Martina Navratilova and Lindsay Davenport · women since 1975 (the others being Chris Evert, Steffi...

Martina Navratilova and Lindsay Davenport Headline Tennis Festival Of The North

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Get your tickets now as 18-time Grand Slam singles cham-pion Martina Navratilova joins three-time Grand Slam singles champion and 1996 Olympic gold medalist Lindsay

Davenport in headlining the inaugural Tennis Festival of the North April 9-11 at Eden Prairie High School in Eden Prairie, Minn. Formerly the Tennis & Life Clinic, the Festival features both on-court and off-court sessions, a vendor fair, a fan interaction area, equipment demos, an exhibition featuring Davenport and Navratilova, prizes and more.

The weekend kicks off Friday night with two Demos and Drills clinics at Life Time Fitness – Eden Prairie where players can try the latest in tennis equipment while participating in group drills with local teaching pros. The first session is for adults and seniors, while the second session is for high school players and teams.

Saturday’s events begin with the opening session featuring Davenport. Davenport, of Palos Verdes, Calif., is one of only four women since 1975 (the others being Chris Evert, Steffi Graf and Navratilova) who has been year-end No. 1 at least four times in her career. She finished her career with a singles record of 753-194 and won 55 singles titles. She claimed her first Grand Slam singles title in 1998 at the US Open. She followed that by taking Wimbledon in 1999 and the Australian Open in 2000. She also won three Grand Slam doubles championships. Currently retired and a television analyst, Davenport is married to former All-America tennis player Jon Leach and has two children – son Jagger (2) and daughter Lauren (5 months).

The clinic continues on Saturday with sessions ranging on a wide variety of topics from many of the top professionals in the tennis industry including Minnesota native and Wimbledon semifinalist David Wheaton, former WTA champion and Minnesota product Ginger Helgeson-Nielsen; Gustavus Adolphus coaching legend Steve Wilkinson; Tennis Corporation of America Director of Tennis Ajay Pant; On-Court Off-Court President Joe Dinoffer, Tennis Canada’s Wayne Elderton and many, many more.

QuickStart Tennis will be featured on Saturday from 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at the Mall of America Best Buy Rotunda. Children and adults

will have a chance to play QuickStart Tennis, the new play format for beginning tennis players ages 5-10. There will be many local community programs participating, as well as assorted media personalities. Highlighting the event is Davenport appearing in an on-court session open to the public from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Saturday night is the exhibition featuring Davenport and Navratilova. This is your chance to see two of the greatest tennis play-ers of all-time compete in an intimate venue which seats only 3,000 people. Others scheduled to play include Wheaton, former French Open doubles finalist Jeff Tarango, USTA Sr. Director of Talent ID & Development Martin Blackman and many of the top juniors from USTA Northern. Fans also have the opportunity to purchase tickets to a VIP reception featuring Davenport prior to the match.

Navratilova opens Sunday’s activities with a sit-down interview. Formerly of the Czech Republic and now a United States citizen with dual citizenship, she is arguably the greatest women’s tennis player in history, winning 18 Grand Slam singles titles, 31 Grand Slam women’s doubles titles (an all-time record) and 10 Grand Slam mixed doubles titles. Navratilova is one of just three women to have accomplished a career Grand Slam in singles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles and she holds the open-era record for most singles titles (167) and doubles titles (177). She and doubles partner Pam Shriver won 109 consecutive matches at one point and won all four Grand Slam titles in 1984. Tennis legend Billie Jean King said Navratilova is “the great-est singles, doubles and mixed doubles player who’s ever lived.”

The Minnesota High School Coaches Association Annual Meeting will also be a part of the Tennis Festival of the North on Saturday afternoon prior to the exhibition at 4:30 p.m. All high school coaches are encouraged to attend and bring their teams for the weekend festivities.

Tickets are on sale for this exciting event now at www.tennisfes-tivalofthenorth.com. USTA members receive $10 off on All-Inclusive (clinic and general admission exhibition) tickets and $5 off on exhi-bition general admission tickets. The VIP reception packages are $125 and $150 each. For more information, please contact the USTA Northern office at 952-887-5001.

Friday, April 9 – Demos and Drills– Life Time Fitness – Eden Prairie(Space is limited to 108 people each session. You must register in advance to participate.)5:45-7:30 p.m. - Adults and Seniors Session7:15-9:00 p.m. - High School Players and Teams Clinics

Saturday, April 10 – Eden Prairie High School7:00 a.m. - Registration Opens 8:00 a.m.- 6:30 p.m. - Vendor Fair and Fan Interactive Area9:00-10:00 a.m. - Opening Session with Lindsay Davenport10:00 a.m. -4:30 p.m. - Mall of America QuickStart Event 10:15-12:30 p.m. - Sessions 12:30-2:00 p.m. - Lunch Break and Vendor Show2:00-4:15 p.m. - Sessions

4:30-6:30 p.m. - Minnesota State High School Coaches Association Meeting 5:00-6:30 p.m. - VIP and Reserved Seating Reception prior to exhibition at Life Time Fitness - Eden Prairie (must have separate ticket for this!)7:00-10:00 p.m. - Exhibition featuring Lindsay Davenport and Martina Navratilova. Also participating are David Wheaton, Martin Blackman, Jeff Tarango and top junior players in USTA Northern.

Sunday, April 11 – Eden Prairie High School8:00 a.m. - Registration/Check-in 8:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. - Vendor Show and Fan Interactive Area8:30-9:00 a.m. - Opening Session with Martina Navratilova9:15-11:30 a.m. - Sessions 11:45 a.m-12:30 p.m. - Closing Session/Prizes

2010 Tennis Festival of the North Schedule To order tickets, visit www.tennisfestivalofthenorth.com

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TENNIS FESTIVALof the north


USTA Northern Executive Director Mike Goldammer announced the hiring of Chris Dummermuth as the new Tennis Service Representative for South Dakota and Kelley

Okerman as the new Adult Competition Specialist and Twin Cities Area League Coordinator. Dummermuth begins her new position in May 2010, while Okerman started January 17.

A USTA Northern Hall of Famer and tennis legend in South Dakota, Dummermuth joins the Section in the newly-created position of Tennis Service Representative for South Dakota. She will be based out of Sioux Falls, S.D., in an effort to increase tennis participation by promoting, developing and servicing tennis programs across the state. She will also establish strong relationships with local tennis and non-tennis facilities, organizations and volunteers in those areas.

She comes to the Section after serving as an elementary and middle school teacher in Sioux Falls the past 35 years. In addition, she is a summer tennis instructor at Westward Ho Country Club, the tournament director for the SDHSAA State Tennis Championships and teaches pri-vate lessons to adults and juniors. She is currently a board member of the Sioux Falls Tennis Association and plays USTA League Tennis and tournaments.

She has worked as the Tennis Director of the Sioux Falls Parks and Recreation Department and was a boys and girls high school tennis coach. She was a member of the High School Coaches Association Board of Directors and a Coaches Representative for the same group in her career.

Dummermuth played college tennis at both Augustana College (1974-75) and Utah State (1972-73) and won the South Dakota State High School singles championship in 1971 and 1972 at Washington High School. She was inducted into the USTA Northern Hall of Fame in 2007 and is a member of the Sioux Falls Lincoln and Washington High School Halls of Fame, the South Dakota Tennis Hall of Fame and the South Dakota High School Coaches Hall of Fame. She was the 2001 winner of the USTA Northern Albert Teeter Adult Sportsmanship Award and was named the South Dakota Tennis Coach of the Year seven times. In April, she will add to her distinguished career when she is inducted into the South Dakota Sports Hall of Fame.

