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When Greg Cram was 12 and his family moved from Atlanta to St. Louis, he turned to tennis to make friends.
Now, 54, Cram continues to rely on the sport as a means of meeting new people.
Cram has lived in Tampa the past 11 years while working as a programmer analyst in St. Petersburg. Since 1996, he's played in the city's flex league.
"I've enrolled in the league continuously since my first season, which actually was a mixed doubles format," Cram said. "After that, I began playing in the B singles division and have played in the mid-to-lower A divisions for some time. Since I work in St. Petersburg, the league is very convenient for me."
Cram won the A-2 summer season and is competing for the first time in the A-1 class.
"It's fun, and I look at it as a challenge," he said. "There's no pressure on me, and I can go out and just do my best. ... I had won the A-4 in two playoffs two seasons ago, then moved to A-2. I felt lucky to beat them."
As a youth, Cram was drawn to the court by watching the players at a country club in Atlanta, then later found ample opportunities to hit with club members. Cram said that from the time he was 12 through high school, he played frequently. Upon returning to Florida, Cram competed two seasons for Lakeland High. For the next 15 years, Cram only dabbled in tennis while attending Lehigh University in Pennsylvania and starting his computer consulting career with a national firm. Working first in New York City, Cram found the sport less accessible and more expensive than he hoped. He did, however, become involved in a night league that played in a bubble by the Verrazano Narrows Bridge in Brooklyn.
After 17 years in New York, Cram returned to Florida in 1991 and resumed playing tennis.
"Players I've met since getting involved in the St. Petersburg league have become social friends," Cram said, "and we often get together for fun doubles at Puryear Park. We also formed a 3.5 USTA team last season."
Cram has a strong belief in the value of tennis as a life-long sport and encourages learning at an early age. Tennis is one of the few activities, he said, that one can come back to and enjoy later in life.
"If you want exercise and fun, you should try tennis," Cram said.
NET SHOTS: A rain-hampered designated tournament in Seminole County resulted in incomplete results for junior players. Officials hope to complete the event at a later date. Players reaching the semifinals included No. 1 Alexis Dorr (girls 16-and-under division), No. 4 Alexandra Cercone (14), No. 1 Jeff Dadamo and No. 4 Istvan Bolgar (boys 16) and No. 2 George Navas (18).
According to Florida's ranking system, players received the designated number of points per rounds they advanced.
Mizuho Nishimura (women's open class) and William Gatlin (75-and-over) defended their top seeds in last weekend's SPTC Adults and Senior Vets in St. Petersburg. Also winning were Donald Mathias (65), Will Roeper (60), Marc Mazo (55 round robin) and Marton Balla (men's open).
Finalists included Debbie Hobbs (women's 45), Steve Talner (men's 45) and Rafeal Kucharski (men's open). Leon Kennedy won the men's 65 consolation draw.
Competing this week in the USTA National 45 Men's Clay Court Championships in Fort Lauderdale are Jeff Davis, Kevin Manning, Jeff Winkler, Andres Molina and Van Gladfelter. Davis is seeded fifth in singles. Manning, Molina and Gladfelter share No. 9.
Earlier this month, William Cantrell placed third in the USTA National 50 Men's Clay Court Championships in Sarasota. Alex Deeb reached the consolation semifinal.
MIXED TEAMS AT STATE: Area squads competed in last weekend's USA Tennis Florida Mixed Doubles Adult Championships at Florida Tennis Center in Daytona Beach. Participating among the 50 teams were Feather Sound Country Club 7.0, Royal Racquet Club 8.0 and McMullen 9.0.
Feather Sound placed third in its flight of five, with Gainesville winning the title. Royal Racquet Club was winless, and Hunter's Green Country Club in Tampa captured the 8.0 crown. McMullen was fourth, with Miami taking the 9.0 championship.
Feather Sound posted a 2-2 record with 2-1 wins over Marco Island and Inverness. Against Marco Island, Kari Kiewatt and Kevin Cavanaugh won in a third-set tie-breaker in the No. 2 position, and Carol Stowasser and Bob Hicks won 7-5, 6-2 at No. 3. Kathy Wilson and David Smith won in No. 1 against Inverness, and Lori Clarke and Pat Augustine posted a victory at No. 3.
Grace Winter teamed with Chip Frey at No. 2 to score Feather Sound's only point against Panama City, then paired up to win again in No. 1 against Merritt Island.
PLAYING FOR CHARITY: The 21st annual Raymond James Pro/Am Tournament is this weekend at Treasure Island Tennis and Yacht Club. The event benefits All Children's Hospital and features a PRO-AM competition in A and B divisions Sunday. For information, call 367-5479. The 12th annual Tennis Classic to benefit the Good Samaritan Health Clinic of Pasco Inc. is Nov. 5-7 at Crescent Oaks Country Club. Call 848-6851 for player information.
The 12th annual Frenchy's Gumbo Tennis Classic is Nov. 12-14 at Clearwater's McMullen Tennis Center. The men's, women's and mixed doubles event is a benefit for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Pinellas County. For information, call 669-1919. COMING UP: The Haunted Rookie Tournament for junior singles players is Saturday at Largo Tennis Center. Call 518-3200. ... The Tampa Bay Doubles Challenge is Saturday-Monday at Royal Racquet Club. Call 799-3200.
- News for this column may be faxed to Nancy Morgan, 796-5559; e-mailed to namorgan46@msn.com or sent to 710 Court St., Clearwater, FL 33756. Please include phone number.