52 years of fun and counting

Motivated by the desire to earn a varsity letter, Gil Henderson took up tennis his senior year in high school. Fifty-two years later, he is still playing.

"I realized when I was a senior that I hadn't earned any letter and I wanted to before I graduated," Henderson, 66, said. "I never won a match for the team, but I got my letter."

Growing up on a dairy farm in Michigan, Henderson never took any lessons but found as he approached his 30s that he was really enjoying the game more. Worrying less about winning helped him relax and actually play a better game.

Last month in the Zephyrhills Tennis Association annual tournament, Henderson won the men's 65-and-older singles competition.

Henderson, who spent 31 years in the Michigan school system and retired while a junior high school principal, thrives on activity and is also a cross country biker. Trips include biking from Tampa to Detroit and Seattle to Detroit. He regularly invites his tennis-playing buddies to bike on Wednesday mornings with him.

Henderson plans to enter the ZTA's One-Day, All-Day Doubles Tournament on March 16.

SUPER SENIOR UPDATE: Westin Innisbrook Resort raised its team record in USA League Tennis Super Senior Doubles to 4-3 in the 3.5 north division with a 3-0 victory over Royal Racquet Club last week. Playing for Innisbrook was Harry Zimmerman and Joe Robillard in No. 1, Ellis Gant and Dick Willets No. 2 and Jerry McDowell and Joe Bailey No. 3.

The Phil Green Tennis Academy extended its record to 7-0 with its 3-0 win over Timber Pines Tennis Club. Winning were Bill Schieman and Richard Hough in No. 1, Joe Gari and Fred Elflein in No. 2 and Dick Lashley and David Wisotsky in No. 3.

SENIOR MEN'S PLAYOFFS: McMullen clinched the USA League Tennis senior men's 4.0 district title in a 2-1 win over Seminole Lake Tennis Center and the Racquet Club grabbed the 3.5 title by downing East Lake 3-0.

ADULT LEAGUE: Innisbrook won its first match 3-2 in the women's 3.5 division of USA Adult Women's League. Dale Slive won in No. 1 singles 6-4, 4-6, 7-5; Maureen Sternberg and Debra McGinley won at No. 1 in straight sets as did Bonny Boosales and Sue Luidens in No. 3.

NET NOTES: The ZTA offers free lessons Tuesday and Thursday mornings at 7:30 a.m. at Zephyr Park. ... With one match left in the Nature Coast Ladies Daylight League, the Brooksville Tiebreakers are in first, followed by the Spring Hill Alleycats, Silverthorne Thornbirds and the Timber Pines Swingers. ... Jessica Svoboda won the girls 14-and-under title in the Seminole Winter Classic. Brothers Jose and Miguel Muguruza were finalists in the boys 18-and-under boys 12 divisions, respectively. Other finalists included Alexander Nilsen (boys 14), Asmaa Tazi (girls 16) and Julia Vaughn (girls 18).

COMING UP: Glen Lakes Tennis Club in Spring Hill hosts a Junior Singles Championship this weekend in three divisions, including grade school, middle school and high school, for girls and boys. Call Judy Jeanette, (352) 684-4321. ... The George Pero Memorial Family Classic is March 16-18 at Cheval Polo and Golf Club. Call Allegra Campos, (813) 948-2282. ... The ZTA hosts its One-Day, All-Day Doubles Tournament in men's, women's and mixed doubles divisions. Call Barry Roades, (813) 779-9084. ... The Temple Terrace Junior Championships are March 16-18 at the Temple Terrace Tennis Center. Call Manny Mariani, (813) 989-7178, before the March 13 deadline.

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