“Chris will be an excellent addition to our USTA Northern team,” Becky Cantellano, USTA Northern Director of Tennis Programs and Services, said. “She is a well-respected athlete, edu-cator and coach with strong connections to the South Dakota tennis community. As a Hall of Famer, she’s already an accomplished contributor to the USTA Northern mission and we are look-ing forward to expanding tennis opportunities in the state of South Dakota with her on staff.”

Okerman moves into her new role after serving as an Administrative Assistant for USTA Northern since 2007. During that time, she worked directly with the Executive Director, Assistant Executive Director, Section President and Board of Directors. She was responsible for meeting preparations, US Open ticket sales and the department archives, in addition to her day-to-day responsibilities as the main receptionist and customer service representative.

Before coming to USTA Northern, Okerman worked for 10 years in sales at Xerox, Surgidev and Steelcase. She is a graduate of St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn., with a Bachelor’s

degree in economics and history. “I am excited to have Kelley on board as the new Adult Competition

Specialist and Twin Cities League Coordinator,” Director of Adult Competition Nancy Lundberg said. “She comes in with a wealth of knowledge about USTA Northern, having worked for the Section the past two years. She has already established strong relationships with our staff, volunteers, players and partners. Her passion for ten-nis and her exceptional customer service skills are a huge benefit to USTA League Tennis in the Twin Cities and USTA Northern.”

In another move, Administrative Assistant Cory Haugen, who was job sharing with Okerman, has now assumed that position full time and can still be reached at (952) 887-5001 or at [email protected].

USTA NorthernHires Two New Positions

Chris Dummermuth

Kelley Okerman

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1001 West 98th Street, Suite 101Bloomington, MN 55431

(952) 887-5001 • (800) 536-6982Fax: (952) 887-5061

Kristi Bushinski (952-358-3280)Adult and Junior Tennis [email protected] Buysse (952-358-3290)Community Tennis Assistant/Jr. Team Tennis [email protected] Cantellano (952-358-3291)Community Development [email protected] Colbert (952-358-3283)Assistant Executive Director and Junior Competition [email protected] Egart (952-358-3292)Corporate and Collegiate Tennis [email protected] Goldammer (952-358-3284)Executive [email protected] Haugen (952-887-5001, ext. 110)Administrative [email protected] Johnson (952-358-3285)Adult Competition [email protected] Lundberg (952-358-3286)Community Tennis Assistant/Adult Tournament [email protected] Mushett (952-358-3282)Director of Marketing and [email protected] Okerman (952-887-5001, ext. 110)Administrative [email protected] Poehler (952-358-3281)Administration [email protected] Horning Shibley (952-358-3295)Tennis Service [email protected] Shute (952-358-3287)Twin Cities Area League [email protected] Smith (952-358-3288)Director of Membership and [email protected] Stingley (952-358-3289)Diversity [email protected]

STAFF DIRECTORY

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Kristi Bushinski (952-358-3280)Junior and Officials Programming Assistant [email protected]

Becky Cantellano (952-358-3291)Director of Tennis Programs and [email protected]

Pat Colbert (952-358-3283)Assistant Executive Director/Director of Junior [email protected]

Chris Dummermuth (starting in May 2010)Tennis Service Representative – South [email protected]

Jean Forbes (952-358-3297)Junior Teams [email protected]

Mike Goldammer (952-358-3284)Executive [email protected]

Cory Haugen (952-887-5001, ext. 110)Administrative [email protected]

Hayley Horning Shibley (952-358-3295)Tennis Service Representative – North [email protected]

Nancy Lundberg (952-358-3286)Director of Adult [email protected]

Lisa Mushett (952-358-3282)Director of Marketing and [email protected]

Christine Nickels (952-358-3290)Junior Teams [email protected]

Kelley Okerman (952-358-3287)Adult Competition Specialist/Twin Cities Area League [email protected]

James Poehler (952-358-3281)[email protected]

Sandy Smith (952-358-3288)Director of Membership & [email protected]

Tony Stingley (952-358-3289)Director of Training and [email protected]

4.5 Twin Cities Men Win USTA League National Championship!


Congratulations to the Twin Cities adult men’s team captained by Eric

Gleason who won the USTA League Tennis 4.5 National Championship in Las Vegas in November! Gleason’s team became the first USTA Northern National Champion since the men’s 5.5 team won in Las Vegas in 2004. Members of the win-ning team included Gleason, Adam Arians, Justin Baker, Geoff Basham, Ben Davis, Steve Fridinger, Jared Goerlitz, Brandon Heath, Ben Herding, Joel Hickman, David Holt, Nelson Iginla, Sean Kangrga, Kyle Rice, Jay Schlorf, Clay Sollenberger, Kent Stadum, Marc Stingley, Carl Wahlstrand and Aaron Zenner.

Nearly every member of the team, who represented the Fred Wells Tennis & Education Center in St. Paul, Minn., played tennis in college at schools such as Wisconsin, St. Cloud State, Winona State, Marymount, Ripon and Gustavus Adolphus. Many of them competed against each other at different points of their collegiate careers, but thanks to Gleason, came together this summer as one team with the ultimate goal of winning a National Championship.

Gleason receives all the credit for bringing the guys together and translating their talents to victory.

“He’s a maniac,” Davis said. “He’s a machine and he has these crazy spreadsheets that project the optimal lineup for each of our matches. He’s like a Vegas oddsmaker.”

“We did spend two or three hours strategizing in our hotel room. And yes, there were spreadsheets,” confesses Basham.

Those spreadsheets came in handy as Northern started the week-end by finishing 4-0 in its round-robin flight including a 4-1 win over Southwest in its first match. It then defeated Intermountain, 3-2, by winning two third-set tiebreakers, and Missouri Valley, 4-1, winning three third-set tiebreakers in the process. Northern then closed out round-robin play with a 3-2 win over Middle States.

Against Intermountain, the match was tied 2-2 when Zenner forced a third-set tiebreaker after being down a set. Zenner went up 9-6 in the tiebreaker, but Intermountain won the next two points making the score 9-8. Finally, Zenner put away the match, keeping Northern undefeated.

“Our entire team was watching and screaming their lungs out,” Gleason said. “I could barely watch.”

Then against Middle States, the two teams were tied again at 2-2 with Davis being the deciding match. Davis was playing a kid from Villanova with “a HUGE serve and big game,” but broke him six times and won the match in straight sets, giving Northern the 3-2 win.

“That match was one of the defining moments of the weekend,” Gleason said. “It was amazing to see the prototypical tennis player with huge strokes, big serves and mounds of athleticism lose

to the short and slightly husky guy. The Middle States team was shocked, and all the other teams we had previously beat came to watch that match. We had a lot of support from other Sections, which was also a big part of our weekend.”

It was on to Sunday where Northern played Southern in the semifinals, winning 3-2. In that match, Northern won both singles and the #3 doubles posi-tion to play Northern California in the finals. It was déjà vu in the Championship as they defeated Northern California by the same 3-2 score, winning both singles

matches and the #3 doubles spot. With all those close matches, was there a point when Gleason

and the team felt that maybe it was their destiny to win the whole thing?

“I think we thought we had a chance the entire time, but we all knew that we would have to catch the big breaks and play well dur-ing pressure situations,” Gleason said. “I think the moment I knew we could win the whole thing was when we beat Middle States in the final match on Saturday. They were up on us 2-0 and we came back to win 3-2. No one thought we would get a win in singles and we ended up sweeping them both.”

Not bad for a team of former adversaries who came together this season for the chance to win it all.

“We had guys who know how to win, and we all get along so well, it’s ridiculous,” said Davis, who wore the same Green Bay Packers jersey to play a match and go out on Saturday and then again on the plane ride home Sunday, much to the chagrin of his teammates and the people around him.

