The award, which was first presented in 1949, is named after John T. McGovern, a well-known leader in amateur sports. He was for many years legal advisor to the United States Olympic Committee, a former president of the Cornell University Alumni Association and the president of the Sandlot Baseball Association. Almost from the inception of the USTA Umpires Association, he was a devoted tennis linesman. The selection committee for the award consists of all previous recipients. •

- Carrie Rupp

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Tennis 2.0

You may have heard the old adage ‘seeing is believing.’ That saying rings true for almost anything you will encounter including the sport of tennis. Who doesn’t watch Roger Federer or Kim Clijsters and want to play like them. After all, many of us are visual learners. The question then arises how do we take what we see on video and translate it to our game when we cannot see ourselves. The problem is, up until recently, video analysis, which is very popular in baseball and golf, was almost non-existent in tennis.

Understanding this and knowing video would enable students to learn and improve their game faster, a new concept was launched thanks to Philadelphia area tennis professional Carl Richard. He began using videotapes of clients of all ages to teach them what they needed to do to improve. Once players can see themselves doing something incorrectly, added with the instruction on how to fix it, they are immediately able to make the adjustments necessary to improve.

Two players who were particularly impressed with their transformation after participating in clinics and lessons, with Richard were Gordon Kuhn and Phyllis Mascioli.

“I couldn’t believe that was me,” said Mascioli, a USTA League participant who started playing tennis seven years ago. “I was amazed with the results when I saw what I was doing wrong.”

Armed with a firsthand impression Kuhn, Mascioli and Richard began to brainstorm ways to grow this concept for the masses.

“We wanted to eliminate CDs and DVDs of lessons,” said Kuhn, an expert on Web site development. “They have an unstable shelf life, cannot be updated and are easy to lose.”

What they came up with was a fresh, cutting-edge way to help tennis Professionials teach. PlayGr8.com

was launched in June of 2009 as an easy to use video infrastructure for tennis players, teachers and clubs. Unlike many other tennis Web sites, PlayGr8 is not teaching tennis, but the way it is taught. It provides the service, tools and administrative back-end for players and pros to host videos online. Coaches can upload their own instructional videos and remain in touch with players no matter where they are on the map.

Password protected customizable lockers allow coaches and players their own community to upload video whether it is from Mom’s iPhone or from a lesson. Lockers can include photos, journals and video and are shared by simply passing along a link. Videos can then be downloaded to iTunes, your mobile device or your iPod.

Imagine receiving feedback from your own pro on your play in the first round of a tournament when you are miles apart or getting some helpful video tips from your coach e-mailed right to your Blackberry.

“Our objective is to make video tennis analysis available to athletes, coaches and parents anywhere,” said Mascioli, now Vice President of PlayGr8 Tennis. “The difference with PlayG8 is someone else is not doing the analysis. It is done by the pro you are used to seeing at lessons, matches and clinics.”

PlayGr8.com also includes a Pro Theater which includes a full collection of media clips of top touring pros in action executing some of their best shots. If you want to watch one of Carl Richard’s instruction videos that capability is available as well. Or if you are just looking to have your tennis question answered there is an “Ask Carl” section of the site. A Kids Kourt area features tips, games, tricks and more for those aspiring champions.

PlayGr8 tennis provides users not only an innovative way to improve their game but for a

fraction of the cost and time it would take with traditional learning methods. Academies and camps can send a link to participants rather than hundreds of CDs. It is this market of academies, clubs, schools and coaches that PlayGr8 tennis has targeted with their marketing efforts.

“We are looking to identify academies and pros that already have video capabilities and use it,” said Kuhn. “We realize it can be costly and even intimidating to tennis pros but quality video can now be shot on digital cameras and cell phones. We provide the infrastructure and instructions to make it easy for them to upload and really use video.”

PlayGr8 is even partnering with area high schools as part of a pilot program for members of the team to upload video and then have their coach critique their game.

“The incredible thing about this age group is they know what they are doing wrong almost immediately and correct it,” said Mascioli. “This is certainly a market that has been very active on PlayGr8 due to their desire to get better.”

Despite their local root which includes a hosting company in Exton, Pa., PlayGr8 has no borders when it comes to its potential reach.

