SCTANewsletter MARCH 2001 An Original the San Gabriel Valley, Dona Garcia-Egger spoke volumes when McRonald’s retirement was ngus McRonald, who began his League Tennis involvement brought up. “I met Angus in in 1980 in the Michelob Light days, is stepping down. He is 1991,” Wong said. “I was Aleaving his position as the San Gabriel Valley coordinator. amazed when he said he “For 20 years I have given Leagues my undivided attention from was the League coordina- January to the middle of August when the Sectionals is played,” tor. He had all the responsi- McRonald said. “As much as I have enjoyed it, this has not been easy to bility of running League do. This year, I will help with the Sectionals and do things like rating clin- Tennis in the San Gabriel ics, but now I’m free to go off and see Wimbledon or Roland Garros.” Valley, but he was always “I also did Foothill League for 20 years,” he continued. “I ran it casual and pleasant. twice a year until three years ago. Jim Hillman got me involved with “He is so easy going that the Michelob program. Thanks to Jim I was volunteered into the he will talk for hours about Foothill League. I have finally gotten to the point where the only way tennis whether it is the to find out if someone would take over the responsibilities was to NTRP system or the get out of the way.” mechanics of winning. He McRonald started League Tennis and promoted it in one of tried to cut the politics out Angus McRonald PHOTO DONA GARCIA-EGGER Southern California’s largest League areas, the San Gabriel Valley. He of competion. He remained has also been active in the USA Mixed League, USA Senior League and outside it by listening carefully to both sides of an issue. Angus made Fall Doubles League. A few years ago, he delegated these three pro- League Tennis fun.” grams to Jim Wong. While the change was a way of stepping back, it Wong realizes that replacing McRonald will not be an easy allowed McRonald to focus all his energy on the Spring League. In task. It is going to be overwhelming and challenging and I am just doing so, San Gabriel Valley became one of the section’s largest, as far very very grateful,” he said. “There is so much talk about what he as League player participation is concerned, and thanks to his hard has done for the Valley. He’s been a pillar. He is the cornerstone work the numbers are still growing. of what League Tennis has become. I hope to build on the foun- Wong, who will handle all four of the League programs run in dation he has established.” ................................................ N AMES• I N • T HE• N EWS At the Super National Winter Champion- with Kelly Tefft of Enid, Oklahoma to take Intercollegiate Tennis Association. Pat ships, K.C. Corkery was the Boy’s 18 sin- the doubles title. Australia was the location, Ye o m a n s , whose extraordinary list of gles finalist and doubles winner with Sam and the Hardcourt Championships and the accomplishments includes helping start Warburg of Sacramento. Drew Hoskins, Open Junior Championships were the women’s intercollegiate play in the 1950s playing with Roger Gubser of Laredo, events. Kelly Jones, a former San Diego and co-founding the annual Youth vs. Texas, was a Boy’s 18 doubles finalist. Iris resident, led the boy’s team which included Experience competition was the sec- Ichim was the Girl’s 18 singles finalist. Prakash Amritraj and Lester Cook. tion’s honoree in the America’s Biggest Aaron Yovan was the Boy’s 16 titlist. Alex McGoodwin entered the qualifying Tennis Nut contest sponsored by the Judith DeVera/Lauren Perl were Girl’s at both tournaments. Ann Lebedeff of Cal USTA. Kathy Willette was named chair 16 doubles finalists. Cristina Visico was Poly-Pomona was named Division II- of the USTA’s Community Tennis the Girl’s 14 winner. Celia Durkin teamed Women’s Coach of the Decade by the Association Committee. NJTP We are adding new “wrinkles” to our pro- Courts To College gram in 2001. Participants in the Amateur Athletic Foundation/National Junior Tennis Steve Tscherne League will be on court for an additional two hours per week. “Kids Instructing Kids.” (KIK) is new. Seasoned instructors will train a cadre of experienced NJTL’ers on how to teach basic strokes, run drills and be class assistants. For juniors and their parents just getting into the tournament scene playing the Satellite Circuit, Player Development offers a new series of informative brochures about competitive play. Our Tennis Speaker’s Series kicks off in May to celebrate USA Tennis Month. After lunch, the format features a tennis personali- ty sharing, their insights about the game. Those who have been invited to take part include: Charles Pasarell, Pam Shriver, Vic Braden and Richard Williams. High