“It was a perfect combination of camaraderie and intensity,” adds Stingley.

Being in Vegas on Halloween weekend, you would expect the celebration to be raucous, (Remember what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas) but it was relatively calm as the team celebrated by sitting around the hotel hot tub, trading stories, singing 80s rock ballads and finally letting loose by taking a team photo with every-one jumping in the pool.

The championship also was meaningful for the team because it once again showed that Northern tennis is always a contender on the national tennis scene.

“I think our win shows that we can hang with the remainder of the United States,” Gleason said. “After I went to nationals in 2006, I had a bitter taste in my mouth because people took us lightly and saw us as a ‘weaker’ Section. My goal was to bring a quality team to Nationals and show we belong in the mix. Getting out of pool play was our main goal, but actually winning it proves that we have a strong Section and that Northern will be a section to watch out for in years to come.”

Twin Citiies - 4.5 Men’s National Champions.

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Register Now For Summer USTA League Tennis


USTA League Tennis is the world’s largest recreational tennis league providing organized, structured team matches for more than 650,000 men and women of all ability levels around the country. Teams consist of all women, all men or mixed doubles, and because they are set up according to the National Tennis Rating Program (NTRP), you’re always sure that you will be facing off against some-one of comparable ability. USTA Northern offers leagues from begin-ner (2.5) to advanced (5.0). All members must be USTA members and have a current NTRP rating (you can self-rate as well).

The program is open to women and men 18 years of age and older. Adult (18+), Senior (50+), Mixed Doubles, Super Senior (60+) and Tri-Level offerings feature a USTA Northern Championship, while there are also Combo and Flex League opportunities in the Twin Cities. This all culminates in an exciting National Championship for each skill level in places like Palm Springs, Tucson and Phoenix.

LEAGUE FORMATS • Adult Leagues: Single gender teams for men and women 18 years

of age and older. NTRP levels include 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5 and 5.0. Team match format consists of two singles matches and three doubles matches, except 2.5 and 5.0 divisions, which play one singles match and two doubles matches.

• SeniorLeagues: For men and women 50 years of age and older. NTRP levels include 3.0, 3.5, 4.0 and 4.5. Team match format con-sists of three doubles matches.

• SuperSeniorLeagues: Offers both a women’s and men’s league for players who are 60 years of age and older. The team format is three doubles positions and the levels of play are 6.0, 7.0, 8.0, & 9.0. Partners combined ratings may not exceed the level in which they are playing.

• MixedDoubles Leagues: For men and women 18 years of age and older. Teams are developed with a combined rating of 6.0, 7.0, 8.0, 9.0 and 10.0. Total NTRP rating cannot exceed level of team (i.e., 7.0 team could be a combination of two 3.5 players, one 4.0

partner and one 3.0 partner or one player a 3.0 and partner a 3.5). Format consists of three doubles matches.

• Tri-LevelLeagues: For men and women 18 years of age and older. NTRP levels include 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, and 4.5. Team format is two to four players per team at the same NTRP level. Play format is one doubles match.

• FlexLeagues: USTA Flex Leagues group players of similar ability together in an organized season that allows players to schedule 5-8 matches when it best fits their schedules at a convenient loca-tion. Players sign up online for singles, doubles, or mixed doubles play using the TennisLink system. Players can track standings, report scores and schedule their matches while online.

• ComboDoublesLeagues: For men and women 18 years of age and older. Teams are developed with a combined rating of 5.5, 6.5, 7.5, and 8.5. Total NTRP rating cannot exceed level of team (i.e., 6.5 team would be a combination of a 3.0 and a 3.5 player). Format consists of three doubles matches.Whether you are a beginner or a more advanced player, this

program has a place for you. There is no better way to have fun and make friends while playing the game you love.

To learn more about local leagues in your area, please contact your Area League Coordinator listed below.

Summer Registration Happening Now For USTA League Tennis

2010 USTA LEAGUE TENNIS POSTSEASON PLAY•TwinCitiesAreaChampionship: July 30 – August 1, 2010•AdultSectionChampionship: August 13 – 15, 2010•SeniorSectionChampionship: August 20 – 22, 2010•MixedDoublesSectionChampionship: August 27 – 29, 2010•Tri-LevelSectionChampionship: October 1-3, 2010•NationalChampionships:Adult & Senior: October 2010;

Mixed Doubles: November 2010; Super Senior: April 2011

Nancy Lundberg, Section League Coordinator, [email protected]

Hayley Horning Shibley, ND Tennis Service [email protected]

Chris Dummermuth (May 2010), SD Tennis Service [email protected]

Duluth, MN - Joe [email protected]

Bismarck, ND - Katrina [email protected]

Eau Claire, WI - Julia [email protected]

North Shore, MN - Lee [email protected]

Fargo, ND - Oliver [email protected]

SiouxFalls,SD - Erin [email protected]

Rochester, MN - Sheryl [email protected]

Washburn, WI - Ximena [email protected]

Rapid City, SD - Lori [email protected] Helen [email protected]

Kelley Okerman, TwinCitiesAreaLeagueCoordinator, [email protected]

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There is someThing for everyone!Player exhibition featuring Martina Navratilova and Lindsay Davenport.

On-and off-court sessions, outstanding speakers, vendor fair, equipment demos, prizes and much, much more.

For more information and to order tickets, visit www.tennisfestivalofthenorth.com

Buy your TickeTs now!Tennis Festival of the North

April 9-11, 2010

Eden Prairie High School

Eden Prairie, MinnesotaTENNIS FESTIVALof the north


LiNdsay daveNporTThree-Time Grand Slam

Singles Champion & 1996 Olympic Gold

Medalist

MarTiNa NavraTiLova18-Time Grand Slam Singles Champion & All-Time Winningest

Female Tennis Player In WTA Tour History

Also scheduled to appear: David Wheaton, Luke Jensen, Ginger Helgeson-Nielsen, Martin Blackman, Ajay Pant, Joe Dinoffer and other industry greats.

Tennis Participation Tops 30 Million Players In United States


We did it! The USTA and TIA

announced in Nov-ember that tennis participation in the United States topped 30 million players for the first time in more than two decades. The annual phone survey of 6,000

Americans showed that tennis participation grew in all age groups under the age of 50 and within all ethnicities. With 30.1 million people hitting the courts, tennis participation has grown 12% over 2008 and climbed 25% since 2003. The survey is conducted annu-ally by the Taylor Research Group on behalf of the Tennis Industry Association (TIA) and the USTA.

“We at USTA Northern have spent considerable time and energy working closely with our organizational members and tennis partners in making tennis more accessible and engaging for everyone,” USTA Northern Executive Director Mike Goldammer said. “This news only confirms to us that collectively, we are moving in the right direction. I’d like to thank everyone who helped in this effort and we anticipate carrying this positive momentum in to 2010 and beyond.”

New players comprised 7.1 million of the total, and the majority of tennis players consider themselves “regular players” (14.8 million). Though 15 of the 17 USTA sections were affected by record rainfall in the spring, total play occasions surpassed 560 million for only the second time in more than 20 years. The greatest percentage growth in participation was in players 12-17 which grew from 15.7% of the total participants in 2008 to 20.5% of the participants in 2009.

“The USTA continues to work closely with the entire tennis industry to grow our game, and we are extremely gratified that our collective efforts have generated such strong growth,” said Lucy S. Garvin, USTA President and Chairman of the Board. “We continue to strive to make tennis easier to learn and more fun to play. This com-mitment has led to millions of more Americans playing the game. I am proud of our network of sections, states/districts and community programs who have worked so hard to increase participation.”