“Our programmers are in Prague and tennis is such a global game that we anticipate growing rather quickly internationally especially in technologically savvy countries in Asia,” noted Kuhn. “The challenge is getting people to get out of their old ways and open their eyes to the possibilities.”

After all, seeing is believing. •


Changing the Way Tennis is Taught


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tWestern Pa. girls dominate state High school ChampionshipsWestern Pennsylvania girls provided a standout performance at the 2009 Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) Girls’ Tennis Championships in November. Suburban Pittsburgh players won two of four titles, claiming the Class AAA singles and doubles titles at the Hershey Racquet Club. Latrobe’s Joelle Kissell captured the Class AAA singles championship by edging defending champion Tessa Lyons of Strath Haven, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3. It was an all-WPIAL matchup in Class AAA doubles, as Peters Township’s Julie Stroyne and Caroline Nixon defeated Pine-Richland’s Olivia Heim and Taylor Perz, 6-1, 6-3. The runners-up a season ago, Stroyne and Nixon had lost a three-set heartbreaker to Heim and Perz in the WPIAL finals in October. The WPIAL nearly claimed a third title, but Chartiers-Houston’s Tanya Timko fell short of claiming her second career PIAA championship when she was defeated by Lancaster Country Day’s Julia Casselbury, 6-4, 7-5, in Class AA singles.

Shady Side Academy ace Chris Mengel from Fox Chapel will play for Duke next year. Mengel told tennisrecruiting.net that he was thrilled with the scholarship offer and thanked everyone from Craig Perry, his coach of eight years, to the International Tennis Academy, where Mengel spent the first half of 2009 honing his strokes.

Alison riske from Peters Township is having no regrets at deciding to reject a full scholarship to Vanderbilt to turn pro. Riske, a Pennsylvania high school state champion who reached No. 1 in the nation in Girls’ 18 two years ago, was expected to attend Vanderbilt where her older sister Sarah starred. Her success on the Pro Circuit tour this summer convinced her to head straight to the pros. She then won the $50,000 purse Pro Circuit event in Troy, Ala., on Oct. 5. You can follow her career at www.usta.com under “Pro Tennis.”

Bjorn fratangelo, a Pittsburgh native who has been a top national junior since he was 12, is now the No. 1-rated blue chip recruiting prospect for the nation’s sophomore class, which will graduate in 2012. Fratangelo, who attends high school in Naples, Fla., earned a spot on the U.S. Junior Davis Cup team this fall.

Michaela kissell and lauren greco have transferred from the University of Miami. Kissell, a junior, is now at Marshall University of Conference USA where she began the fall season ranked No. 36 in the nation and compiled a 9-2 record at No. 1 singles. Greco, a sophomore, will join Georgetown University of the Big East Conference in January. Kissell was a three-time Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) state singles championatGreaterLatrobeHighSchool,whileGrecoofOakmont,Pa.,wonthePIAAtitlewhileatShadySideAcademyin2007.•

AMd People in the news

The Allegheny Mountain District hosted the 2009 Middle States Hall of Fame Induction Dinner and Auction on October 23 at the LeMont Restaurant in Pittsburgh. Key members of the Hall of Fame Event Committee were: (L-R) Janis Batanian, Michele Lee, Mary Beth Nicholson, Monica Mantle, Dan Hackett, Suzy Harouse, Beth Stenger, Chris Mittell, and Nina Hughes, event co-chair. For more photos from the event, see page 34. Photo by Pat Benic.

Peters Twp. edges UsC to Win PiAA Team ChampionshipOn October 31 in dramatic fashion, Peters Township [pictured] won its second Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) Girls’ Tennis Team Championship in four years, beating Upper St. Clair (USC) in the finals. Freshman Vida Komer and junior Emily Madalena won the key doubles match in three sets, against the USC team of Chrissy Sandman and Molly O’Grady that had beaten them two weeks before. Julie Stroyne, Laura Stroyne, Caroline Nixon, Elizabeth Palko and Eleni Coleman were key players for Peters in the championship run. Claudia Escribens, Brittney Russell, Megan Adamo, Meredith Borst and Andera Hammer led USC.•

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“We knew Kevin didn’t want to lose the opportunity to play his senior season,” Cindy said. “But at this point he was seeing so many doctors it was a little complicated to determine who to speak to regarding this. We went to HMC staff who had been caring for Kevin and the look on their faces told the story. Without saying it out loud, the question of ‘what are you thinking’ showed through.”

