A Division of the USPTA
December 2020
INSIDE: President’s Message - 2 Testing News - 3 Becoming your best - 4 2020 Southwest Awards - 5-6 Area News - 8-14
Happy Holidays
President’s Message Dave Moyer - USPTA Southwest President
T
o say that 2020 has been interesting is an understatement of epic proportions. But despite all the difficulties that the pandemic has brought and the stress of an election year, there has been one shining bright spot - the sport of tennis is making a big comeback. As I talk to pros across the Southwest and across the nation, there is one theme that everyone has in common and that is both participation and revenue is way up over the past six months or so. Usually we associate a golden age of a particular sport with what is happening on the pro level. Most consider the golden age of tennis to be the 70’s and early 80’s due to the tremendous ratings that tennis would bring especially when you think about the Battle of the Sexes match and the level of interest in both the men’s and women’s tours. This resulted in packed tennis courts at the local level. But even though the pro level isn’t having the interest it once did due to the pandemic, I do think we are in a golden era at the grassroots level. How long that will last I don’t know, but as USPTA tennis professionals we have a tremendous opportunity right now to capitalize on a marketplace that is hungry for safe, fun, organized activities and tennis checks all the boxes. Let’s all work together to continue to raise the bar in programming, instruction and fun, positive energy out on the courts and at your facilities. USPTA professionals across the country are in a hiring mode right now so this is a great opportunity for us to promote the Elevate program and get new professionals in positions that fit both their needs and those of the facilities. If you are in a position of hiring, look for strong candidates that can promote diversity and inclusion. Opportunities are there for us all so let’s make it happen!
active and up to date. If you missed the deadline for the free dues in 2021 it’s not too late to get everything done to get free dues for 2022. With as much tennis activity that is happening, your USPTA membership will be that much more valuable. Take the few minutes to get the USTA Safe Play done as well as any education credits that you need. Just remember that a rising tide raises all boats! The tide is rising for tennis participation and that is great news for the sport, for facilities and for USPTA professionals. I look forward to hopefully seeing everyone in 2021 at either the Southwest conference in May or World Conference in Vegas in September.
Did You Miss Out on the First Free Dues Offer? This may be your lucky year. You can still qualify for the offer provided by USTA and USPTA by fulfilling the require-ments, but it will be for 2022. The deadline is well past for the 2021 dues, but this is an incredible gesture to double back on the offer again. If you were close, use the rest of the year to finalize the requirements. They are listed in the graphic, and it is easy to check from the home page at USPTA.org.
With the growth in tennis it is also vitally important that you make sure to keep your USPTA membership
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December 2020
USPTA Southwest Tester Update By Southwest Head Tester, Dr. Gregory Prudhomme
H
ello Southwest USPTA Pros! We are all facing challenges during this pandemic, but I hope everyone will have the best possible holiday season under the circumstances. Stay healthy and be grateful for the things that we do have. Best wishes to you and your families.
Nationwide and Southwest Division testing resumed in June with more tests scheduled through the end of the year as well as through March, 2021. The Southwest will have two more certification dates to close out 2020 with three more scheduled for next year. The dates and locations are provided below. These remaining dates are only for those who applied to become certified before October 31, 2020 or for currently certified pros interested in upgrading. Any new applicant from this point forward will follow the new USPTA certification pathway, which includes six to nine months of hands-on work experience under the guidance of a USPTA-approved mentor, 300 hours of online and/or in-person education, and the completion of USTA Safe Play training with a background check. This new pathway will increase the credibility of our USPTA certification as well as fully prepare future applicants to be successful in the tennis industry. As always, let me know if you have any questions or you can reach out to your local tester: Larry Lineberry (Northern Arizona), Bryan Dirks (Tucson), Dick Johnson (Albuquerque), and Jonathan Davis (Phoenix). Let us know if you have any questions. You can reach me at 602-301-1394 or at gmprudhomme@yahoo.com.
