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Letter to the editor

Self taught years ago and still on top of his game

By NANCY MORGAN
Published June 6, 2007

Jeff Shue and his neighborhood friends in Virginia played whatever sport was on television. When they watched Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe compete, tennis became the neighborhood sport.

Shue started playing around the age of 13 and without taking lessons, advanced through high school competition to four years playing at George Mason University.

"I'm proud of the fact that I'm pretty much self-taught and yet was able to play at a Division I college, " said Shue, 41. "It makes me feel great and proud to have played among the top six on the team all four years at that level."

Work influenced Shue's move to the area in 1994 with year-round tennis opportunities a definite positive factor. In 2000, Shue was placed on injured reserved after back surgery for a couple of herniated discs. Three years ago, he began playing again, feeling better than ever.

"I've been back three years and am playing healthy, " Shue said. "Recently, I started playing doubles at the Southwest Tennis Complex in Largo. ...I'm able to adapt my style of play to whoever I'm playing and figure it out while I'm playing. That's probably the strength of my game, the fact that I can adapt my game as I look at my opponents from a strategy side.

Shue played USTA leagues for the first time this year and had competed in a league at Davis Island in Tampa. Shue plays USTA-sanctioned tournaments.

"Now that I'm eligible for the 40-and-over division, I'd like to break into the top 50 in the state, " Shue said. "I'm about No. 96 now and will face some tough players in the 40s; there are some top-notch players there"

Shue is most proud of the camaraderie and friendships that have resulted from his playing. That, Shue said, is the best win of all.

NET SHOTS: Last month's 17th annual Charity Tennis Tournament, a benefit for the Arthritis Foundation, netted a $26, 000 profit with some income still expected. Over 250 players participated in the three-day men's, women's and mixed doubles competition at East Lake Woodlands.

- Michael Beiler won last weekend's boys 14-and-under round-robin competition in the Summer Classic at Safety Harbor Spa. Reaching their respective final were No. 2 Harrison Cavanaugh in the boys 16, No. 2 Ganesh Rajaram boys 12, Alexandra Kitchen girls 16 and Courtney Grigsby 12.

- Sarah Wisotsky was one of four juniors from Florida and among 35 nationwide to be awarded a $5, 000 college scholarship by the Mass Mutual Foundation through its association with the USTA Tennis and Education Foundation. Awardees were chosen based on their commitment to academics, community and tennis.

Wisotsky was ranked in the top 10 percent of her graduating class at Tarpon Springs, is a pianist, drummer, diver and six-year participant in USTA Junior Team Tennis. She received both the high school's team tennis sportsmanship award and an honor student-athlete award.

LEAGUE NEWS: A USTA league player can now appeal his or her NTRP rating online. Go to www.usta.com and click on "Find a Rating." Follow the directions and you can get an immediate response.

COMING UP: The SPTC Junior Open begins Saturday at the St. Petersburg Tennis Center. Call 823-2225 today. ...The Summer Classic at Seminole Lake Racquet Club begins June 16. Call 394-1733.

News for this column may be faxed to Nancy Morgan, 445-4119; e-mailed to namorgan@tampabay.rr.com or sent to 710 Court St., Clearwater, FL 33756. Please include phone number.

[Last modified June 5, 2007, 22:20:21]