Foundation chooses new leadership

Leaders in the Suncoast Tennis Foundation, a community association in Pinellas and Pasco counties, were elected this month.

Geared to fulfill their two-year volunteer terms are Judy Foster (president), Jacki Simon (vice-president) and Susan Winship (secretary-treasurer).

One of the first orders of business is to spread the word about the association and its goals.

"One of the first things we want to do is expand our board and diversify our leadership," Foster of Clearwater said.

"We want to get a better balance of disciplines involved on the board. We're looking for tennis enthusiasts who agree with our mission and who will assist in our goals," she said.

The STF's mission is to develop and expand amateur tennis for all ages.

Immediate past president Mike Collins of St. Petersburg feels progress has been made and is optimistic about these next two years.

"One of the main things we wanted to accomplish was better awareness of the Suncoast Tennis Foundation," Collins said.

"With the help of Judy's husband Nic, we were able to develop a website that serves as a resource for community tennis information. We also are creating a database of emails so we can do mass emailing with tennis information."

Last adult league season, Collins said, the website was utilized to take a vote on whether to play out a third set or use the nationally approved tiebreaker.

When the votes were counted, the local leagues played the third set, the most asked-for format of the local players.

The STF also focused on supporting after-school programs and USA Team Tennis and will continue to do so, Foster said.

"We went from 78 kids in after-school spring tennis programs to 150 in the fall programs and want to continue to expand in that area," Foster said.

"We reached more than 1,200 players in the adult and youth USA Team Tennis and have the highest number of USTA organizational members (67) among the 19 districts in Florida."

Awareness is an area that Foster plans to continue emphasizing for the STF.

In March, she said, the STF will be visible during the Tennis Classic at the St. Pete Times Forum where greats Martina Navratilova, Tracy Austin, John McEnroe and Jim Courier will play singles and mixed doubles matches.

"We're going to set up a mini-carnival and anyone can participate, whether they're going to the matches or not," Foster said. "This will give us a chance to reach a wide sector of the community."

Although a newcomer to the STF, Simon is one of the most passionate about tennis.

"I'm just trying to grasp how all of this comes together," Simon said.

"I knew there was a lot of tennis going on, but I am so impressed with all that's done in the schools and team tennis. I know I took up tennis and fell in love with the game, and now can have a chance to help others do the same."

Simon is captain of Bardmoor Golf and Tennis Club's Racqueteers and Suncoast Singles teams and the overall county chair for the singles league.

Simon also plays on a Satellite team and PADL, as well as the USTA adult league. Once a month, she competes in NTRP tournaments and holds a state ranking in the 3.0 division.

Foster, too, fills her time with tennis in Racqueteers and Bi-County leagues at Royal Racquet Club and Satellite at McMullen in Clearwater.

Winship is a physical education teacher at Dunedin Middle School and serves on the state's Recreational Tennis Council, is a co-coordinator for the USA Team Tennis in North Pinellas and leads an after-school program.

To learn more about the STF, visit the website www.ourtennis.net.

SOUTH PINELLAS LEAGUE: After the first round of playoffs in the women's 3.5 to 4.0 division of the South Pinellas Ladies Doubles League, Treasure Island Rec is first with 10 points, followed by St. Petersburg Country Club (9), Vinoy (8) and Shipwatch Blue (7).

Next week, TI Rec plays Shipwatch Blue and SPCC faces the Vinoy. In the final round of the playoffs Dec. 11, SPCC hosts TI Rec and the Vinoy plays Shipwatch Blue.

In the women's 3.0 division, Feather Sound Country Club is in the lead with makeup matches remaining, as is Seminole Lake Tennis Center in the men's 3.5 and Isla Del Sol Country Club in the men's 3.0.

NATIONAL OPEN: Area players are gearing up for this weekend's U.S. Tennis Association National Open Championships in the 18-and-under division and the 16.

Entered in the 18 singles and doubles competition in Pensacola are Brianna Williams, Becky Gordon, Miranda Gutierrez, Linda Tien, Alec Vuckovic and Jason Swenson.

Scheduled to compete in the 16 singles and doubles tournaments in Tallahassee are Laura Gioia, Bryan Jowers and Stephen Segura.

NET SHOTS: Bill Christensen defended his top seeding in the West Coast Classic's men's 55-and-over singles division.

Men's open No. 2 seed Ben Kronk reached the final before falling to No. 3 Steven Moros of Bradenton, as did men's 45 top seed Jeff Winkler. Michael Halisky won the men's open consolation draw.

FREE-FOR-ALL: Free clinics for beginning and intermediate players of all ages are 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Treasure Island Golf, Tennis and Recreation Center.

Along with instruction and free usage of service practice and ball machine courts will be a Prince racquet demonstration. For details, call the center, 360-6062.

COMING UP: The Turkey Bowl Super Series for juniors begins Friday at the Cheval Country Club in Lutz.

Call Francis Cooke, (813) 948-2282, today to enter.

-- Train Smart Tennis NTRP Masters is this weekend at the Arbor Greene Fitness and Athletic Club in Tampa.

Call Alan Williams, (813) 962-4253, today to enter.

-- The Holiday Classic for adults is Dec. 6-8 at the Tampa Palms Golf and Country Club.

Call (813) 632-1676 to register for the state-sanctioned event.

-- The Pre-Holiday Classic for juniors is Dec. 7-9 at the McMullen Tennis Center.

Call (727) 669-1919 by the Dec. 4 deadline.

-- Treasure Island Golf, Tennis and Recreation Center hosts a Suncoast Tennis Foundation Rookie Grand Prix Circuit event Dec. 7-8 for juniors 16-and-younger.

Call director Phil Girardi, 360-6062.

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