A Division of the USPTA
December 2023
Happy Holidays from the Southwest!
Inside Pages: President’s Message 2 Van Zutphen/Cheney Awards 3 World Conference 4-5 Senior Moments 6-7 Top 10 Benefits of the Ball Machine 8 Area News 11-15
President’s Message Amy Badger - USPTA Southwest President
Dear Southwest Pros, As with all good things, time seems to go by too fast. So just like that, I am delivering my final message to you as President. It takes a great group of likeminded people to help continue and forward the mission and pillars of our organization…through all its ups and downs. We would not be the dynamic division we are, without a board committed to our core tenet of raising the standards of teaching professionals, It also takes you, our members, continuing to dedicate yourselves to staying on the forefront of industry education, demonstrating as you do, every time you set foot on court, the reason every facility, every student, should experience the benefits of working with a certified teaching professional. You set yourselves apart from all others in this way. Serving the USPTA for me began with a phone call from long time teaching professional and Hall of Fame recipient Dick Johnson, encouraging me to consider the district coordinator position. I never dreamed I would be on the radar for such a role. My standards were forever raised by all the many wonderful people I met and worked with along the way. Please consider serving your USPTA by letting us know your interest. Reaching out to someone you think has potential towards serving, may only require that phone call. We have worked steadfastly with and through our organization’s challenges with the certification pathway, our relationship with the USTA, as well as how these have impacted membership growth and retention within our division and nationally. We are hopefully and thankfully moving on a smoother and more brilliant course as evidenced by a very successfully attended annual conference in May. We must thank
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the USTA Southwest for their wonderful partnership. We have a great relationship and commitment to work together growing the game we all love. Look for our rescheduled USPTA/USTA pro-am in the spring. And YES, we had a Level 2 certification workshop at the Camelback Village Health Club and Spa Greg Prudhomme, our Head Tester, and Director of Tennis there co-lead the workshop Nov 27-29 alongside national board member and past president Feisal Hassan. Ryan Johnson continues to successfully hold our pickleball certification workshops. Districts are hosting pro gatherings to help foster a better community. All great things from our division board. The racquet sports industry is constantly evolving, and we must work with it. In that light, I’m very hopeful to see what’s in store with our new incoming CEO. A special thanks to John Embree, a passionate and devoted advocate for our professionals, for his years of service to our organization and its members. Jack Michalko, our ED, is the glue to our surviving and thriving. He handles the day to day and so much more. Without his dedication and unsurpassed attention to detail we would not be the organization other divisions are looking to for “how do we do it?”. I thank all our current and very active board members Suk, Greg, Ryan, John, and Dave for the privilege of working with you these past years. Thank you, Dick, Leslie, Amanda, and Andrea, for your time and talents as our district coordinators. Our division is in GREAT hands as we look to the 2024-2026 term. I look forward to serving as Past President, extend my gratitude to all and wish everyone a happy healthy holiday and prosperous new year.
Happy Holidays from your USPTA Southwest Board of Directors
December 2023
Mike Van Zutphen Inducted into the Mesa Community College Hall of Fame Mike Van Zutphen (1977) turned his youthful tennis passion into a lifetime career of coaching, certifying tennis teaching professionals, and executive directing sports organizations. His reputation for training players from the junior ranks to the world class tier is renowned. Among his students have been a Junior Wimbledon Champion, two NCAA Singles Champions, five High School 5A Singles Champions, and three USTA Women’s Team National Champions. His training and development of high-performance players have a global reach to New Zealand where he is working with three National Champions. He is also involved in Developmental Training of Coaches for USPTA Certification Testing countries such as India, South Africa, and New Zealand. He was inducted into the Southwest Central Arizona United States Tennis Association Hall of Fame in October 2018.
Cheney gets his 100th Gold Ball!
Congratulations to Brian Cheney of Chandler, AZ who won his 100 USTA Gold Ball in September down in Virginia Beach!