2020 Certification Dates: * December 4-5; Glendale, AZ @ Paseo Racquet Center 2021 Certification Dates: * January 29-30; Glendale, AZ @ Paseo Racquet Center * February 12-13; Tucson, AZ @ Tucson Country Club * March 13; Cottonwood, AZ @ Mingus Union High School
December 2020
USPTA members who are interested in Upgrading from Professional to Elite Certification must apply by December 31, 2020 and Complete by March 31, 2021. The Elite certification level was designed for Professionals who wish to take their careers to the next level. This category is for those interested in becoming head professionals and/or directors of tennis. The requirements to upgrade include: *Score Elite level on the certification exam - private lesson, group lesson, and stroke production *Pass the online Elite stroke analysis exam with a score of 75% or higher (20 minute time limit). *Pass the multiple choice and written portions of the online Elite exam with a score of 75% or high (90 minute time limit). The required courses to prepare for the online Elite exam include: * Using your Coaching Skills in a Manager’s Role (specialty course) * Tennis Management (specialty course) * Management: a Learned Skill (specialty course) * Accounting 101 webinar Call the membership department at 407-634-3050 to register for the upgrade. The upgrade fee is $125 for re-testing the on-court components and $75 for re-testing the online exam.
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BECOMING YOUR BEST
B
ecoming your best requires a strategy and in tennis that strategy is the “3 Legged Stool”. If you remove one of the legs of the stool the stool will fall over. Here are the legs to consider as you are wanting to be your best.
1. TRAIN HARD 2. GET GOOD NUTRITION 3. ADEQUATE REST Let’s talk about each one of these components a little. 1. TRAIN HARD Training hard covers not only the effort on the court but giving attention to the training in the weight room (strength and stretching). I want to add one more aspect to the training and that is “Mental training”. Are you putting in the time to read a good book on sports psychology? How about strategy? If you are waiting for your tennis pro to teach you everything, you might be waiting a long time. Be proactive! Look up YouTube videos on all of these areas. The information is at your fingertips.
Christine Paulsen, USPTA Trinity Tennis, LLC
2. GET GOOD NUTRITION Do you eat well? How are you feeling after a training session? Out of breath? Tired? Seeing spots? Stomach ache? Do you have a nutritional plan? It can’t be by chance. Remember the saying “Failing to plan is planning to fail” Do you supplement where your nutrition is lacking? How about water intake? Hydrating your body with water is very important. I am not just talking about what to take into your body but what not to take into your body! If you are a serious athlete and want to be your best you will research foods that are not healthy vs foods and drinks that are healthy. Some are common sense but somethings you can be doing better to fuel and help recover the athletic body! 3. ADEQUATE REST This area has gotten more research in the last 5 years than any other component! As we are living in this tech world we are seeing young athletes not getting the appropriate rest needed for recovery. Not only their bodies but their minds! Young people and even older tennis players are putting in too much screen time for their brains. Especially during the “Covid 19” pandemic, Children of all ages are not letting their brains rest. I heard a coach say once, “You can only train as hard as you recover”. There is a lot of truth in that statement!! So get the appropriate rest for your body and get off the screen 2 hours before bedtime. Rest also means time off court after a tournament and not stressing the same muscles every day in your strength program. As you can see each one of these “Legs of the Stool “are important to becoming your best. When one is missing the stool will fall over or in the case of your tennis success plan, it will not be complete. You want to see your STOOL every day in front of you so I would recommend a tennis journal and write down each of these components and start off with just one thing that you want to work on each week. Journal to yourself what is working and what you want to change. Just like we are all different in our goals, age and performance level, our stools will look different. Plan out what your “3 legged Stool” should look like with your coach and parent. Last but not least you must be CONSISTENT! The “3 Legged Stool” means nothing if you don’t do something each day! Be strong & courageous!