According to Cindy, the following day one nurse visited the Clancy family and said that Kevin’s ‘team’ of doctors, nurses and therapists had chatted and they resolved that if Kevin could play tennis it might be the best ‘therapy’ available.

Not long after discharge, Clancy began some short ‘sessions’ with Gary Gouse and April Gift at West Shore Tennis Club (WSTC) in Mechanicsburg, Pa. His tennis therapy began with hitting balls and gently moving around the court, and later advanced from 20 minutes of hitting to 30 minutes with the ball machine, as well

as building agility and skills.

“Kevin’s balance, endurance and stamina began to improve, along with his self confidence,” Cindy said. “He started to feel ‘normal’ again. The coaches at WSTC, most notably Gouse and Gift, were a lifeline to an 18-year-old man who had lost most of his senior year to various hospital stays, appointments and therapies.”

Kevin’s parents weren’t the only ones happy with their son’s progress.

“It felt so good to get back on court,” Kevin said. “I thought about the tennis season many times when I was in the hospital. I knew I couldn’t miss my senior

season. I had worked so hard the years before.”

With Clancy’s comfort level on court growing and his health steadily improving, his parents reached out to their son’s high school coaches, Pat Smith and Quay Reeser, who

supported Kevin’s decision to return to the team. The Clancy family and the coaches knew Kevin may not be able to play actual matches, but hoped he could at least participate in practices and support the team. As the season progressed, Kevin’s determination showed once again. He spent time competing on both the junior varsity and varsity teams, earning a third varsity letter.

Kevin is now a freshman at Messiah College. He still plays tennis recreationally and hopes one day “when he gets the whole college work load under control” to talk to the Messiah tennis team about joining the team or at least participating in practices.

“The concept of ‘tennis therapy’ is not likely documented in journals,” Cindy said. “But tennis certainly played a role in his recovery. We do not know if Kevin will ever again be the same on court as he was that June afternoon, but the fact that he is able to do anything significant physically is a gift.”

For Kevin Clancy, it’s been quite a journey; one that is not over. But his will to recover and his tremendous work ethic have proven Kevin can compete in the biggest match of all – life. •

- Carrie Rupp

It was like any other ordinary summer day, Kevin Clancy and friends were playing tennis on the courts of Northern High School. The high school tennis season was complete, and Clancy and friends were enjoying a sunny afternoon playing the sport they love. That evening the then 17-year-old was at his church helping with the junior high youth group’s end of the year celebration. Inside the church was an inflatable slide, just as many teenagers had done just minutes before, Clancy took his turn on the slide. It was a trip that would change his life forever.

Sliding headfirst, Clancy landed awkwardly on the cement floor. Unconscious, Clancy was flown on the “Life Lion” to Hershey Medical Center (HMC) where he underwent two surgical procedures on his brain. He spent the next three weeks in the Penn State Hershey Children’s Pediatric Intensive Care Unit followed by weeks of inpatient rehabilitation. In all, Clancy spent 78 days at HMC. He had suffered a traumatic brain injury that had no prognosis for his ability to recover.

During his time in HMC, Clancy’s therapist asked his parents, Cindy and Eric, to bring in things that were familiar to him. Cindy brought in a tennis ball.

“He was able to hold it in his hand,” Cindy said. “He had enough strength with his right side to eventually toss it.”

Clancy, from Mechanicsburg, Pa., grew up playing sports, soccer, baseball and lacrosse. In eighth grade, Clancy was first introduced to tennis, playing recreationally with his mom and friends. He then took a few lessons at West Shore Country Club in Camp Hill, Pa. In tenth grade, Clancy’s friends convinced him to join the high school team. Since then, tennis became a major focus of his life.

Having spent the first half of his senior year in the hospital, Clancy was extremely motivated to leave the hospital and join his classmates in the classroom and on court.

“He was very determined,” Cindy said. “He’s always had a good work ethic, and that definitely showed. He is by no means the best athlete on his high school team, but he always works hard and practices hard. He went back to that mode and worked hard in therapy.”