Level 2 - In Person Workshop Held November 27-29 In Phoenix! The Southwest Division held a Level 2 In Person Workshop at the Village Racquet & Health Club on November 27-29. We had 4 applicants (Bryan Bello, Cameron Hamilton, Jeremy Preiss and Alejandro Clarke) plus 2 upgrades (Karen Fleissner & Jeffrey Smallwood)! Our thanks go out to Feisal Hassan and Greg Prudhomme for administering the workshop.
Mike’s United States Professional Tennis Association recognitions and awards include: 2007 Champions of Tennis, five-time Southwest Professional of the Year, two-time Southwest Coach of the Year, two-time recipient of the National USPTA Community Service Award, 20 Years Southwest Tester of the Year, winner and #1 World Ranking Men’s 45 Singles USPTA 2000, winner and #1 World Ranking Men’s 35 Doubles USPTA 1998, and induction into the Tennis Teachers Hall of Fame in 1995. Mike is one of only 138 USPTA Certified Master Professionals in the world. He received a Humanitarian award from then Governor Terry Goddard for volunteering for more than 25 years for the Arizona Special Olympics and overseeing the Junious Bowman Foundation Invitational for the Urban League, raising more than $2 million.
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2023 World Conference
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Senior Moment Brian Cheney - Chandler, AZ 1. Brian how did you get started in the tennis industry? I remember in high school a friend asking if I might become a tennis teacher to which I replied to a definite no. At that time, I didn’t think I could stand the hours just hitting balls to students. But I did help Dave Snyder at UofA in his summer camps for junior players and I certainly enjoyed that. Then when I was near the end of my first tour in the Air Force as an instructor pilot, I met Fred Earle who was filling in as head pro at Tempe Racket and Swim Club. He taught and encouraged me about a career as a teaching pro. Fred had wonderful motivating stories from his experience as a professional which made me realize a career teaching could be most rewarding. And so, I was hired at TRC when I separated from the Air Force; I just changed from teaching in the back seat of a T-38 to the tennis court. 2. Different positions in the Tennis Industry Head Pro Tempe Racket and Swim Club Head Pro/ Director of Tennis Village Racquet and Health Club Secretary, Treasurer, and President SW Division USPTA 3. Major contributors to your success as Tennis Professional I must give credit to my long family history in tennis going back to my great grandfather Adolphus Sutton. He brought his family to Southern California in 1889 already with a knowledge of the game and built a home clay court in Pasadena. His 4 daughters all played and were champions in Southern California. My grandmother May Sutton Bundy won Wimbledon and her husband Tom won US Doubles. May’s sister Violet had 5 tennis playing children; one John won the US Singles. Ethel, another sister taught tennis at UCLA and Florence was finalist in US Singles in 1913. And my mother Dodo Cheney with her long competitive career was always so supportive of my tennis endeavors. My UofA coach Dave Snyder helped strengthen my ability to persevere no matter what obstacles faced me. And I must acknowledge all the fellowship, education and encouragement I have received from being associated with the USPTA. Playing in tournaments contributes, in my opinion, to keeping a fresh enthusiasm for teaching students and learning. 4. How have you given back as a volunteer or administrator of Charity events? Initial Tournament director of Junior Fiesta Bowl 1973 & 4 which became Junior Winter Nationals Tournament Director for Junior Christmas Classic for 20 years Co-Chairing several Charity Tournaments at Village for the Devereux Foundation Tennis Hit-a-Thon for PASS 5. Who are your mentors? As stated above Fred Earle was instrumental in showing me how I could make a career as a teaching pro. Tom Stowe was a favorite of Fred’s to quote, and I use Tom’s teaching methods still to this day. page 6
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USPTA. Every seminar I have ever attended at a convention has added to my inventory of teaching concepts. I wouldn’t be where I am without the USPTA. Another special person is Vic Braden whose teaching and sharing at conventions provided me with a wealth of knowledge based on scientific studies. 6. What advice do you have for younger pros? This is from USPTA Hall of Fame Professional George Bacso. Every pro should follow a system/framework to teach by. People learn in many ways and what works for one person doesn’t always work for another. A professional develops many ways to describe a concept in order to relate to the wide range of players a pro encounters. Having a system will keep you and your student moving forward. Keep expectations and reality close to each other. I encourage any pro to find a way in each lesson/clinic, no matter who your student is or what skill level, to be fresh with enthusiasm so it is a rewarding experience for both teacher and student. 