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December 2020
December 2020
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Division Awards Nominating Form United States Professional Tennis Association 2021 Awards Program GENERAL RULES: * Award period is from January 1 – December 31, 2020 unless otherwise noted in award category. * Only USPTA certified members, (Master Professional, Elite Professional and Professional) in good standing are eligible for USPTA member awards. * Only USPTA members in good standing may submit nominations in all categories. * Self-nominations are acceptable. * All award categories may not necessarily be awarded on an annual basis. * Awards Committee will determine if there are qualified candidates in any category. * Awards will be presented at the 2021 USPTA SOUTHWEST Division Conference
APPLICATIONS AND AWARD NOMINATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED NO LATER THAN April
1, 2021
******************************************************************************
NOMINATION FORM AWARD CATEGORY:_________________________________________________ NAME TO BE NOMINATED: ______________________________ USPTA# _______ NOMINEE CONTACT DETAILS: phone: ____________________ email: ________________ INFORMATION ON NOMINEE: __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ Additional detailed information on nominee as to why this member deserves this recognition is encouraged. Please submit a bio if possible and as much in-depth information as you can. NOMINATING MEMBER NAME: _____________________________________
USPTA#________________
NOMINATOR CONTACT DETAILS: phone: ____________________ Email: ____________________________
ALL NOMINATIONS MUST BE SENT VIA EMAIL TO: sukong.uspta@gmail.com QUESTIONS: Contact: Suk Ong at 602-881-0467 or sukong.uspta@gmail.com
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December 2020
USPTA SOUTHWEST AWARDS CATEGORIES 2021 STEVE WILKINSON COLLEGE COACH OF THE YEAR AND HIGH SCHOOL COACH OF THE YEAR AWARD - recipients are usually selected based on their results as team coaches, however, individual coaches may be considered. DIVERSITY AWARD – recognizes the USPTA member who has demonstrated an outstanding ability to unite diverse populations within his/her community through tennis GEORGE BACSO LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD – recognizes a member who, over a career, has demonstrated exemplary achievement in seven areas, including: contributions to USPTA and USTA, as a teaching professional, player and coach; in education, research and publications; and with other organizations, achievements and contributions. USPTA SOUTHWEST PROUD DIVISIONAL AWARD – DIVISION AWARD ONLY - recognizes a member who exemplifies integrity, respect and passion for tennis on and off the court. This award may or may not be given out each year. This award is at the discretion of the USPTA Southwest Awards Committee. INDUSTRY EXCELLENCE AWARD - is given to teaching professionals who take both an altruistic and entrepreneurial attitude toward their jobs. They use their own resources and those offered by the industry to build programs that bring tennis to more people. At the same time, they are successful in growing a tennis business. ALEX GORDON PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR – recognizes a member who, over a calendar year, has demonstrated exemplary achievement in seven areas, including: USPTA, allied organizations, club achievements, career development, volunteerism, coaching achievements and playing achievements. USPTA LESSONS FOR LIFE AWARD – recognizes those USPTA members who have done the most to raise money for charities through tennis events. While the award spotlights individuals who have raised large amounts of money, it also honors those hosting the most creative, original or unique tennis event to raise money for charities. An individual hosting an event raising the most money will not necessarily receive this award. USPTA STARS – are members who have dedicated many years to volunteering in grassroots tennis and through initiatives incorporating multicultural and other aspects; bringing the sport and sportsmanship to the players they touch. Their giving spirits have made them stars in their own communities. We may not have heard of the people who receive this award, but their stories are inspiring, and almost all of us know at least one person who deserves a nomination. USPTA Elevate Award - recognizes a new USPTA Pro, 5 or less years as a member that, through their tennisteaching and volunteer spirit, has increased opportunities for others to participate in tennis. This member exemplifies and emphasizes individual achievement and sportsmanship along with teaching the physical attributes of the sport. This member has served the USPTA in one capacity or another, and has made a commitment to grassroots tennis and an indelible impression on his/her community.
December 2020
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Northern New Mexico by Dick Johnson
I
t has been a trying, cre ative, and interesting time in Northern New Mexico. On a personal note, I have been busy taking care of my wife, Marcie who was diagnosed with some cancer issues on her leg. She is improving daily and the margins have been clear but it
tion. The kids had to wear their masks during play which is challenging but it can be done and our juniors performed admirably. A huge thank you to fellow USPTA Pro, Amy Badger, who was the tournament director. Our high school tennis season will not begin until April 5th, 2021 and will end mid- June this year. I have already started our JV and freshman boys with a “PreSeason” weekly challenge match schedule. My varsity is engaged with challenge matches the next two months. I hope everyone has a blessed holiday. Let’s get through this. Everyone be safe out there!
