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Tennis

His love affair with youth tennis lives on

By NANCY MORGAN
Published January 19, 2006

Pierce Kelley may no longer be residing in Clearwater, but his efforts to grow youth tennis continue to exist.

Kelley was the key player in providing team tennis opportunities for youths when he collaborated with Clearwater parks and recreation department staffers Eddie Moore, Ream Wilson and Tom Walbolt, along with friend Steve Beeland. The coed tennis league began in the summer of 1976 at the McMullen Tennis Complex.

Today, youth team tennis is offered year-round throughout the United States. In the past few years, the U.S. Tennis Association has coordinated region and national championships.

"Tennis has been part of my life since I was a young kid and I've always loved to play and compete," said Kelley, 58. "When I started team tennis in Clearwater, it was because I wanted to provide opportunities for kids like I had, and I continue to be involved because I love the game."

Kelley grew up in the Miami area and graduated from Tulane University in 1969 just on the cusp of open era tennis. After playing tennis four years for Tulane, where the team lost just two matches, Kelley accepted a coaching job at George Washington University while attending graduate school.

In 1970, Kelley took time off from school to try the professional tour. He earned a No. 46 national ranking and around No. 150 in the world. Returning to school essentially ended his hopes of a professional playing career, but he never lost his love of tennis.

Kelley's first career position landed him in Clearwater's public defenders office in 1976. He moved three years later, but returned in 1993.

"I actually started playing tennis late by many standards at 12, but found I really took to it," Kelley said. "In a year I was ranked in the top 14 in the state in the 14 and under.

"One of my best wins was in 1969 when I beat Eddie Dibbs in the Florida State Clay Court Championships. One of my most memorable wins was in 1965 when my dad and I won the Father-Son State Championship."

Years of tennis have taken their toll on Kelley, and he has turned to writing. In the January 2006 issue of Florida Tennis, Kelley writes about the evolvement of the satellite circuit. Introducing Children to the Game of Tennis, a guide for parents of beginning players, was written in 1991 and revised in 2001.

Kelley also provides leadership in the Youth Tennis Foundation, a charitable organization within Florida with goals of annually providing two scholarships to college-bound players and offering financial resources to programs to help develop junior opportunities.

"Even though I haven't played or competed for a while, I'll never lose my love of tennis," Kelley said. "I've been involved in youth tennis in some way over 30 years and probably always will."

COMBO CHAMPS: Pinellas senior tennis dominated at last weekend's USTA Florida Combo Doubles League Sectional Championships.

Shipwatch Tennis Club's 7.5 senior women, Treasure Island Tennis and Yacht Club's 6.5 senior women and Feather Sound Country Club's 6.5 senior men brought home state championships from the three-day competition in Daytona Beach.

Shipwatch opened the sectional tournament with a 3-0 win over Gainesville on the play of Pat Co lacchio and Gail Pierce in No. 1, Mickie Gelestor and Norring in No. 2 and Vicky Tuller and Sue Magnus in No. 3.

Two matches in a day proved no problem for Shipwatch as they defeated Gainesville a second time with wins from Colacchio and Pierce in No. 1 and Elizabeth Proctor and Nancy Morgan in No. 2. Colacchio and Pierce teamed in No. 1 and Proctor and Morgan in No. 2 to win the second match of the day, 2-1 over Lakeland.

The Lakeland win clinched the sectional title for Shipwatch. In the second match with Lakeland, Gelestor and Norring collected a third-set tiebreak win.

Also competing at state for Shipwatch were Ruth Ann Ott, Xuan Duong and Sue Wendkos.

Treasure Island took the minimum players to their first-ever sectional event and posted wins over Gainesville and Winter Haven to claim the championship.

The fourth and determining match with defending champion Winter Haven resulted in Susan Barnes and Dolores Hayman in No. 1 and Elaine Keen and Patsy Voightmann in No. 3 posting straight-set wins and Victoria Hess and Denise Reaves collecting a third-set win in No. 2.

Feather Sound men's 6.5 senior team started with two 3-0 wins. First, David Smith and Blane Sherk in No. 1 and Bob Hicks and Pat Augustine in No. 2 posted straight-set wins over Lakeland and George Ditzel and Phillip Sealund recorded a win by default in No. 3.

Smith and Sherk followed with a three-set win in No. 1 against Gainesville, and Hicks and Augustine in No. 2 and Ditzel and Bob Bream in No. 3 added straight-set wins.

A second match with Lakeland resulted in a 2-1 victory. With a 3-0 record headed into the final match, Feather Sound only needed to win one match, and Augustine and Hicks posted a win in No. 2.

Other players on the Feather Sound team are Dan Diloreto, Tom Riley, Roger Rogers and an injured Chip Frey.

Adult combo league results at sectionals included Shipwatch 7.5 women placing second in their flight of four teams, Largo Tennis Center 6.5 men third in flight competition, Treasure Island 8.5 women fourth and Shipwatch 7.5 men fifth. Countryside Country Club's 8.5 men finished fifth overall (2-3).

In all, the second-year Combo Doubles League Sectional Championships included 32 adult women's teams and 24 adult men, plus nine senior teams.

TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS: Almost 120 players competed in the Suncoast Tennis Foundation's fundraising doubles event. The competition at East Lake Woodlands included five men's divisions, three women's and four mixed.

Among male winners were Chris Skinner and Mark Wagner (5.0), Mark Curran and Chris Rivera (4.5), Todd Goldman and Jerry Silva (4.0), Sanford Felder and Kevin Schuyler (3.5) and Brian Graham and Steve Sherlip (3.0).

Recording wins for the women were Judy Morris and Linda Thomson in the 4.5, Lisa Durkin and Mari Workman 4.0 and Jill Faw and Charlotte Tao the 3.5.

Straight-set winners in mixed were Judy Morris and Graham Bell (4.5), Michele Pennie and Eric Watson (4.0), Janet Matthews and John Green (3.5) and Elisabeth Leitner and Allen Sanchez (3.0).

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.

[Last modified January 19, 2006, 01:48:21]