7. What is your definition of retirement? Fred Earle taught tennis until he was 92. I hope to be doing the same as long as I can. Retirement is not in my vocabulary. I enjoy being a Tennis Professional and I am very glad I made this my career—little did I know when in High School. 8. How have you benefitted by involvement with USPTA? Nothing can replace the experience and wisdom I have accumulated over 45 years as a member of USPTA. I would say the most beneficial experience I have had was being on the USPTA Southwest board. That led me to camaraderie with leaders of our industry which have been invaluable to my career. 9. What do you feel is the secret to my success and longevity as a competitor? I don’t think there is a secret. I have had a relatively injury free competitive career in part by not playing the pro circuit. Growing up I was fortunate to watch great players in person from a young age: Lew Hoad, Pancho Gonzales, Ken Rosewall, Frank Sedgeman, Tony Trabert, Pancho Segura, Alex Olmedo and many more including my mother Dodo. I think I am a good visual learner and believe I learned good technique from watching great players. So, I developed a style of hitting the ball that was not extra stressful to my body. My mother and her side of the family were always encouraging to my match play. I never felt any pressure about winning or losing. So, I have always enjoyed competition, and yes, it is much more fun emotionally to win. But sometimes I have had my most progress from losses. And what can I say about the example set by my mother and grandmother for longevity? Dodo played in National tournaments until 95 and my Grandmother May Bundy played into her 80’s.
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TOP10 BENEFITS OF THE BALL MACHINE 1. Students get a “Game-Like” ball. Most lessons have the pro standing at the net feeding an easy ball in all into to the player’s strike-zone. There are many reasons for this including it is too difficult to feed the correct ball hours a day, the skill level of the pro does not permit hem to feed the ppropriate ball, etc. Providing a “Game-Like” ball (moonball, high approach, low ap w approach, half volley, etc.) allows the student to work on their receiving skills in addition to their sending skills. 2. Revenues from rentals, ball machine clubs, and creates a value-added member amenity. The average hourly rate of a ball machine is $20/hour and $12/half hour. 80% of clubs utilize a Ball Machine Club for the ball machine. Average annual membership (before court fees) is $ is $200/per person $250/per family (3 members).
Stan Oley, Playmate Ball Machines Product Marketing Specialist and USPTA Master Professional
3. Increased revenue and creation of better players with Post Lesson Curriculum ball machine use. It is important that the student is practicing what they are learning in the lesson. Giving a Post Lesson Curriculum will show that the pro cares about the development of their players. Also, having that player utilizing the ball machine after the lesson creates additional revenue for the facility. 4. Great feeding solution for Cardio Tennis. Using a ball machine for Cardio Tennis opens so many doors for the pro. They can provide more shots that are too difficult to feed rapidly, save their body, and is much safer for the player having the pro on the same side of the court to closely monitor their condition. 5. Health of the teaching pro. Many pros who have been feeding for years are injured or sidelined. Teaching with a ball machine would allow them to still coach even with an injury that may have them sidelined from hitting. Teaching with a ball machine is also great preventative medicine as well. 6. Great for privates to allow for demonstration and better pro/player relationship by being on same side as player. Demonstration is at the heart of teaching a Motor Skill Sport. Being able to step in and show the student how to hit a particular shot is an invaluable resource to the player’s learning experience. 7. Group lessons and junior academy almost become become privates because the pro is on same side as the players. When you teach clinics with a ball machine, stoppages in a clinic do not have to occur to assist a player with a technical issue. Players can continue the drill while you assist a player similar to a private lesson. 8. Makes videoing the player much easier. It is much harder and time consuming to video a player without a ball machine. 9. Allow ability for pro to work with high-performance players. Many coaches can no longer hit with a high performance player which may result in easy feeds to the player that are not relevant to their skill level. Many coaches have a lot of knowledge to offer a high-performance player, and their lack of ability to still compete at a high level should not keep them from working with them. 10. Can help a lesser skilled pro be better by allowing them to be on same side as the player. A new professional to the ndustry may find it hard to feed appropriately and communicate at the same time. They may find it much easier to teach with a ball machine.