Doug McCurdy: The Coronavirus has had a big impact on my role as an international tennis consultant. No airplane travel since February!
is a slow process and requires her to keep her leg elevated for the next 30-45 days. Tennis has been challenging but many of our clubs have reported wonderful activities. Our recent Corley Cup sponsored by Ed Corley saw scholarships being given to our juniors in singles and doubles plus consola-
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However, I continue to follow the professional game very closely even in this much abbreviated season. In my former roles as Development Director for the International Tennis Federation and Player Development Director for the USTA I tried to observe, understand and anticipate trends in the sport in order to help national associations, players and coaches achieve the best result possible. A few comments on the men’s game: Men’s tennis is undergoing a massive shift. Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer have totally dominated the game for the past 17 years. For the time being, they still are. The only other players during that time with more than one Grand Slam singles title were Stan Wawrinka and Andy Murray with three each. At his point in time there is a serious youth movement going on. Most of the best players are either “mature” or young. There are not many in what would generally be considered as mid-career. Some observations of the top Top 30 men on the ATP Rankings: * In the Top Ten there are three (the same Big Three) that are 33 or older. Only two, Thiem (27) and Schwartzman (28) are in mid-career. The other five are between 22-24 years of age. * Eight of the players ranked between 11-20 are be-
December 2020
tween 29-35 years old. The other two are Shapovalov (21) and Khachavov (24). None are in mid-career. * Of the 10 players ranked between 21 and 30, seven are between 20 and 24 years old, the other three are over 30. None are in mid-career. * Only two of the top 30 are in mid-career. Fourteen of the Top 30 are between 20 and 24 years old, fourteen of the top 30 are 29+.
to still have jobs and continue to make a living working in an industry that we all love. I wish all the tennis pros, clubs and players the best of luck making the most of this uncomfortable pandemic. Then again that is just being mentally tough, something that tennis has definitely taught me over the years.
Amy Badger: Good players tend to come in groups or clusters. There are a host of superb players between the ages of 20-24. International junior tennis for boys was of extremely high quality between 2014 and 2018 after a bit of a lull in terms of players emerging that could seriously challenge the best guys. The young guard is exceptionally good. They see each other succeeding and relish every opportunity to try to beat the veterans. Hopefully, we will have the opportunity to have a player from the Southwest in the mix sometime. Why not?
Ralph Bolton: Our outdoor courts in Santa Fe are very busy with members and guests enjoying the beautiful autumn weather and a safe way to get some exercise. We were able to keep our clay court open until November 8th this year. The junior program is as busy as we have ever seen it. Stay safe everyone!
David Pitts: It is amazing that everything that happens has winners and losers. Covid has made tennis a winner. We have seen a huge uptick in people playing tennis. At Tanoan even the golfers are out hitting the courts, and hitting balls over the fences. Boy do they need lessons. Due to all of this new activity lesson demand is up as everyone wants to take this opportunity to improve their games. It is a shame that we are not allowed to have any social events, tournaments or club leagues. We are waiting for things to settle down so that we can move these new players into some of the activities that make tennis such a fun social sport. Tennis is the perfect avenue to socialize, get outdoors and stay in shape, it is very easy to keep physical distance and keep everyone safe. As a tennis pro I see it as my job to promote these benefits to as many people as possible. We are not only lucky to be in the tennis business, but we are lucky
December 2020
We have had many challenges with competition in NM with COVID restrictions, but thanks to Eddie Corley, we were able to run the Corley Cup, a charity event, October 8-11 for varsity high school players. I took on the role of tournament director when Eddie’s daughter, Ivanna returned to school in August. This event was a success because of a dedicated volunteer committee and wonderful people helping during this event. Even with very strict protocols, 70 players registered for singles and doubles events, and wearing masks during play tells you how important this event was to the kids. The Corley Cup raised over $30,000 for three New Mexico charities. In addition, the Corley’s awarded scholarship money to winners, finalists and players recognized for their sportsmanship. I’ve also been lucky to be able to work with 48 middle school players during what would be our middle school season. These players again, by order of our governor are all required to wear masks while playing and cannot play against other teams. To have this number of players again tells us how important the mental and physical well-being of the kids is in play. Other than that lessons continue here in Santa Fe. I hope to start the New Year with the NM High School Tennis Showcase series but we will just have to wait and see what happens. Stay safe and healthy everyone!