The TIA/USTA survey results include: • Total participation broke the 30 million mark in 2009 (a 12%

increase to 30.1 million, against 26.9 million in 2008). • New players reached 7.1 million (up 19.5% from 5.9 million in

2008). • Regular Players, thoseplaying4 to 20 timesper year, increased

26% to 14.8 million players in 2009. • Participationin2009isupineverymajorethnicgroup,butespe-

cially among African Americans (+19%) and Hispanics (+32%) • Agegroupscomprisingthegreatestpercentageofplayersare

— 12-17 years at 20.5% of the total (more than 6 million players)

— 18-24 years at 18.4% of the total (more than 5.5 million players)

— 6-11 years at 16.25% of the total (4.9 million players)

— Tennis is doing a better job at retention with continuing players up 6.3% to 16 million

— Former players rejoining to the game is up for the third year in a row, with nearly 7 million coming back to tennis

USTA Northern also experienced tremendous growth in 2009 including:• USTANorthernmembershipwas 12,438, up6.1%over last year.

In addition, there are 232 USTA member organizations in the Section.

• Therewereover100sanctionedjuniortournamentsin2009andthe number of players registered for these events was up 4.5% over 2008.

• Thetotalnumberofplayersinsanctionedadulttournamentsroseby 3.7% over 2008, while the total number of registrations saw an 8.9% increase.

• Atotalof583coachesandteacherscompletedtrainingthroughRecreational Coach Workshops, QuickStart Tennis Workshops, and School In-Services in 2009, an increase of 17% over 2008 numbers.

• Thenumberofpageviewsatwww.northern.usta.comwasup9%compared with 2008 traffic.

• USTANorthernhas179registeredHighSchoolNo-CutCoaches,up 10% over 2008.

• Thereare84 registeredQuickStartTennis facilities,up55%over2008.

• 143 USTA Jr. Team Tennis teams participated in the summerChampionship Series, up 6% from 2008.

The TIA/USTA results compare favorably to other recent research released from industry organizations over the past 12 months. In the 2009 Sports and Fitness Participation Report conducted by the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association (SGMA), results showed tennis was the only traditional sport to enjoy growth in grassroots participation.

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Did You Know??Did you know the USTA is the national governing body for the sport of tennis in the UnitedStates and is a not-for-profit (501c4) organization with more than 740,000 membersnationwide? Or that the USTA invests 100% of its proceeds to promote and develop thegrowth of tennis from the grassroots to the professional levels? Here is how your membershipdues help grow the game and impact local communities in USTA Northern (also a 501c4).

$328,000 to JUNIOR COMPETITION AND USTA JR. TEAM TENNIS including theimplementation of QuickStart Tennis at the grassroots level. QuickStartTennis progresses into Jr. Team Tennis competition, junior tournaments,junior high performance opportunities and finally high school tennis andNo-Cut programming.

$294,000 to USTA LEAGUE TENNIS for local leagues and regional and sectionalchampionship events, plus adult tournaments offered throughout the Section.

$260,000 to SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY TENNIS INITIATIVES promoting tennisin public and private domains by educating teachers, coaches, park and reccoordinators and community tennis leaders to deliver the sport to themasses.

$178,000 for PUBLIC AWARENESS in helping promote and develop the growth oftennis throughout the entire Section. This includes publications/magazines,our Web site (northern.usta.com), special events and advertising.

$132,000 for GRANTS, SCHOLARSHIPS AND INFRASTRUCTURE fororganizations, individuals and communities. Included in this are initiatives torepair, expand and build new tennis facilities across the Section.

$80,000 to PROMOTE DIVERSITY within the game of tennis on all levels. A Level 1Priority for USTA Northern, diversity refers to difference of culture, ethnicity,race, gender, beliefs, social economic status, sexual orientation, familystatus, physical ability, appearance and ideas. USTA Northern is committedto achieving greater diversity throughout the sport and fostering a tennisenvironment that is more inclusive.

USTA Northern * 1001 W. 98th Street, Ste. 101, Bloomington, MN 55431 *800-536-6982 * www.northern.usta.com * [email protected]

So whether you are a tennis player, a tennis supporter or a tennis lover, youcan be assured that your membership dollars are helping us reach ourmission: To Promote and Develop Tennis in Minnesota, North and SouthDakota and Northwestern Wisconsin. For more information, contact MikeGoldammer at [email protected].


Ellen Doll Named RSI Magazine’s 2009 Tennis Advocate Of The Year

Ellen Doll of Minneapolis was named the 2009 Tennis Advocate of the Year by Racquet Sports Industry magazine. Doll has com-pletely changed the tennis landscape within Minneapolis working with city leaders, park officials, neighborhood organizations and the USTA in building 20 new tennis courts at four sites which are used by high schools, InnerCity Tennis and the general public.

The Support The Courts Foundation, which Doll founded, has raised almost $1 million in support of these projects. Doll is an avid tennis player, and currently serves on the Board of Directors of USTA Northern, the Reed Sweatt Family Tennis Center, the Minneapolis Parks Foundation and is a member of the USTA National Tennis in the Parks Committee. She is a board member of the Northern Tennis Foundation, the charitable arm of USTA Northern, and is the Chair of the Clinic committee for the 2010 Tennis Festival of the North.

Fred Wells Staffer Judy Long Wins Breaking Barriers AwardJudy Long of the Fred Wells Tennis & Education Center in St. Paul, Minn., was named a 2010 winner of the Breaking Barriers Award celebrating individuals or organizations that have broken barriers, overcome challenges and/or strived to provide athletic opportuni-ties for girls and women of all races, ages and levels of ability. Long was honored as part of the 24th Annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day on February 3, at the Minnesota State Capitol Rotunda in St. Paul. Currently the Education and Programming Director at the Fred Wells Tennis & Education Center, Long trains and supervises over 20 program volunteers and works with over 100 elementary and middle school kids in after-school programs. In 2005, she took it one step further creating the Girls Squad designed for inner city girls to develop tennis skills and the self esteem needed to feel comfortable as “athletes,” while encouraging girls to try out for city high school teams. The Girls Squad meets twice a week for on-court games (and drills) and once a week off-court to talk about their lives, concerns and dreams.

Not A Member Of The Senior Tennis Players Club? Join Today And Save!Did you know the Senior Tennis Players Club (STPC) in Minneapolis is the largest group of organized senior tennis players in the United States? Here is your chance to join this great organization and save!

From March 1-April 1, seniors have the opportunity to join both the USTA and the STPC for only $52 (regular price $67). Enjoy the great benefits of both organizations including free lessons and drills by certified teaching professionals, social tennis parties, summer team tennis, tennis magazines, discounts to tennis retailers and res-

taurants, opportunities to purchase tickets to the US Open and other events before the general public and much, much more.

To learn more about the STPC, please visit www.seniortennismn.com. For more information, please contact Sandy Smith at [email protected] or at (952) 358-3288.(Note: Current members of both organizations are not eligible for this offer.)

Katie Paulson And University of Minnesota Win Tennis On Campus AwardsKatie Paulson of Valley City State University in Valley City, N.D., and the University of Minnesota Club Team are the 2009 winners of the USTA Northern Tennis On Campus Organizer and Club of the Year Awards, respectively.

The club tennis program at Valley City State was almost extinct after the 2009 spring floods which closed the Valley City State campus and left only six active members and $200 in the team’s bank account. In the fall of 2009, Paulson, who is a freshman, was elected President of the club team and recruited eight new members giving the program eight competitive players and four recreational athletes. She also ran the most successful fundraiser in club tennis history, raising over $800.