While Clancy was in the hospital the medical clearance letter arrived at home for the spring tennis season at Mechanicsburg High School.

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Tennis Therapy

Kevin Clancy, one year after his accident, stands on the Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau, Alaska.


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introduces tennis to many Araceli Popen, Director of the Kent County Tennis Association, organized another successful summer session of the Hispanic Tennis Program in Georgetown, Del.

All six courts were filled during the five-week session. There were 31 children, ages 5 and older.

“There was never ever time to stop and even take a picture, we were so busy,” Popen said. Continuing to introduce tennis to new populations, Popen participated in the Hispanic Festival on August 23rd and set up a makeshift court on the grass.

“It felt like it was 200 degrees that day, but the kids were so enthusiastic,” Popen said. “Many wanted to play over and over, and were willing to wait a while for their chance to try it.”

Popen said that one boy said he would rather play tennis then take a chance to hit a piñata. For Popen that boy made standing in the hot sun worthwhile. •

emmert represents U.s. in super-senior World Championships

It is every tennis player’s dream. Imagine playing tennis and representing your country at the International Tennis Federation (ITF) World Team Championships in Australia. Former Delaware District President and Delaware Tennis Foundation President, Richard Emmert, did just that this November, competing for the Gardnar Mulloy Cup, a competition for men 80 and over in Perth, Australia. Emmert and his teammates competed against six other teams: Great Britain, France,

South Africa, Canada, New Zealand and Australia. Emmert and teammates, Graydon Nichols, Clem Hopp and Tony Franco, finished second at the tournament. Emmert also reached the consolation finals in the individual competition.

The Wilmington, Del., native was selected by the USTA based on his outstanding tournament record this year. Emmert, who is currently ranked No. 4 nationally in the men’s 80 division, battled some of the nation’s top ranked players this year, including wins against the first, third and fifth ranked players, making 2009 the most successful tennis season in his life. When asked what made the difference, Emmert modestly said, “I’m just lucky. I was more agile and quicker than my opponents this year.”

During the summer, Emmert plays almost every day in Avalon, N.J., and in the winter he frequents the DuPont Country Club in Wilmington. Emmert says the experience of playing at the ITF World Championships was fantastic and allowed him to get to know the whole team from the United States in all nine cup divisions (men’s and women’s 60s, 65s, 70s, 75s, and men’s 80s). All together, 23 nations were represented, and Emmert reported “being part of the assembled U.S. team in our uniforms and with the U.S flag at the opening ceremonies was an incredible feeling.” Next year’s event will be held in Turkey. With just a little more luck and his continued devotion to the game, Emmert may get a chance to play for the United States again.

About the gardnar Mulloy Cup:

Gardnar Mulloy helped USA to take the Davis Cup trophy on three occasions - 1946, 1948 and 1949 - and represented his country in 12 Davis Cup ties.

He won the US Championship doubles with Bill Talbert in 1942, 1945, 1946 and 1948, together with holding the record as the oldest player to have won the men’s doubles at Wimbledon, after successfully teaming up with Budge Patty in 1957. A year earlier, Mulloy had been a mixed finalist with Althea Gibson at Wimbledon.

He founded the United Tennis Foundation and “World Tennis” magazine with Gladys Heldman. He is also a member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame and the Florida Sports Hall of Fame. Gardnar Mulloy donated a trophy to start a Men’s 80 competition between North America and Europe, which then became an official ITF Team Competition in 1996. •

Club spotlightFor 39 years, the Bethany Tennis Club, in

Bethany Beach, Del., has provided excellent tennis instruction and fun events to the local community

from May through October. The club was founded by Robert Stevens, then President of the U.S. Lawn Tennis

Association, and Frank Deford, senior sportswriter for Sports Illustrated. Bobby Rush, one of the original owners, has been the club’s tennis pro for the past nine years. Bethany Tennis Club has approximately 300 members. The club’s most popular events are the “member-guest” round-robin luncheons and USTA League 3.5 play. With eight Har-Tru courts and a fully equipped pro shop, the facility offers seasonal and weekly memberships as well as hourly non-member court rates. When teaching, Rush tries to remind playerstorememberthebasics,“…earlypreparation,keepyourfeetmoving,watch the ball, and follow through.” •

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A family AffairThree generations of tennisFrances (Fran) Buss, first generation, was instrumental in getting each new generation of her family involved in sports, most notably tennis.

