Fall 2010 Volume V n Issue 2 Wild card! alexAndrA mUeller eArnS SpoT in us open qualifying ToUrnAmenT Page 24 USTA LeAgUe CeLebrateS 30 years Page 8 NETPLAY • FALL 2010 • 610.935.5000 • [email protected] AdVERTISEMENT NJTL 2 Enroll today at peopletopeople.com/USTA Change your world. Forever. NETPLAY • FALL 2010 • 610.935.5000 • [email protected] Volume V Volume n Issue 2 COVER STORY Love it or League it! 8 USTA Middle States n Fall 2010 8 Cover Story Departments 12 USTA League is the largest 4 Welcome recreational tennis program in the 5 Guest Columnist Graig White country. Learn more about the program as it celebrates its 30th 7 Tennis Shorts anniversary. 11 Member Spotlight 16 Diversity 12 Community Development 28 Districts USTA Middle States’ Community n Junior tennis is booming in AMD Tennis Association network continues to grow and evolve. Meet the Section’s n Youngsters are going Can Crazy in CPD two newest groups. n Tennis star Anna Kournikova heats up DD 16 n EPD’s tennis community has big heart 18 USTA Serves n Meet the legendary Carl “Ace” Abbott USTA Serves provides nearly an NJD tennis pioneer $400,000 each year to deserving high school seniors who will continue n It’s time to their academic and tennis success register for in to college. Meet two of the lucky Gold Cup recipients – both Middle States juniors. in PATD 20 Jr. Team Tennis More than 75 teams competed in Jr. 18 Team Tennis District Championships this summer, and players from each team brought a unique passion for the game. Find out why several Enroll today at peopletopeople.com/USTA players choose to play the game! 24 Adult Competition Wild card! Abington, Pa., native Alexandra Mueller wins the first-ever Change your world. Forever. US Open National Playoff earning a wild card to compete in the US 24 20 Open Qualifying Tournament. NETPLAY • FALL 2010 • 610.935.5000 • [email protected] Published by USTA Middle States Volume V n Issue 2 Fall 2010 Welcome Editorial Nathaniel Harrison Marge McGann Carrie Rupp Ben Zislis Contributors Tom Benic Kasey Connors Loretta DeWalt Stephanie Farris Jeffrey Harrison and Marlynn Orlando Monique Holloway Karen Jennings 4 Seasons change, but Middle States remains Hot! Ann LoPrinzi Kate McLain By the time this issue of NetPlay hits your mailbox, we assume the temperatures have cooled and Marlynn Orlando beautiful fall weather has settled into our region. But as you know, a record breaking winter of snow Stephanie Pankiw was followed by one of the hottest summers on record for Middle States. It was hot, hot, hot; but the Cathy Shaak heat did not deter our dedicated tennis enthusiast as our successful adult and junior league programs broke participation records this summer. The courts across the section were filled with players of all Special ThankS ages competing for a chance to play in our district and sectional championships. Congratulations Andy Findlay to all players who competed this summer and especially to those who will continue on this fall at April Gift national championships. Best of luck to our Middle States teams. Dave Kenas photography Yes, tennis in Middle States is hotter then ever. Membership and participation numbers continue to Matt Lubas, City of Reading climb and break records. With the focused determination of folks like you in our tennis community, Mercyhurst College Sports more and more people are experiencing the benefits of the sport of tennis. In Middle States we are Susan Mullane Photography fortunate to have a vast network of Community Tennis Associations (CTA) that work tirelessly to Wilson Pipkin help grow the game. We currently have 88 registered CTA chapters in Middle States. These programs Virginia Tech Athletics Communications cater to a variety of niche audiences providing youth tennis programs, such as Jr. Team Tennis, adult Eric Taylor - 1stString.com programs, or programs for people with special needs. In the article on page 12, we are thrilled to John Walls welcome two new groups to our CTA network; Philadelphia Liberty Tennis Association (PLTA) and Akshay’s Tennis for Autism. CTAs are typically run by a network of volunteers with a USTA MIddle States Officers tremendous passion for tennis and a strong interest and joy in making sure people have an President opportunity and place to play. Jeffrey Harrison On October 30 at the Dolce Valley Forge in King of Prussia, Pa., Middle States is hosting a Senior Vice President workshop designed to generate discussion and new ideas on how you can grow your community Patricia Weger tennis organization. The event will be a great opportunity for CTA and NJTL leaders to learn about Secretary partnering and networking, fundraising and grants, marketing resources, and USTA programming Ellen V. Williams opportunities. You can learn more about this great opportunity by contacting Ben Zislis, Director Treasurer of Community Development at [email protected]. Ruth Roulston The workshop is part of a series of educational programs Middle States offers throughout the year to USTA MIddle States help our tennis community partners learn new tennis strategies and initiatives which can help them increase participation and improve performance. In 2010, almost 300 participants have been trained 1288 Valley Forge Road at over 15 QuickStart Tennis Workshops and nearly 250 instructors have been trained at seven Suite 74, PO Box 987 Recreational Coach Workshops. In addition, we continue to host in-person and online trainings for Valley Forge, PA 19482 our tournament directors and adult and junior league coordinators. 