The University of Minnesota club program has grown from 10 people in 2004 to over 35 participants in ‘09, winning six straight sec-tion Championships and placing in the Top 20 of the 2009 Tennis On Campus National Championships during that time. The Minnesota club team plays host to the Fall Gopher Invitation which has grown from eight teams 4 years ago to 16 teams in 2009. This year, the club team also offered an Officer’s Clinic as part of the Gopher Invitational which gave members and officers of the participating schools a chance to communicate and network with others, while sharing best practices. To help grow the program, the team has used a variety of different media tools in recruiting new members including Facebook, Web sites, University sponsored activity fairs and mass e-mails. It also has increased its budget this year to ensure the highest level of competition possible as they will travel as far away as Louisiana and hired a former Division I tennis player to serve as head coach.

Subscribe Now To Daily Tennis For Only $4 A Month; Receive Daily Tennis TipsLove Tennis? Then take advantage of this special offer for all USTA Northern members and subscribe today to Bob Larson’s Daily Tennis News and Daily Tennis Variety for only $4 a month. Daily Tennis News covers tennis on all levels from the professionaI ranks, to the

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Join a league or start your own today.www.jrteamtennis.usta.com

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business side of the industry, to the grassroots, every day and it is e-mailed right to you. Daily Tennis Variety includes tips and articles from tennis legends such as Nick Bollettieri, Jack Groppel, Bruce Gullikson and much more.

To register, visit www.dailytennis.com/northern. Enter USER NAME: ustanorthern and PASSWORD: northern09 (must all be low-ercase letters).

Northern State Coach Jessie Daw Wins USTA/ITA Community Outreach AwardThe United States Tennis Association (USTA) and the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) announced that Northern State University head women’s tennis coach Jessie Daw is the Northern Section winner of the USTA/ITA Community Outreach Award. The USTA/ITA Community Outreach Award honors an ITA coach for significant contributions in developing community-based tennis programs through community centers, schools, parks, community tennis asso-ciations, inner city, suburban or rural programs.

McCoy and Lambert Lead Winter Level 4 WinnersWyatt McCoy (Shoreview, Minn.) and Aria Lambert (Excelsior, Minn.) won the Boys and Girls 18s titles, respectively, at the 2010 Winter Level 4 Championships in January at Life Time Fitness - Lakeville. McCoy, who was seeded second, defeated top seed Nelson Vick (Stillwater, Minn.) 6-7, 6-0, 6-3, while Lambert handled CallieRonkowski (Grand Forks, N.D.) 6-0, 6-1.

In 16s, second seeded Erik Nordahl (Edina, Minn.) beat top seed

Elliott Sprecher (Cadott, Wis.) 6-2, 6-1, and Samantha Anderson (Thompson, N.D.) beat Melanie Yates (New Brighton, Minn.) 6-0, 6-3 in the girls. TommyEntwistle (Sioux Falls, S.D.) won

the Boys 14s with a 7-5, 6-2 win over Taylor Parr (Edina, Minn.), while Patricia Zhao (Maple Grove, Minn.) defeated Maddie Boyer (Edina, Minn.) 6-1, 2-6, 6-0 to win the girls championship. In 12s, second seeded Nic Beaty (Wayzata, Minn.) beat top seed Jackson Allen (Shakopee, Minn.) 6-3, 6-3 and Hayley Haakenstad (Chanhassen, Minn.) beat Sophia Reddy (Eden Prairie, Minn.) 3-6, 7-5, 6-1.

In boys doubles, McCoy and Dusty Boyer (Ham Lake, Minn) beat Eric Frueh (Rochester, Minn.) and Jack Hamburg (Rapid City, S.D.) 9-8 in 18s. Nordahl and Sprecher teamed together to defeat Daniel Carpenter (Wayzata, Minn.) and Myles Tang (Minneapolis, Minn.) 8-1 in 16s. In 14s, Toby Boyer (Ham Lake, Minn.) and Entwistle defeated Maxwell Olson (Edina, Minn.) and Parr 9-7 and Beaty and Aanik Lohani (Edina, Minn.) won the 12s title with a 8-4 win over Chuck Tang (Rapid City, S.D.) and Austin Wong (Plymouth, Minn.).

The girls doubles saw Amber Washington (St. Paul, Minn.) and Sierra Halvorson (Burtrum, Minn.) defeat Lambert and Ronkowski 9-8 in 18s. Anderson and Mimi Yunker (Grand Forks, N.D.) beat Kelsey Frechette (Rochester, Minn.) and Madeline Buxton (Eden Prairie, Minn.) 8-3 in 16s. Boyer and KateRosenow (Rochester, Minn.) edged out Virginia Norder (Rosemount, Minn.) and Zhao 9-7 in 14s and Haakenstad and Zoe Klass-Warch (St. Paul, Minn.) won the 12s with a 9-7 win over Haley Lickfold (Shakopee, Minn.) and Mackenzi Marinovich (Edina, Minn.).

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Winter Junior Tennis Update


Rochester’s Ingrid Neel Wins “Little Mo” International Girls 11s Crown

Ingrid Neel (Rochester, Minn.) won eight matches in taking the Girls 11s sin-gles championship at the 2009 “Little Mo” International Open presented by Babolat in Port St. Lucie, Fla. Over 150 players from 13 countries partici-pated in the tournament at Club Med Sandpiper. Neel went 5-1 in the qualify-ing rounds, earning a spot in the main draw. Once in the main draw, she won two additional matches before han-dling Chissato Hayakawa (Taipei City, Japan) 6-3, 6-0 in the finals. Neel was also named the first-ever recipient of

the “Little Mo” Rising Star Award given to one girl and one boy in the “Little Mo” program who have not only displayed outstand-ing talent on the court, but have shown exemplary character and good sportsmanship on and off the court. Neel received a one-week complimentary tennis training camp scholarship at the IMG/Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Bradenton, Fla., for winning the award.

Grand Forks’ Gregory Wischer Places Second At 12s Midwest Winter Championships

Gregory Wischer (Grand Forks, N.D.) placed second in the Boys 12s singles draw at the 2010 Midwest Winter Championships in Dayton, Ohio. Wischer won four matches before falling to Louis Remynse of Richland, Mich., in the finals 7-5, 4-6, 6-3.

Edina’s Erik Nordahl Wins Consolation Championship At Copper Bowl

Erik Nordahl (Edina, Minn.) won consolation championship in the boys 16s singles draw at the 2010 Copper Bowl in Tucson, Ariz. Nordahl, who was the third seed, won four matches before falling in the quarterfinals to eighth-seeded Garrett Gordon (Marietta, Ga.) 6-1, 6-2. In the back draw, Nordahl won three more matches

including against Raymond Leonard (Bloomington, Ind.) in the finals 6-1, 6-1.

Jessie Aney Wins Bronze Ball At Winter Nationals

Jessie Aney (Rochester, Minn.) won a bronze ball in the girls 12s singles draw at the 2009 Winter Nationals in Tucson, Ariz.

Aney won six matches in Tucson and earned the highest finish by a USTA Northern participant since Edina’s Ashley Schellhas won the singles draw in 2001. In the semifinals, Aney fell to McKenna Root (Midland, Mich.) 7-5, 6-2, but rebounded to defeat Kaitlin McCarthy (Cary, N.C.) 7-5, 6-4 in the third-place match.

2010 Northern Stars and Northern Lights Teams Selected

Congratulations to the following juniors who were selected to participate in the 2010 Northern Stars and Northern Lights High Performance Programs.