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John Damgaard in Santa Fe reports:
Joe Felice will be celebrating his 50th Anniversary
Covid is winning. Here in Santa Fe NM the Pandemic is winning; but hopefully we will win as the seasons move on. Fortunately, there is NO Covid in the City of Santa Fe Tennis Community. However, we must now wear our masks while playing Top Dog at STC.
as a USPTA Professional in 2021. He has been a Head/ Penn Advisory Staff member for 45 years.
ALTO under Monica McLin, is running an intrasquad competition with singles and doubles and not playing USTA Leagues at Salvador Perez Park Tennis Courts, local pros have found a sanctuary in giving lessons outside their charges both for youth and adult as far as USTA Leagues are concerned, we had two mixed teams out of STC - a 7.0 Knight Team and an 8.0 Damgaard Team. From EG there was an 8.0 Ladies 55+ Miller Team and out of SFTSC Bloodworth there was a 55 + 9.0 men’s team. The Sunday Socials at STC have only a couple of courts going rather than the usual five or six courts with a waiting list of players wanting to play. Social Tennis is also taking its toll as fewer players are willing to venture out and play with the spike in Covid.
Dave Shambach has had to “re-tool” during the Pandemic by taking advantage of online learning opportunities, such as WC 20, USTA, USPTA, Tennis Industry United, pros such as Jorge Capestany and others. I have been able to teach a few private/semiprivate lessons in place of programs shut down by COVID, unable to teach recreational tennis for the City of Rio Rancho, NM and unable to help coach at the middle school/ high school level. With wife Nancy being the Director of a Nursing at an Assisted Living Facility, I have had to be especially careful to limit my possible exposure to COVID. This prevented me from answering the call to help supervise at the Corley Cup. On a personal note, Nancy and I have suffered the deaths of two beloved four-legged “honorary tennis playing” pets, Haillie a 12 year old Yorkie earlier in 2020, and Toby, a 14 year old Pug, within the last 6 weeks
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Joe is currently the Captain of seven fall USTA Flex League Teams and plays on six teams. He has also been playing nurse for his wife, Mitzie, who has recently has a hip replacement.
Southeastern Arizona by John Perry
H
ello from Tucson, 2020 certainly has been a challenging year in many ways, but one positive is that tennis appears to be experiencing an influx of new players. Children and adults whose regular activities have been shut down have been giving
our sport a try. Tennis is booming at clubs and facilities in many places including Southern Arizona. Reffkin Tennis Center, after being closed for 4 ½ months and having 41 events cancelled, has reopened and often all 25 courts are filled with players! Over 75 juniors are training at the Smith-Perry Tennis Academy and are already winning titles around Arizona. USPTA pros Ronnie Smith and Jay Hitchcock have been running tournaments at Reffkin including the
December 2020
Monster Madness Level 4 Junior Masters, Tucson City Championships, and an ITA Fall Circuit event. They are hopeful the USTA Winter National Championships will be held in December. USPTA pro Bryan Dirk at the Tucson Country Club reports, “Our program is seeing continued success through the Fall season. By the numbers, our 2020 Summer was the largest on record since the 80’s/early 90’s. We are very thankful to be able to provide an outlet to our members during these trying times, and grateful they are trusting us with their families. Maybe in 20 years we can look back and measure the growth of our game as it relates to the pandemic.” USPTA pro Britt Feldhausen has been teaching small groups of children with restrictions, particular to small family bubbles. According to Britt, “Who better to practice with than someone you live with?” Britt also reports that the Tucson Community Tennis Program (long time program that introduces hundreds of kids to tennis in schools) is in a holding pattern until schools return to safe inperson classes and
December 2020
volunteers and PE classes are allowed. I would like to wish a warm welcome to USPTA pro Amanda Fink, who recently moved to Tucson from San Diego. Amanda was heavily involved in the USPTA and USTA in Southern California promoting tennis as well as being a former standout player at USC and top 300 WTA player. Amanda has accepted a position at La Paloma Country Club and is already busy teaching all levels of players. We look forward to her involvement in all aspects of tennis here in Southern Arizona and the Southwest. In mid-November, we had a small socially distanced USTA/USPTA kickoff meeting to discuss some goals for growing tennis is 2021. Britt Feldhausen’s wonderful tennis garden backyard and famous pulled pork made for an ideal luncheon meeting with USPTA pros John Perry, Bryan Dirk and Amanda Fink. Our USTA Tennis Service Representative joined us so we can coordinate our pros and volunteers for 2021 events. We look forward to in person USPTA meetings hopefully in early 2021!