When Regina (Regi), Fran’s daughter, was in her late 20’s and Fran was in her late 40’s, they both decided to take up tennis and enrolled in beginner tennis lessons. Both continued to take lessons for several summers. According to Regi, “We were lucky to have each other to play with in those beginning years. I still remember how thrilled we were the first time we actually had a long rally!” Eventually both Fran and Regi joined Northwood Racquet Club and got involved with various leagues and teams.

Around the same time, Lori, Fran’s younger daughter, began playing tennis in high school. After playing for a few years, Lori developed a shoulder injury which caused her to give up tennis. But, after a decade of not playing, she returned to the sport, participating in a summer league where she worked her way up the divisions, having fun and remaining injury free. “Regi was nice enough to go out and play with

me even though she was already an outstanding player and I was a beginner,” Lori said. “She ‘pounded me into the pavement’ on

every occasion. I have to credit her for helping me to climb back to the top.”

Terri, Regi’s daughter, remembers her first introduction to tennis at age 10 when her mother and grandmother would drag her to the courts to watch. “I stayed and watched while they were in their ‘learning’ process, as mom didn’t have a sitter,” Terri said. “I hit a little with them as they were learning.” However, in high school

and college, Terri was involved in track. She threw discus and shot-put, breaking the school records in both while

competing at Millersville University. After graduating from college, she started power-lifting and currently holds many

Pennsylvania state records for the 148 pound class. After power-lifting, Terri decided she needed another sport in which to compete. Aunt Lori, grandmother Fran and mother Regi, all encouraged her to play tennis, which she did starting in the summer of 2007.

Currently, all are playing tennis, including Lori’s daughter Melanie and Fran who recently turned 85. “She is a wonderful example that we are all so grateful for,” Lori said.

Regi added, “I am thrilled to now be on a USTA League team with both my sister, Lori Huth, and my daughter, Terri Kunsman. My mom comes to many of the matches to cheer on the team. Tennis has turned out to be much more than a sport! As well as being a unifying factor in our family, tennis has introduced me to many dear and life-long friends as well as provided great exercise along the way.” •

Camp gram-mom

Nine years ago, Beverly Tihansky, a.k.a Gram-mom, wanted a way to spend time with her grandchildren during the summer, and keep them busy. Her solution – enroll them in tennis lessons at nearby Adams International Tennis Academy, now Winning Touch Tennis (WTT) Lehigh Valley, the rest is history! Nine years later, the tradition for her now eight grandchildren – Calman, Jake, Ande, Scout, Meg, Drew, Kayla and Tyler, continues. Coming to Gram-mom’s Bethlehem home for a week each summer includes three hours of tennis camp each morning followed by a variety of activities the rest of the day, including swimming, a field-trip, a cooking class, movie night, miniature golfing or a trip to the mall. The kids look forward to this adventure each year and start planning their special week early in the spring. Tennis remains a given and many have extended their summer instructions to include lessons during the winter months. In fact, granddaughter Kayla did so well, she made the tennis team at Peddie School (Hightstown, N.J.), the school she now attends. •

district Highlights•NorthwoodRacquetClubraisedmorethan$10,000at

its annual Smash for Cancer Tournament held in August.

•OrganizedbyBeckySoundersandAshleyBennett,SandIsland hosted a special round-robin tournament in August, raising $1,200 for the American Cancer Society.

•CedarCrestCollege’sLynnPigliacampiwasnamedtheColonial States Athletic Conference Tennis Coach of the Year.

•WyomingSeminaryhonoredtwolongtimeteachersand coaches – O. Charles Lull and Roslyn Rudin – at a special dedication in October. The school named its newly constructed tennis center the O. Charles Lull Tennis Center, and named the center’s pavilion the Roslyn Rudin Pavilion.

for full stories and photos please visit: epdtennis.com.