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SOUTHWEST OFFICERS President Amy Badger 505-379-6728 badgertennis505@gmail.com Regional VP Suk Ong 602-881-0467 sukong.uspta@gmail.com Vice President Greg Prudhomme 602-301-1394 pruperformance@gmail.com Secretary Ryan Johnson 480-267-0725 m.ryanjohnson@gmail.com Treasurer John Perry 520-403-8290 jptennis25@gmail.com Past President Dave Moyer 480-342-7240 davemoyertennis@gmail.com Executive Director Jack Michalko 602-740-0126 jack.michalko@uspta.org
SOUTHWEST COORDINATORS
Save The Date: 2024 SW Conference May 17-18 Arrowhead Country Club Glendale, AZ!
Northern New Mexico Dick Johnson 505-507-6795 lctenniscamps@gmail.com Phoenix Leslie Banks 419-302-7663 lesliealison16@gmail.com Southeastern Arizona Amanda Fink Moore 818-624-7107 afink15@gmail.com Northern Arizona Andrea Meyer 928-300-4352 andreameyertennis@gmail.com Southern New Mexico & l Paso TBD Head Tester Greg Prudhomme 602-301-1394 pruperformance@gmail.com The Southwest Magazine is the official Publication of the USPTA Southwest Division of the United States Professional Tennis Association.
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December 2023
Southeastern Arizona
John and Ronnie also hosted the Southern Arizona Adaptive Sports 2023 Run N Roll, with 16 wheelchair players paired with 16 standing players for a great day of tennis.
by Amanda Fink Moore
Ronnie Smith and John Perry have been into the swing of Fall events, hosting the Cowboy Classic, Rattlesnake Adult Championships, Monster Madness Level 4 Junior and US Open Slam series events at Reffkin Tennis Center. Cowboy Classic Amanda has been on maternity leave welcoming her new little girl Melody into the world.
John was presented the Tennis Ambassador of the Year Award by the USTA Southwest
Meanwhile La Paloma is back to a full schedule of clinics and events including our recent 3rd annual U of A clinic fundraiser. Where the U of A mens and women’s programs deliver a clinic to members and the proceeds go back to the teams!!! Also, FYI Amanda - missed you but we had a nice meeting last week.
December 2023
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Phoenix, Arizona by Leslie Banks
Fall and the Holidays are here and its definitely tennis weather!
books about sports therapy. Laurie’s induction was anticipated before her tragic accident. Her enduring legacy of the no-cut freshman policy at Xavier College Preparatory, her commitment to student-athletes’ well–being on and off the court, leading Xavier to five state championships, countless USTA held positions, and her endless support for tennis.
The USPTA World Conference held in Orlando this past September was well attended by Phoenix area pros. We have several Phoenix area pros with accomplishments to celebrate, and the fall/winter coaches’ mixer.
The USPTA World Conference gave many local pros the chance to get out of town and learn from our peers. There were many educational sessions both on and off court as well as a fascinating Q & A with Chris Evert.
Other notable Phoenix area Award Winners: Organization of the Year: IJP Tennis (International Junior Performance) Director Matt Sunter, USPTA Elite League Facility of the Year: Paseo Racquet Center run by Ed Prudhomme, USPTA Elite President’s Award: Tracy Lawson, USPTA Elite There have been plenty of fun events held across the city in Country Clubs and at the Village. Ryan Johnson, the Director of Racquet Sports at Paradise Valley Country Club, and his Director of Tennis Alejandro Serrano Clarke held both an Octoberfest and a “Barbie” theme Member-Guest tennis mixer.