610.935.5000 610.935.5484 fax [email protected] As we finish out 2010 and look to 2011, we will continue to find ways we can support our www.middlestates.usta.com community of tennis players, coaches, pros, parents, and CTA and NJTL leaders so that tennis is the “hottest” sport in Middle States. Print and DesigN Warm regards, Bentley Graphic Communications Pottstown, Pa. Jeffrey Harrison Marlynn Orlando President Executive Director www.bentleygraphics.com NETPLAY • FALL 2010 • 610.935.5000 • [email protected] NETPLAY • FALL 2010 • 610.935.5000 • [email protected] district guest Columnist g Contributors Graig White uest Columnist Allegheny Mountain Keeping the Fire Burning Tom Benic Body conditioning is an important have to be a constant requirement; rather, ingredient to good health, top performance, you may prefer to use a trainer for periodic and a happy outlook. Getting motivated to fitness “check-ups.” work out is relatively easy, but the challenge Progress slowly. “No pain, no gain” is to stay motivated day-after-day. To help 9 is nonsense. Any time exercise hurts, maintain your desire to exercise and keep you should stop. In fact, avoid doing too Central PA that fire burning, check out the following much too soon to prevent injury and muscle Cathy Shaak steps: soreness. Make your workouts a real part Reward yourself. Don’t be afraid 1 of your day. Set a regular time to 10 to enjoy yourself. After you have 5 exercise to help create the necessary “space” reached a mini-goal or had an especially in your day. good workout, pat yourself on the back for Keep a record. Record your workouts a job well done. On special occasions, reward 2 to help stay motivated and also to track yourself; maybe with a new pair of shoes or Delaware your progress. a weekend trip. Monique Remember that change is good. Vary Holloway 3 your workouts to avoid becoming bored. Variety will help you stick with the program. Step up your program with activities 4 you enjoy. Exercise does not have to mean drudgery. Biking, tennis, and swimming are examples of leisure or fun activities that also promote health and Eastern PA fitness. Loretta DeWalt Establish realistic goals. Set exercise 5 program goals that are within your reach. Always put yourself in a position to succeed! Short-term mini-goals can help you measure success, as well as reinforce your motivation. Monitor and adjust your goals as your fitness levels change. New Jersey Join a gym. Look before you leap. Tour Ann LoPrinzi 6 the club and speak to some members first to confirm that it is a place that will assist you in reaching your fitness goals. Train with a partner. Exercising with 7 a friend can make workouts more fun. Also, chances are greater that you will stick with your program if you know someone is waiting and depending on you to show up. Philadelphia Hire a personal trainer. Sometimes it is Karen Jennings 8 easier to stick with a program if a fitness professional works with you. This does not Graig White, Director of Performance Enhancement at Rutgers-Camden and a noted conditioning/training expert, has help professional and amateur athletes fulfill their potential. To learn more, visit: www.teamconditioning.com. NETPLAY • FALL 2010 • 610.935.5000 • [email protected] NETPLAY • FALL 2010 • 610.935.5000 • [email protected] She’s a 4.5, he’s a 2.5… Friends, Co-workers, Couples… ADVANTA WORLD TEAMTENNIS It’s about more than just your rating…it’s about team! PHOTOS COURTESY FRED AND SUSAN MULLANE/CAMERAWORK USA, TOM BREWSTER USA, AND SUSAN MULLANE/CAMERAWORK FRED PHOTOS COURTESY CORPORATE LEAGUES RECREATIONAL LEAGUES DELAWARE PHILADELPHIA DELAWARE PENNSYLVANIA Sue Gardiner Angelika Sadar Alison or Taya Maggie Smethers (Lancaster) [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] NEW JERSEY Bev McGeehan (Philadelphia) [email protected] Lorna Thomas (Wall) [email protected] Rick Greenwood (Springton) [email protected] , DELAINE MAST & USTA , NETPLAY • FALL 2010 866-PLAY-WTT | WTT.COM • 610.935.5000 • [email protected] Central PA Allegheny Mountain Tennis Shorts Tennis Jim Kohr can certainly claim ownership to the tennis courts at York’s Farquhar Park after he added a 15th York City-County men’s singles title to his resume.