2010 Northern Stars: Charlie Adkins (Maple Grove, Minn.), Sahil Chhugani (Rochester, Minn.), Kristina Conrad (Plymouth, Minn.), Hayley Haakenstad (Chanhassen, Minn.), Zoe Klass-Warch (St. Paul, Minn.), Davis Lawley (Fargo, N.D.), Megan Jans (Rochester, Minn.), Luke Moorhead (Mound, Minn.), Sam Morgenthaler (Rochester, Minn.), Floyd Penners (Minneapolis, Minn.), Sophia Reddy (Eden Prairie, Minn.), Lars Scannell (Grand Marais, Minn.), Joseph Tarvestad (Rochester, Minn.), Theresa Tebon (Excelsior, Minn.), Steffi Tetzloff (Rochester, Minn.), Sebastian Vile (Rochester, Minn.) and Nicolas Villarraga (Rochester, Minn.).

2010 Northern Lights: Meagan Brown (Elk River, Minn.), Anuraag Bukkuri (Woodbury, Minn.), Hunter Heck (New Brighton, Minn.), Erin Hoffman (St. Paul, Minn.), Thomas Huffstutler (Rosemount, Minn.), Aaron Jin (Shakopee, Minn.), North Knewtson (Fargo, N.D.), Catherine Lindsay (Eau Claire, Wis.), Tanner Lundberg (Baxter, Minn.), Carter Mason (Eden Prairie, Minn.), Olivia Paradise (Mahtomedi, Minn.), Libby Rickeman (Wayzata, Minn.), Chase Roseth (Lakeville, Minn.), Samantha Stephenson (Plymouth, Minn.), Pete Summers (Grand Marais, Minn.), Francesca Trella (Eden Prairie, Minn.), Avery Voehl (Eden Prairie, Minn.), Jose Williamson (Minneapolis, Minn.) and MaximZagrebelny (Eagan, Minn.).

Greg Wischer

Ingrid Neel

Jessie Aney

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Serving It Up With Whitney Taney


Former five-time Minnesota state singles champion and Edina native Whitney Taney is now a junior co-

captain of the women’s tennis team at the University of Michigan. An All-Big Ten recipi-ent her freshman season and the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award winner as a sopho-more, Taney is writing a blog for www.mgoblue.com, the official athletics depart-ment web site at the University of Michigan. Here is a first-hand opportunity to get an inside look at what life is like for a Division I collegiate tennis athlete.

January 13, 2010Wow! It is hard to believe that the spring

season is about to begin. It seems like we were just getting back to school after sum-mer break and playing on the outdoor courts in our shorts and t-shirts.

As a team, we had a very good fall season and are ready for dual matches to begin. We started the fall by hosting our first tournament at home, the Wolverine Invitational. It gave everyone a chance to get back into tournament mode, and we won 19 of 27 singles matches.

After that, we traveled to a few warm places, such as California for the ITA All-Americans and Arizona State for the Thunderbird Invitational. We also went to Kentucky and Northwestern for the ITA Regional tournament, but I can assure you the weather was not nearly as warm there as it was out west!

Aside from tennis, we will be participating in Mock Rock, which is a fundraiser put on by the student-athletes to raise money for Mott’s Children’s Hospital, 826michigan and S.A.L.S.C. 826michigan is a project to write children’s books by the children involved at 826michigan and S.A.L.S.C. is funding an educational facility and water source for a village in Africa. We are putting together a skit for the event that I promise will be a memorable one.

Preseason rankings came out last week. Michigan is ranked No. 20 as a team.

As always, Go Blue!

January 20, 2010Hooray! What a great way to kick off the first weekend of our

season! We were all very pleased with the overall play and results from

the weekend and are going into the dual match season feeling very encouraged and pumped up! We hosted the Michigan Invitational and went 7-1 in doubles and 12-9 in singles against three excellent teams, leaving us all with big smiles as we left the Tennis Center that weekend.

Our outside activity and pre-game warm-up the night before out matches was to watch Bourne Identity, Bourne Supremacy and the very last of the series, Bourne Ultimatum, which some of us had never seen before. I can honestly say that we all became so obsessed with the movies that we started cheering for each other

as “Bourne” on the courts, which created a few laughs. In addition to the laughs, a few of us have been quoting movie lines from the movie Mean Girls and think it is abso-lutely hilarious every time we say them! Some things never get old, I guess.

As always, Go Blue!

January 27, 2010Our first dual match of the season was a

big success! On Sunday we played Western Michigan and finished with a 7-0 victory. We were very pleased with how we played and could see all of our hard work in prac-tice really pay off in our matches.

We will be leaving the Varsity Tennis Center at 5 a.m. on Thursday morning for the ITA Kickoff, hosted by Arkansas. That

means we will be getting up at the “crack of dawn.” Let’s just say there will be a lot of alarms set to go off at 4 a.m. and as a backup, some wake-up calls. Fortunately, we will get some make-up sleep on the plane ride!

At the ITA Kickoff Weekend, there will be four top-ranked teams competing for a chance to advance to the ITA Team Indoor Championships. We are all very excited about the trip and hope to win the tournament so we can be one of the top 16 teams in the country.

We moved up one spot in the national team rankings yesterday to No. 19, and we are going to do our best to keep it going.

As always, Go Blue!

February 4, 2010Wow, what an eventful weekend we had in Arkansas for the ITA

Indoors! There were a lot of hard laughs, cheering and even a crazy ice storm. Oh, and it was a great couple of days of tennis too.

I mentioned we would be waking up at 4:30 a.m. to catch our flight to Arkansas. You can imagine our surprise when Ronni (Bernstein, our coach) sent out a team text the night before letting us know that our original flight was canceled and the new flight was scheduled for 5:20 a.m. Our 4:30 wake-up call was now a 2:45 a.m. wake-up call. Ronni’s phone blew up the minute after with all of us asking her, “Is this a joke?” But it was no joke and we finally made it to Arkansas at about 9:45 a.m. the SAME morning and took a long snooze at the hotel before practice.

We played No. 16 South Carolina on Friday in a match that is best described as “chaotic.” We pulled out a 4-3 win. We all had fun running out onto the court and jumping on Denise (Muresan) to celebrate the win! Saturday we played No. 18 Arkansas and won a hard-fought match, 5-2. This win qualified us for the ITA Indoors, marking the first time in program history that Michigan has partici-pated in this prestigious event. We proved that we are a top team in the country and are very proud of our accomplishment!

Overall, it was a very entertaining few days and I am sure there will be more fun moments throughout the season!

Until next time, Go blue!

Whitney Taney

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“Tennis is a good way for me to stay light and quick on my

feet and be able to move my body well.”

— Lindsay Vonn, two-time defending World Cup alpine ski champion from Burnsville, Minn.

The 25-year-old Vonn, in January-February Tennis magazine added that her depth perception and body awareness have also improved because of tennis. “It’s really good cross-training for me,” she explained.

Lindsey has made friends with at least two of our game’s notables – Roger Federer and Martina Navratilova. She finds Federer’s accomplishments to be very inspiring and admires what he’s done in his career.

With Martina, she added, “Our deal was if she teaches me some tennis, I’ll take her skiing.”

Lindsey now lives in Vail, Colo., with her husband Tom.Lindsey, how about an indoor tennis lesson for an outdoor ski

lesson? Buck Hill? Life Time - Bloomington South? Good – it’s a deal!

From The Tennis Jokebook: Show me a good loser…and I’ll show you a guy playing tennis with his boss.