Get Safe Play by January 1 Attention Certified Active Professionals All Certified Active Professionals must be Safe Play trained and Safe Play compliant by January 1, 2021! Visit USTA.com/safeplay to start your training or to check your status go to: https://www.usta.com/en/home/safe-play.html
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Phoenix, Arizona by Ryan Johnson
G
reetings Southwest Pros and Tennis Enthusiasts! I hope this finds you and your loved ones safe and healthy. While the pandemic remains with us, it’s been encouraging to see so many tennis programs thriving and participants enjoying the game. And while we have undoubtedly faced adversity and been forced to innovate, the industry has done a tremendous job at adapting and providing relief and resources for providers to safely and successfully operate. Below are a few updates from around the Valley. At Desert Mountain Club, there has been exponential growth over the last few months compared to the prior year. In October 2019, the
club had approximately 144 tennis court reservations. For October 2020, there were 477 tennis court reservations. Utilizing technology, such as videos, has enabled the club to stay engaged with the membership and highlight programs while also communicating safety measures. Additionally, they have been able to
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offer several social mixers and member tournaments. By capping the participant total, implementing temperature checks upon entry, and coordinating with F&B on the creation of individual food containers, they have successfully provided social opportunities while keeping everyone safe. At the college ranks, conferences are leading the charge on how to safely navigate the pandemic. The PAC-12 brokered a deal with Quidel, a major American manufacturer of diagnostic healthcare products that are sold worldwide. Matt Hill, Head Coach of the Arizona State Men’s Program, explained that the partnership has really enabled the student athletes to resume practice full-time. With the testing machines, that provide results in 15 minutes, athletes can be tested on daily basis when necessary. While teams are still deciding on an in-conference only schedule vs. including additional out of conference matches, the spring season is looking very promising. The program will feature 2 of the top incoming freshman from the US. Spencer Brachman is the number 1 player out of New York and Max McKennon is the number 1 player out of California. Coach Hill further explained that he is unsure on what fan engagement will look like this season but they are exploring all options, including live streaming. Please join me in welcoming George Schuldberg to Phoenix, Arizona. George is a USPTA Elite Professional
December 2020
SOUTHWEST OFFICERS
and is the new Director of Racquets at Arizona Country Club, which was recently named a Platinum Club of America. Prior to AZCC, George enjoyed success at several exceptional private country clubs including, Houston Country Club, The Briar Club (Houston), Austin Country Club, Royal Oaks Country Club (Dallas), and most recently, Happy Hollow Club in Omaha, Nebraska. George was a state and nationally ranked junior player in Texas before playing collegiate tennis at national standout Midland College (TX) and Houston Baptist University (TX). His wife Susan Bryson was also a highly ranked junior player who played for the University of Texas Austin. George and Susan have both held adult state and national rankings, and still enjoy playing mixed doubles where they have won a USTA Gold ball together.
President Dave Moyer 480-342-7240 dmoyer@ccdranch.com Regional VP Laurie Martin 480-213-2083 lmartin@ppiarizona.com Vice President Amy Badger 505-379-6728 badgers3@me.com Secretary Suk Ong 602-881-0467 suk_ong@tempe.gov Treasurer Greg Prudhomme 602-301-1394 gmprudhomme@yahoo.com Past President Jonathan Davis 520-360-0182 jdavisuspta@gmail.com Pro Emeritus Britt Feldhausen 520-886-1885 brittfeldhausen@mac.comesident Executive Director Jack Michalko 602-740-0126 usptasw@cox.com
SOUTHWEST COORDINATORS George says he looks forward to meeting his fellow professionals in the Phoenix and greater Arizona area. He would love to hear from all of you and you can contact him at george@azcountryclub.com. We bid farewell to Past President, Jonathan Davis. Jonathan, former Director of Racquets at Desert Mountain Club, has recently moved to Meridian, Idaho, just outside of Boise. Please join me in wishing Jonathan and his family the absolute best on their new adventure. I know I speak for all of us, when I say, you will be missed Jonathan.