The SW USTA Awards Event honored several Phoenix USPTA pros. The Hall of Fame Inductees include Todd Ellenbecker and our late President Laurie Martin. Todd Ellenbecker’s accomplished sports physical therapy career with a focus on tennis athletes and working on the ATP tour with high profile athletes including Meghan Shaughessy. He has written many articles and
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December 2023
The U of A visited Greg Prudhomme’s Village at Camelback and PVCC. Phoenix Country Club held the annual fundraiser “Triples Tournament” to benefit Leslie Banks’s tennis nonprofit Serve the Future, which raised over $48,000!! Greg Prudhomme attended the USTA top Facilities Conference in Orlando.
I was selected to receive the USTA Champions of Equality Award at the US Open, and met Billie Jean King and Venus Williams while I was there. A couple of other perks of winning the award were attending a Panel Discussion on Women’s equality in Sports and Business and watching Coco Guaff’s semi-final match. I was featured on “Good morning Arizona” to speak about the event and award.
Lastly, we have three resident USPTA Elite Pros who will be on the 2024 SW USPTA Board:
President Suk Ong Regional V.P. Greg Prudhomme Vice President Ryan Johnson Please tell your clients that they can choose to have their taxes go to high school tennis programs. This enriches our schools and our sport! Have a wonderful holiday season everyone!
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Northern New Mexico by Dick Johnson
Hi Everybody! I hope everyone is doing well this fall and getting excited about the Holiday season! The recent “Rally in the Alley” put together by my dear friend Wendy Thomas, former Girls Coach at La Cueva HS was a huge success. The event raised $17,000, a record on October 22. This is the 17th year that my high school boys’ team and I have supported this cause to fight cancer. The Boys and Girls Team played with the adults, helped with drills and court games and basically had a “fun” time. We had over 120 participants and the Coco Gauff Boom racquet that I donated and the Huge Goody basket that the Boys and Girls Team put together was well received. This Spring I will be starting my 34th year as the Boys Coach. The recent USPTA World Conference in Orlando was well attended, and I really believe it was the best one we have had in a long time. It was a real thrill to meet Chris Evert, who was inducted into our Hall of Fame with my friend Kirk Anderson. Thank you, John Embry, for the great service to our organization and I wish you all the best in your retirement. Have a joyous holiday everyone!
Amy Badger In October, we completed the 4th Annual Corley Cup, a charitable event raising over $160,000 since its
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inception whose monies are given out in the form of player scholarships including for sportsmanship as well as to nonprofit community organizations aligned with the Corley Cup goals and mission. It’s a tremendous honor to be the tournament director for this event. Limited to high school varsity players from New Mexico we’ve grown 175% in participation since inception and look forward to an even better event in 2024. It was another successful season with the no cut middle school program. Heading up 55 players from sixth and seventh grade at the Albuquerque Academy, we had a tremendous season in a new private school league. In collaboration with the USTA, I’m running monthly L7 events and am lead faculty on the EDC camps. I’m very pleased to see our monthly L7 events improve in their registration numbers, and we are gaining lots of interest and growing participation in the EDC camps. We are making great strides on the USTA national high school committee initiatives, one of which is the improved educational opportunities for coaches. We will also be working with national staff here in NNM on the high school serve-tennis product as well as other USTA programs. My participation on the USTA Tennis on Campus committee is very exciting as well as we work diligently to bring coaching education and certification opportunities to the TOC players. Have a wonderful holiday!
Dave Shambach from Rio Rancho, NM just finished a successful Fall season and will be resting up for arthroscopic surgery in mid-December on a meniscus tear. He coached two middle school teams from Rio Rancho, one of which made the consolation finals in the regional Middle School Tournament run by the Northern New Mexico Tennis Association. He also oversaw the Rio Rancho portion of the Middle School League which featured teams from a combination of five schools. Dave was the Parks and Rec instructor for the City of Rio Rancho, teaching lessons for ages seven through adult from mid-August through October. One of the adults hosted a house party get-together for a couple of the classes, which was a great socializing time. He also taught several hours of private lessons each week.