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Holt Attends leadership CampJamir Holt exemplifies what National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL) is all about, even though the experience he had this summer had little to do with tennis. The Trenton High sophomore, a four-year participant of the nationwide program’s Trenton chapter, was chosen to participate in a two-week Leadership Camp at Brown University in Rhode Island. The experience left him with a newfound self-confidence and a greater perspective on life. And it gave the NJTL of Trenton (NJTLT) a sense of further pride that the work they’re doing is affecting kids’ lives.

“To send Jamir to an Ivy League school summer camp where he may feel out of his element and insecure and have him come back as a more confident individual and a leader is an unbelievable story,” said Dan Faber, NJTLT’s Executive Director. “What a tremendous impact it had on his life.”

The 15-year-old was nervous on the drive up with Roland Laird, one of the Brown alumni who started this program after receiving a grant in 2006. When Holt arrived, he just stayed in his dorm room and felt like he wanted to leave. He had only been away-from-home once before and it was a three-day school trip to Williamsburg, but this was different.

“It didn’t feel right at first,” Holt said. “After a while I went out of my dorm room and met a lot of friends. I kind of got confident. I didn’t think I was going to have fun, but it was like a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

When the NJTLT was offered the chance to send a participant to the camp, Faber and tennis director Glendon Nicholas carefully assessed their options and weren’t sure that Holt would be able to do it. Once he was selected,

The Monroe 33 Tennis, Basketball & Sports Center opened for business in October, and the brand-new complex fills a big void in the Monroe, N.J., area. Located four miles east of the Hightstown entrance of the NJ Turnpike just off Route 33, it is a 78,000 square-foot indoor facility with five tennis courts, two basketball courts, and a large indoor turf field. An additional four outdoor tennis courts with a bubble are scheduled for next year.

Mike Klatsky is on the ownership team, along with his dad, brother and five other partners. He is also the general manager and has a background in tennis as the No. 1 ranked high school tennis player in New Jersey in the mid-1990s and a member of the University of Pennsylvania tennis team. Klatsky is a co-owner of Jersey 34 in Matawan [located in the USTA Eastern section] with his dad, Fred, who has owned the tennis club since 1990.

Klatsky explains that they had been looking for another opportunity in that general area, which had no indoor tennis for miles around. Players would either go to Shrewsbury, Brunswick Hills, or Princeton; and the closest was about 30 minutes away. The club is being welcomed to the community with enthusiasm, as some 300 people had signed up for seasonal courts, lessons, clinics, and leagues when it was still nothing more than a construction site. By the time the club opened, there were already five full-time tennis pros and a part-timer to accommodate the demand. The

Monroe sports Center opens

head pro, Marek Hep, was formerly with the Atlantic Club.

Despite the down economy, Klatsky says that construction costs and land costs were probably less than they would have been three years ago. “If you are in the position where you can buy, this was a good time,” he said. “We found a great piece of land.”

Other sports and fitness classes will be offered, as well as the increasingly popular Pickleball. And Mercer County’s Ed Tseng will have his home base at the club for the Tseng Performance Academy. In addition, he will serve as a tennis teaching pro. The Academy will include

mastering the mental aspects of sports, fitness and nutrition. •

for a complete look at the new facility and its staff, visit: monroesportscenter.com.

though, things fell into place. Since he didn’t have the proper clothing or necessities to take such a trip, an e-mail was circulated and quickly $500 was donated for a shopping spree.

“Dan and Mr. Glen took me shopping at Burlington Coat Factory,” Holt said. “Without them, I would not have been able to get that stuff. My mom is below the poverty line. I’m thankful.”

Holt, who keeps in touch with his new friends when he’s able to check e-mail at the library and at his aunt’s house, attended classes in such subjects as Leadership and Global Health. At first he thought everyone was smarter than he and was a little embarrassed.

“They had more educated answers. I was not contributing,” Holt said. “But at the end, I kind of opened up and realized we were on the same level.”

This was quite an important revelation for the high schooler who has been described by teachers as very smart. Besides confidence, the experience has given him motivation. He is now talking about how becoming a doctor best suits him, how he wants to

try his hardest and get his grades up in school. And he wants to go back to the camp, to which the dean has already invited him.

Holt is not the first success story from the NJTLT program and it won’t be the last, but there is something quite special and heartwarming about watching the transformation of a child.