Down UnDer Tennis Trivia wiTh Frank Jamisen: Billionaire Tom Golisano, Buffalo Sabres owner, has revealed that he and Monica Seles are dating. EllsworthChatsword, an Aussie Eaton’s executive, is also interested in Ms. Seles. Apparently, he “doesn’t rate,” He’s only a millionaire! (Incidentally, did you know that Ms. Seles has been inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame?)

norThern neT news: Former Gopher player Theresa Bell from Aberdeen, S.D., is the mother of Caroline Ward, who plays for Edina… Edina player Hamish Weerasinghe and Eagan’s Justin Abrams, will attend Bradley University next fall… Elk River star Katie Jesperson will play Augustana College fall semester… Dave Geatz, former Gopher men’s coach, led the Big Red of Cornell University to second-place in the Ivy League conference… Stefan Erikson, former Gopher All-America from Sweden, is now coaching ATP Top 20 player Philip Kohlschreiber of Germany… Nataliya Pintusova, a Minsk, Belarus, native, and star junior player, has signed a letter of intent to compete for the Gopher women’s team… Whitney Taney, now a junior at Michigan, has been elected captain of the Wolverines tennis squad… Luke Kleckner, former STP and Luther College player and grad, is also the son of Frank Kleckner, 1961 State Champion from Minneapolis Roosevelt… Amanda Pihlaja, Duluth Central star, will attend Minnesota-Crookston, while North Dakota state champion Callie Ronkowski will play at North Dakota and Rochester’s Emelie

Renault will play at Minnesota… Brittney Freund, Cooper High School player, has signed with Winona State… Mike Johnson, former pro at Life Time Fitness – Oakdale, is the new head pro at Life Time Fitness – Bloomington South.

CoUrTsiDe ComeDy: The Pacific West tournament in Los Angeles knows crowds control. An announcement recently stated: “Please turn off your cell phones, digital cameras and small chil-dren.”

CoUrTsiDe kUDos anD ample aCColaDes: To Rochester’s Eric Butorac and Bethanie Mattek-Sands for reaching the doubles quarterfinals of the Australian Open at Melbourne Park …also to Eric for showcasing world-class tennis and supporting youth development for kids in need at the Fred Wells Tennis & Education Center last December… to Ramsey Smith and Spellerberg Park pros for their QuickStart Tennis program in Sioux Falls, S.D.… to Cretin-Derham Hall’s Maddy Eiden and Moira Caulfield for a great doubles season… to Racquet Sports Industry’s “Person of the Year” Eric Babolat for Babolat’s ideas and leadership… to AndrewLee, Middlebury College senior for Eden Prairie, who won the ITA Division III Doubles crown last fall… to Larry Sundby, men’s and women’s tennis coach at St. Cloud State, who is now a member of the St. Cloud State Athletic Hall of Fame… to Athletes of the Week who were selected by the Minneapolis Star-Tribune includ-ing Amber Washington of Mounds Park Academy, Elena Sullivan of Providence Academy, Meredith Lawrence of Visitation High School and Jennie Hartjes of Cretin-Derham Hall… Minnetonka coach David Stearns, who has helped Aria Lambert develop into a top-level player… Star-Tribune photographer Jim Gehrz for his great tennis action shots… to the Golden Gopher men’s and women’s tennis teams who are maintaining a very high gradua-tion rate at the University.

From JoDi Johnson oF sT. paUl: My uncle told me that when Minnesota Vikings’ quarterback Brett Favre was asked if he would encourage a son of his to play football, his reply was, “Not if he can swing a tennis racquet.”

belaTeD sympaThy: To family and friends of departed ten-nisseurs and former players – Zee Kuno, Golden Valley; N. Bud Grossman, Minneapolis; David Wann Freeman, St. Paul; Verdell Gipple, North Oaks; Richard Noland, Orono; Robert Hoover, Mounds View; Dr. Elizabeth Chittenden, Minneapolis; Richard Garwood, Deephaven; Marilee Ward, Minneapolis; Lois Brennan, Minnetonka; Ralph Fuller, Hopkins; Marianne Lasley, Minneapolis; Stan Plys, Minneapolis; Patrick Tillemans, Burnsville; Robert Marshall, Edina; Alex Polenek, St. Paul; Mac McMinn, Bloomington; Caroline Stephens, Roseville; Linda Rees, Minneapolis; Jack Anderson, formerly of Hopkins and Mark Johnson who taught in Shakopee.

ole’s Dilemma: After Ole Olson won a Grand Slam tournament, he said. “After I vun, I asked Lena my vife vat she vanted. She said a divorce. I told her I vasn’t tinking of anything dat expensive.”

Racquet RamblingswithGreg Wicklund

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Pro File Dana Young


Name: Dana Young

Age: 35

Hometown: Apple Valley, Minn.

Education: University of Minnesota

Family: Husband, Geoff, who is the men’s tennis coach at the University of Minnesota, and children Gavin (7), Karin (6) and Alexander (5 months)

Employment: Head Tennis Pro at the University of Minnesota’s Baseline Tennis Center

Q: How were you introduced to tennis?

A: I started playing tennis when I was 13. My best friend played, and I thought I would give it a try. I absolutely loved it from the start.

Q: What is your earliest tennis memory?

A: Playing in my first national tournament - the National 14-and-Under Indoors. I played the No. 1 seed and No. 1 player in the country in the first round. Needless to say, it was a very quick match, but it was a great experience. Playing that level of player was a tremendous motivational tool.

Q: Name some of your tennis achievements?

A: All-Big Ten and Student-Athlete of the Year at the University of Minnesota; qualifying for the NCAA Singles Championships; winning the Boys and Girls Minnesota State High School Team Championships while coaching at The Breck School in Minneapolis; Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year in 2003 and 2004; winning the Sun Belt Conference Championship while coaching at the University of Denver.

Q: What is the best thing about being a teaching pro?

A: The best thing about being a teaching pro is the relationships that develop through coaching. It is also extremely rewarding to see the improvement and passion for the game in the eyes of the adults and juniors that I have worked with over the years.

Q: How long have you been a teaching professional?

A: 14 years

Q: Who are the people who have influenced you the most?

A: Most definitely my parents Fran and Robin Peterson, as well as coaches Mel Smith, Marc Miller and Martin Novak.

Q: What is your best tennis memory?

A: I really do have so many wonderful tennis memories. Tennis has been such an important part of my life. A few that stand out include when our team beat Northwestern for the first time in several years when I played at Minnesota. It was such a great win for our team as Northwestern is now consistently among the top 5 in the country. Competing at the NCAA tournament was an incredible experience. I had worked so hard during my 4 years as a Golden Gopher. It was a terrific way to end my collegiate career. Playing mixed doubles with my brother, Derek, for the first time at the Aquatennial Tennis Tournament in 2008 is also a wonderful memory.

Q: What is the most fun you have had playing tennis?

A: Playing college tennis at Minnesota. I truly enjoyed competing in the team environment and the friendships I made while play-ing there made the experience so enjoyable.

Q: What is your most memorable teaching experience?

A: Winning our first-ever conference championship at the University of Denver. We had a tremendous group of athletes and individuals on the team. The group as a whole had a terrific work ethic and they were so supportive of each other.

Q: If you were not teaching tennis, what would you be doing?

A: Teaching high school biology or math.

Q: The advice I give every student is…?

A: BE PATIENT! Always give your opponent a chance to make a mistake.

Q: What is the best advice you ever received?

A: To be good to myself on the court. When I was a junior player, I really struggled with controlling my emotions and I easily became frustrated. I was very hard on myself. Tennis is challeng-ing enough without having to battle your own emotions.

Q. To make tennis better, we should…?

A: That is a very tough question. I happen to like the game just the way it is.

Q: How can people get involved either in lessons, programs or become a tennis volunteer in your area?

A: There are so many terrific facilities that offer all different types of programs for all ages. The Baseline Tennis Center has a web site (www.baselinetenniscenter.com) with all of our lesson informa-tion. I know many of the other facilities have web sites that make it easy to find something that is right for you.