School Tennis is another area receiving attention this year. Last month, members of the staff, and leaders of the Los Angeles City high school coaches met at SCTA offices to discuss ways to mutually cooperate on tournaments, training, publicity, scholarship information and other matters. “Courts To College” participants. These discussions and others slated for the near future should bear fruit as soon as this he sound of tennis balls being hit Eight local teaching professionals and coming fall. and the squeak of sneakers is a their assistants, worked with 125 young- SCTA staff will visit tennis tournaments daily occurrence at El Cariso Park sters ranging from the PeeWee to the and other Southland events throughout the in Sylmar. The Neighborhood Advanced level. year to spread the word about the new T Junior Tennis Program (NJTP), a flourishing Low cost instruction is financed by sev- MBNA Mastercard agreement. MBNA has an Community Tennis Association (CTA), is the eral fund raisers which include junior and affinity credit card, with no annual fee and reason tennis is in the spotlight in the San adult tournaments; a women’s pro-am tour- competitive interest rates for USTA mem- Fernando Valley. nament at Braemar Tennis Club in October; bers and tennis fans. When owners use their Established in 1992 by lifelong friends, Ali and the Acura Bike-Tour and Honda Los cards a percentage of each transaction will Ordoñez, Dona Egger-Garcia, Barbara Angeles Marathon in March. Children, board be donated by MBNA, to the section. The Sotura Tscherne, Anna Wells, Ruben members, parents and friends of NJTP all revenues will be pumped back into junior, Mejorado and Philip Siordia, NJTP has taken take part in the marathon. adult and senior tennis programs on a sec- tion-wide basis. community tennis to a new level. A non- For the past 5 years, the marathon has There are plans to beef up the SCTA’s profit organization, whose motto is from funded the youth tennis program. Pledges advertising in local newspapers; to enhance the “courts to college”, which means helping from all over Los Angeles and across the the look and offerings in this newsletter; and program participants develop their skills so country are responsible for over 70% of the significantly improve our website capabilities. they can earn a college scholarship. funds generated. NJTP participants spend Advertising will focus on newspapers and As a CTA, NJTP has made use of all weekends training so they will be able to other media outlets serving the diverse the tools that the Southern California cover the marathon distance on bikes. Last Southern California population. The website Tennis Association offers, including year,24 parents and 23 youngsters took part. will be modernized and offer links to one or grants. The organization conducts com- This year, the number should increase. The two national tennis media services. munity tennis days, and runs junior and NJTP’s success would not be possible with- Remember, the best advertising is your adult sanctioned tournaments. NJTP out volunteers. personal endorsement. Please tell a friend also has its own newsletter called If you are interested in becoming how he or she can get involved in our game. “Smash Talk”; quarterly lightning tourna- involved with this spirited and caring San Write or telephone the SCTA for informa- ments; a challenge ladder; leagues and a Fernando Valley based group, check their tion and promotional literature. website at www.njtp.com. website for information. This is not country Henry A. Talbert Last year, with the help of the SCTA, club tennis; it is a community effort in which Executive Director, Mary Joe Fernandez spent a day at El people are keeping the Neighborhood Southern California Tennis Association Cariso Park with NJTP youngsters. Junior Tennis Program alive and flourishing. 2 Bill Tilden Dominated Tennis In The 1920s he Mercedes-Benz Cup, present- Gonzalez, Jack Kramer, Don Budge and Fred (1924); a play, They All Want Something, ed by Balance Bar, is celebrating Perry were each three-time winners. produced in 1926; and How to Play Better its 75th year. To help observe this Bill Tilden, with his powerful style and Tennis (1950). Tilden died in 1953. T Diamond Anniversary, the tour- larger than life presence, dominated tennis Former champions that will be featured nament, scheduled for July 23-29 at the Los during the 1920s like no one else. Born in the months leading up to the Mercedes- Angeles Tennis Center-UCLA, is celebrating William Tatum Tilden II in Philadelphia in Benz Cup are being selected from a list of illustrious champions of the past, decade by 1893, “Big Bill” was educated at the titleholders that includes players from: decade.