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Following the holidays and injury rehab, Dave is looking forward to an active travel year in 2024—Mexico to see the PGA tour stop there in February, a Viking River cruise in Europe in May, a family reunion in Maine in mid-summer and a return to his hometown of Lockport, NY in late summer. He is looking forward to the Spring helping with the Rio Rancho High teams as a volunteer coach, doing Parks and Rec teaching, doing private instruction, and playing and/or hitting from time to time. Dave will finish two terms on the ruling board of his church but will continue his involvement in two choirs and as a youth group co-leader.
Northern Arizona by Andrea Meyer
Northern AZ Pros are busy with lots of fresh activity on their courts. Who wouldn’t pay $10. to buy a mulligan or a third serve? Most players would as Sedona Elite Pro Jake Worseldine knows. He hosted and helped organize, with player Nessa Scheu, a charity tournament at Poco Diablo Resort benefitting five different anti- human trafficking agencies in Tucson and around the world. Jake set up the tournament’s waterfall format with consolation brackets and then fattened the check to the charities by offering players re-dos on double faults and framers. Scheu said the benefit raised $5,500 to help the agencies rescue sex- trafficked victims and help fund litigation against perpetrators. Clarkdale Pro Andrea Meyer’s new joy has been her tennis club at Mountain View Prep, a k-8 school in Cottonwood. “I started out with 8 kids, but they kept
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inviting their friends, and I roped in another kid who was hanging around the playground after school, waiting for his mom, and suddenly, I had 14. Their mascot is an ocelot, so I call my club The Awesomelots.” Andrea’s program is funded by the district’s 21st Century Grant and SW USTA. Cottonwood-Oak Creek Superintendent Steve King sent out a videographer to record the group and publicize afterschool clubs. Andrea, along with Lake Havasu HS coach Andrew Mauer will be holding a first-ever junior varsity “Skills, Drills, & Thrills” event at Lake Havasu’s excellent tennis complex Dec. 2. “Long distances separate northern AZ schools, so we thought it would spur interest in preseason play and foster readiness if we provided a clinic and mini tournament format for these players who are not yet traveling to USTA tourneys,” Andrea explained. The mini matches will be tweaked a bit to focus on specific skills, for example fast-four sets requiring two legal hits before a point can be scored. Prescott HS and Pro Sterling Fetty and his family— wife Janelle and three sons Leyton, Landon, and Camden—were awarded the NAZ Tennis Family of the Year at the NAZ Awards Picnic Oct. 21. The picnic, emcee’ d by Master Pro Larry Lineberry of Sedona, honored players and volunteers and featured yard games such as badminton, corn hole, and touch tennis. Also honored at the picnic was Prescott Pro Zach Hackerott who devotes numerous hours and techsavvy expertise in composing the Prescott Area Tennis Association’s newsletter and other USTA tournament publicity. Elite Prescott Pro Chris Howard spoke at length in delivering his star student Andrew Bogdanov’s award for Player of the Year. Chris has been an integral and consistent partner in Andrew’s meteoric rise to the top of the US and World wheelchair tennis echelon. page 15
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A Publication of the USPTA Southwest Division Jack Michalko / editor 77 East Missouri Avenue, Suite 62, Phoenix, AZ 85012 602-740-0126 / e-mail: jack.michalko@uspta.org The Southwest Magazine is published quarterly by the Southwest Division of the United States Professional Tennis Association. The opinions expressed in the Southwest Magazine are those of the authors and not necessarily those of Southwest Magazine or the USPTA Southwest Division. Copyright© Southwest Division/United States Professional Tennis Association, Inc. 2023. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any portion of this newsletter is not permitted without written permission from the USPTA Southwest Division. Advertising information: All ads must be camera ready and in color if possible. Prices are per issue. Full Page.............$150 Half Page............$100 1/4 Page..............$70
December 2023
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