December 2020
Northern New Mexico Dick Johnson 505-507-6795 richarddjtennis@aol.com Phoenix Ryan Johnson 480-267-0725 rjohnson@dmbclubs.com Southeastern Arizona John Perry 520-403-8290 jptennis25@yahoo.com Northern Arizona Andrea Meyer 928-300-4352 andreajmeyer@yahoo.com Southern New Mexico & l Paso TBD Head Tester Greg Prudhomme 602-301-1394 gmprudhomme@yahoo.com
The Southwest Magazine is the official Publication of the USPTA Southwest Division of the United States Professional Tennis Association.
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Northern Arizona by Andrea Meyer
D
ecember will bring a long-awaited move to the Phoenix area and with it more competitive play for USPTA pro Karin Sobotta of Fort Mohave (Bullhead City area). Karin, a recently retired physical therapist and pickleball tournament player, will be seeking a tennis or pickleball teaching position in the Peoria area. She is also a level 2 pickleball referee working on her final referee certification. A high- caliber player as well, Karin and her doubles partner, Julie Rulse, won gold in October in the Las Vegas Pro Pickleball Championships (19+, women’s 4.5). In mixed, she and partner Mark Cook took home a bronze (50+, 5.0). She traveled to St. George, UT, for more pickleball in Oct., winning a bronze with partner Randi Levenbaum (women’s 50+, 4.5) in the Fall Brawl. USPTA pro Sterling Fetty, Prescott, has continued to lead the way and work with Cottonwood elite pro Jake Worseldine and pro Andrea Meyer in hosting USTA Team Challenges for juniors at the Minus Union HS courts the first Saturday of every month. “It is such a refreshing sight to see a bunch of kids, outdoors, having fun and practicing their fledgling serves and groundstrokes at these Team Challenge events. One good thing, ironically, that COVID has done for our Verde Valley tennis programs is bring out kids who are new to tennis,” said Andrea. In Prescott, the Yavapai College courts continue to be locked because of COVID-related insurance issues, though the college’s website lists January 2 as a reopening date. Until then, Sterling, who coaches the Prescott HS teams, and other Prescott pros Dave Hibbs, Chris Howard, and Zach Hackerott, have been scrambling
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for teaching time at private courts and at PHS. The PHS courts are badly cracked, so newly-instituted court fees there are helping to fund a resurfacing project. Zach Hackerott has been helping organize and coach the women’s tri level NAZ team and is traveling down the hill to Wickenburg Ranch in December to teach cardio and strategy clinics. Police officers on the tennis courts? Yes! Andrea and Jake hosted a competitive cardio tennis workout for Clarkdale’s police department Nov. 18. The 10 officers, divided into two teams, fought it out in games of Touch the Fence, Tennis Hoops, and Roll Out. None of the officers had prior tennis experience, so it was a contest of sheer will- to-win and some surprising unorthodoxy. “The police chief said there was a firm rule against cussing, but I believe I heard a few unkind words here and there,” Andrea observed. It was a hoot, and the pros might have made a few tennis converts. Larry Lineberry, Sedona USPTA Master Professional, had a successful knee replacement in October and was back teaching in mid-November. Thanks to “aggressive use of pain medication,” Larry effected terrific rehab results and will help elite pro Dr. Greg Prudhomme conduct his next USPTA certification exam in Phoenix November 20. Larry claims to have shed weight during his recovery from surgery. He says, “I lost 9 pounds because my bourbon was cut off because it doesn’t mix well with pain meds.” Larry founded the Oxendale Autogroup Tournament (adult and junior events) in the fall of 2019, and it will return September 24-26, 2021, at Mingus Union HS in Cottonwood and Sedona Red Rock HS. Meantime, Larry and wife Elizabeth will travel to DC in January to see the inauguration of President-elect Biden and the historic induction of VP Kamala Harris. Sedona USPTA Elite Pro Claudette Laliberte, like the rest of us, is looking forward to resuming special events that have been part of her programming for years: her Super Bowl Round Robin where players wear their favorite team’s jersey and the Valentine’s Day Special.
December 2020
December 2020
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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. CopyrightŠ Southwest Division/United States Professional Tennis Association, Inc. 2020. 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.
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December 2020