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The Open Is Open! Section Qualifying Tournament June 14-20 in St. Cloud


Roger Federer, Serena Williams, Bob and Mike Bryan…and now you! Did you know the US Open is now open to all players 14 years of

age and older? Be a part of the greatest tennis tournament in the world as USTA Northern will host the US Open National Playoffs Northern Section Qualifying Tournament June 14-20 in St. Cloud, Minn., at both Apollo High School and South Junior High School. The winner receives a chance to earn a wild card into the 2010 US Open Qualifying Tournament. Registration is now open for this exciting event and continues through the end of May. For more information, visit www.northern.usta.com or contact Nancy Lundberg at [email protected].

“We are excited to have this tournament in St. Cloud,” Pat Colbert, USTA Northern Assistant Executive Director/Director of Junior Competition, said. “The St. Cloud community is really grow-ing and this tournament is another way to help promote and devel-op the game of tennis in our Section. St. Cloud and the surrounding areas have always been great supporters of tennis as evident by them being named a national ‘Best Tennis Town’ award winner in 1988. This tournament will be another way to showcase St. Cloud and all it does for tennis in our Section. We hope many people take advantage of the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play in the ‘Greatest Show on Earth.’”

The US Open National Playoffs begins with 16 sectional qualifying tournaments held through-out the country from April through June. The men’s and women’s champions from each of the sectional qualifying tournaments advance to the US Open National Playoffs – Men’s and Women’s Championships, which will be held in conjunction with Olympus US Open Series tournaments this summer.

The entry fee for each of the sectional qualifying tournaments is $125. All players competing must have a current USTA membership valid through August 30, 2010. Competitors can enter any of the 16 sectional qualifying tournaments, but they can only enter and compete in one sectional qualifying tournament. Each sectional qualifying tournament is limited to 256 players, and players will not be seeded. Participants can be of any playing level, from aspiring novice to seasoned professional, giv-ing everyone an equal opportunity to advance.

“The US Open National Playoffs makes the US Open ‘open,’ where one woman and one man will earn a wild card into the US Open Qualifying Tournament and a chance to advance to the main draw,” said Lucy Garvin, Chairman of the Board and President, USTA. “The fact the US Open National Playoffs are supported by qualifying tournaments run by our Sections makes this event even more

unique, extending the reach of the US Open across the country.”

With the goal of connecting more people to the US Open and expanding the tournament’s

reach to communities throughout the United States, players will compete in sectional qual-ifying tournaments hosted by 16 of the 17 USTA Sections nationwide.

“While professionals are eligible to play, we expect the draws to be filled with top

junior players, collegians, teaching profes-sionals and even recreational players who

will now have a chance to play themselves into the US Open for the first time,” said Jim Curley,

Chief Professional Tournaments Officer & US Open Tournament Director.

Just to add to the fun, two-time World Cup champion skier and 2010 Olympics participant Bode Miller will compete in one of the sectional qualifying tournaments.

“Tennis has always been a part of my life,” said Miller, who won the 1996 Maine state singles title for Carrabassett Valley Academy and whose family owns the Tamarack Tennis Camp in Easton, N.H., which was founded by his grandparents. “The US Open National Playoffs are a great concept and I look forward to playing in one of the sectional qualifying tournaments this spring. It will give me an outlet to focus my competitiveness after the Olympics and World Cup season.”

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Apply to Host A Tennis Block Party Today!


Marketing Grant Deadline March 31Tennis Block Parties are an integral part of the USTA’s Tennis

Month promotional platform designed to kick off the outdoor tennis season in May. They are easy to organize and provide an opportunity to promote your local tennis programs to players of all ages and abilities. These events can be hosted at any facility and should feature tennis instruction, interactive games and attrac-tions for player of all ages and abilities.

Registration is going on now to host a 2010 Tennis Block Party. Sign up by March 31 and become eligible to receive a Tennis Block Party grant up to $250 (Organizations may still register to host a Block Party after March 31, but these submissions will not be con-sidered for grants).

Your site may also qualify for a complimentary prize pack or a visit from one of USTA Northern’s visiting pros. To be considered, please complete the Donation Request Form found at www.north-ern.usta.com and submit it to Becky Cantellano at [email protected] no later than 6 weeks prior to your event date.

To apply to host a tennis block party and a marketing grant, please visit www.usta.com/blockparty.

For more information, contact Lisa Mushett at [email protected].

Marketing Materials Available Online For Organizations

The USTA has developed an ad customization system where you can design marketing materials for use in your community for things such as USTA Jr. Team Tennis, League Tennis, Tennis Block Parties and much, much more. To use this FREE system, please visit www.usta.com/ctmarketing.

Junior Scholarship Opportunities Available

There are a number of scholarships available to juniors in USTA Northern to help with expenses connected with player develop-ment or camps including:• Ottum Fund for Player Development: These scholarships range

from $250-$500, depending on the need and situation. Funds can be used toward tournament entry fees, travel costs (airfare, hotel) and in some cases, lesson and/or coaching fees. Requests are made via a personal letter outlining needs to Pat Colbert at [email protected]. Approximately 2-3 scholarships are awarded annually.

• USTA Northern Diversity Individual Player Grant: These are available to assist players of ethnically diverse heritage in pursu-ing their tennis related interests. Applicants must demonstrate a financial need, be 10-16 years of age, a USTA member, and have a Section ranking or anticipate having one in 2010. Scholarships

range from $300-$700 and must be used for tournament entry fees, tennis equipment and attire, coaching fees or training programs/camps. First time applicants will be give priority over previous recipients.

• USTA Northern Tennis Camp Scholarships: Awarded to a male or female player ages 14 or younger that demonstrates both a financial need and commitment to tennis. Players must receive an endorsement from his/her tennis coach in order to be eli-gible. Recipient receives a scholarship to attend a camp located within USTA Northern. Deadline is May 10, 2010.

• NJTL Tennis and Leadership Camp Scholarship: Provides an educationals tennis experience for NJTL participants who oth-erwise could not afford such an opportunity. The week-long session emphasizes character and leadership development, good sportsmanship, physical fitness, proper nutrition and other healthy attitudes. Must be an NJTL participant; 12-14 years of age; within the JNTRP’s skill rating level of 3.0-4.5. For more information about these scholarships, visit northern.

usta.com or contact Tony Stingley at (952) 358-3289 or at [email protected].

Next Community Tennis Grant Deadline is April 1

All 2010 grants and other funding opportunities are now avail-able online including Community Tennis Grants (April 1, 2010), USTA Public Facility Assistance, Equipment Match Grants, QuickStart Lines Grants, Workshop Scholarships and much, much more. For more information about a particular grant, please visit www.northern.usta.com and click on the Funding and Support tab or contact Becky Cantellano at [email protected] or at (952) 358-3291.

Host A Recreational Coach Workshop or QuickStart Tennis Training Today

Want to increase the number of people using your tennis courts? Host a Recreational Coach Workshop (RCW) or QuickStart Tennis Workshop.

An RCW is an interactive, on-court training program designed for tennis teachers and coaches working with players of all levels, abilities and ages at the recreational level. The workshop covers training on the QuickStart Tennis format, teaching large groups and effective team practices. For more information, please visit www.usta.com/rcw.

A QuickStart Tennis workshop is designed for beginning tennis teachers, parents and coaches working with young people ages 10 and under. The workshop is an interactive, on-court experi-ence that provides attendees with age specific information and included warm-up activities, skill development, games and cool-down activities. For more information, please visit www.partners.quickstarttennis.com.

For more information, contact Tony Stingley at (952) 358-3289 or [email protected].

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