“He’s now taking a personal initiative about his new job as a NJTLT instructor of the Nutrition, Education, Tennis, Support (NETS) program, whereas, before, I had to seek him out,” Faber said. “I have really noticed a confidence increase. He rose to the occasion and became a leader.” ••

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Philadelphia District

Tennis…on your time and terms Burger King’s slogan is “Have it your way” and today the USTA is serving up the same. This year, the USTA and Philadelphia District launched a new brand of tennis; one in which you decide where and when you want to play. It is called USTA Flex Leagues and after just one season, it’s getting rave reviews.

“I think it’s a great venue for those who want to try out something a little bit different,” says Keith Rodwell of Exton, Pa. “The flexibility to schedule a match and not have a fixed time to play is really nice.”

The concept behind Flex Leagues is simple: to offer organized, competitive local league play that fits a busy lifestyle. A Flex League was launched in the area during the summer, a perfect time because fewer organized tennis playing opportunities exist.

“You have Tri-Level and Mixed Doubles in the fall and winter and the spring USTA Adult Leagues are over at the end of June,” said Justin DePietropaolo of Chester Springs, Pa. “It [Flex Leagues] has allowed more people to play competitive tennis during those months.”

“For me, it was a nice opportunity after the spring league and before Tri-Levels and Mixed Doubles starts to get two months of competitive matches,” adds Christopher Jones of West Chester, Pa.

Nearly 125 players competed in Flex League across Bucks, Chester and Delaware Counties this summer. The leagues featured singles and doubles match play for both men and women ranging from 2.5 to 4.0 levels of play.

“I received generally good feedback from the players,” said Beth DePietropaolo, who organized the league in Delaware and Chester Counties. “The doubles ran into some issues with scheduling, but the singles players were particularly happy to have an outlet of play.”

“Typically, you’d e-mail or call your opponent,” explained Jones, who competed in the men’s

4.0 singles division and was given eight men to play over the span of eight weeks. “If someone was out for vacation for two weeks, you just played someone further

along in the schedule and came back to that person later.”

All players indicated the

competition was strong, comparing favorably to traditional USTA League play. But one difference Rodwell noted was there seemed to be less pressure.

“The results did not count toward rankings or ratings which actually gave you a little more freedom,” said Rodwell. “You went into it and didn’t have to worry about whether you got clocked by a guy or you clocked him. It was like, ‘hey let’s get together and whack the ball around and meet new guys that have games that are similar to yours.’”

Another difference with Flex Leagues, you don’t need to be a USTA member

to participate. Coordinators hoped the league would

attract a whole new circle of players to the USTA system. And it did.

“Networking with the other players and really finding out everyone’s

game; that was the fun part,” said Justin

DePietropaolo.

“I would definitely recommend Flex League,” Jones. “The idea that you

can play anytime in the week, anytime of the day, and have flexibility in who you play is great.”

Players and league coordinators needed! You can learn more about Flex Leagues under the” Leagues and Tournaments” tab at usta.com or by contacting Sally Baird at [email protected]. •

Philly Tennis shorts

• Best of PhillyThe Philadelphia District salutes the “Best of Philadelphia” at its 2009 Annual Awards Brunch set for January 24 at Green Valley Country Club. Each year the district recognizes its No. 1 ranked tournament players and servants of our sport. For ticket information and a sneak peek at this year’s winner’s circle visit: www.philadelphia.usta.com

• College ScholarshipsAttention high school seniors! The Philadelphia District has college scholarships for students who plan to play club, intramural or team tennis in college. Applications will be available online in March. Call (610) 265-5062 for more information.

• World Class Tennis They came across the world to compete against Philly’s youth. Forty boys and girls from South Africa’s Under 13 National Tennis Team toured the United States and stopped at Arthur Ashe in December to meet and compete against some of our area’s best.

read more about the tennis exchange on www.philadelphia.usta.com.

USTA Flex League players (left to right): Keith Rodwell and Christopher Jones.


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Winter 2009-2010 • Volume IV • Issue 3assets.usta.com › assets › 649 › USTA_Import › images › sitecore... · 2010-04-08 · NETPLAY • WINTER 09-10 • 610.935.5000