March Newsletter

ON THE CALENDAR:

April 3rd: April Play Day and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony!! 9:00 am; Oregon Courts

Courts are expected to be complete but watch for an email to verify. Dale Emmert, host.

April 7: ATA Board meeting at noon; all members welcome.

April 17-18: ATA spring USTA sanctioned tourney. Tourney will include some youth categories (separate form). Entries forms will be sent out by the end of March; deadline for entries is April 10.

April: Senior Olympics local competition begins; this is a qualifying year for Nationals.

Court Status: Construction schedule remains on schedule. During week of March 8, Renner and city will clean concrete surface and prepare for surface coat and color. City is preparing for bleachers, other concrete work, nets, wind screens, and other details which they will handle when surfacing is complete. Our president, John White, has been attending numerous meetings to hopefully ensure a smooth completion of the many details that must be handled. Many thanks, John. ATA remains confident that April scheduled activities can proceed as planned. (Photos compliments of Sandy Sanchez)

Senior Olympics: Local competition for this year's Senior Olympic is starting in late April. This is a qualifying year for Nationals (Summer, 2011, Huston, TX), so State competition may be better than last year. Grady Nicholson is acting as tennis coordinator; 434-1949 for questions. Local registration is Apr 1-14 ($15 fee). Match play will be Wed, Apr 21 (considerable leeway here). Entry forms will soon be available at the Senior Center. There will be men's and women's singles and doubles, and mixed, in each 5 year age division, starting at age 50. The first 6 place finishers in each division will qualify for State (no obligation to go). Registration for State will be in May, and play in Las Cruces, Jul 28-Aug 1. Players qualifying for Nationals are not obligated to go. Contact Grady if you plan to play locally.

Membership Dues were Due in January. Annual dues remain inexpensive at $15/singles and $29/family. Dues can be given to Neil Bottger or any board member or mailed to ATA, PO Box 684, Alamogordo, NM 88311. Get dues in to be included on ATA roster (comes out in April) and to avoid $5 late fee.

ATA web page: http://alamogordotennis.blogspot.com/

More court photos:

New Member: Please welcome Gina Tisdale to ATA. Gina lives in Cloudcroft and is looking forward to playing in warmer weather! Welcome Gina!

January/February Newsletter

ON THE CALENDAR:

Feb. 26-28: Mixed doubles age division Tournament, Picacho Hills; more info. below

March 3: ATA Board meeting at noon; all members welcome.

Feb/March: USTA Sr. League Play, see below

April 17-18: ATA spring USTA sanctioned tourney. These dates contingent on courts being completed by that time as expected.

April: Senior Olympics local competition begins; this is a qualifying year for Nationals. Be on the lookout for more info next month or contact Grady Nicholson coordinator.

Court Status: Construction of new courts has begun! In January demolition of courts began with city workers removing fencing and tearing out cracked courts. Renner Sports Service, tennis court specialists, from Denver are now in the process of building new courts. This company built the courts at NMSU, Andre Agassi’s Las Vegas courts, and most recently the Rio Rancho High School courts. They hope to have work completed by March 31, but weather delays can be expected. January rains have delayed 6 working days thus far. Cliff, the Renner foreman, told John White, “I have never seen such a high level of interest from any community in the country.” A ribbon cutting ceremony is planned at project completion.

Paul Sanders, Steve Schuster, Dave Bolin, and Neil Bottger played the final sets on the Oregon courts as the fences were being removed around them. Officially, Jan. 5th at 10:15 AM play ceased.

Membership Dues were Due in January. Annual dues remain inexpensive at $15/singles and $29/family. Dues can be given to Neil Bottger or any board member or mailed to ATA, PO Box 684, Alamogordo, NM 88311. Get dues in to avoid $5 late fee.

Interested in Senior League Play??? USTA Sr. League play is starting up this spring. Men and Women leagues levels 3.0, 3.5, and 4.0 are organizing now for players 50 years old and up, and will run from the end of Feb. through April with weekend play. Teams consist of 8 to 10 players, and each player must play in at least two competitions (more is preferable). If enough players are interested, Alamogordo teams can be coordinated, or players can also join in with Las Cruces teams. Registration begins on Feb. 14 with play beginning the end of the month. A $23 fee is required for each player and players must be active USTA members. If interested, contact either John White or Evelyn Genta by Feb. 12, or contact Chantal Spilliaert, SNM USTA Adult League Coordinator 575-541-0514 or cspi26@hotmail.com.

Mixed Doubles Age Division Tournament is scheduled for Feb. 26-28 at Picacho Hills in Las Cruces. Entry deadline is Feb. 20. Tourney cost is $18. You can register at USTA.com, tennislink. Tourney ID is 759502110, or call 575-635-9044. ATA board members have info flyers.

January Play Day was hosted by Pien and Darrell Latham. Seventeen players played on old cracked courts with Sandy Sanchez and Cameron Emmert emerging as high scorers. Next play day will be on new courts!!

Battle of the Clubs was played in Las Cruces the end of Jan. ATA was well represented with 3 teams consisting of 8 players/team participating. The team tennis format consisted of 6 matches per team with total games won determining winners. The ATA 3.0 team (pictured 1st) came away with the 1st place trophy, while the 3.5 & 4.0 teams placed 4th. Thanks to all players and special thanks to Darrell and Pien Latham for organizing our players and to team captains Darrell Latham, Steve Schuster, and Darryl Gallent.

December Newsletter

Court Status: Tis the season to be jolly and ATA has good reason to celebrate. On Dec. 9th the $475,000 funding for tennis courts was restored to Alamogordo. This happened through a “request for exemption” by the city manager, and much work and support from others. Special thanks to Terry Marquardt; Mark Roath, city manager; Ron Griggs, mayor; Representative Nate Cote; and especially to our president, John White. We look forward to seeing things change at the Oregon courts soon!!!

ON THE CALENDAR:

Jan. 6: ATA Board meeting at noon; all members welcome.

Jan 2: January Play Day at Oregon courts, 9:00. Hosted by Pien and Darrell Latham

Jan. 28-31: Battle of the Clubs, Las Cruces. See below for more info.

Expect February Play Day to be cancelled due to court construction

New city manager, Mark Roath, talks to ATA members at Nov. Play Day.

City grinding court one; plans were to use this as the trial court before patching

Membership Dues are Due in January. Annual dues remain inexpensive at $15/singles and $29/family. Dues can be given to Neil Bottger or any board member or mailed to ATA, PO Box 684, Alamogordo, NM 88311.

Battle of the Clubs is being hosted again by Picacho Hills Tennis Assoc. in Las Cruces. Scheduled for Jan 28-31 the event promises good food, door prizes, and raffles. Teams consist of 8 players: 4 men and 4 women. It has been suggested that ATA try to send a 3.0 team and a 3.5 team this year. (Our 3.5 team won its division last year). Entry costs $320/team ($40/person) which includes a breakfast and box lunch. Get your entries in to Darrell Latham as soon as possible or call him for more information. He will place players on teams on a first come/first serve basis; his deadline for our entries is Jan. 15.

ATA Christmas Party was another blast. Good food and lots of laughs with Sintra’s tacky gift exchange is becoming quite a tradition. Thanks to Sintra and Ruthven Sampath for hosting this party again.

December Play Day on Dec. 12th was well attended with 7 courts of festive players coming out to play. Ed Cole, city commissioner, came and addressed ATA members and celebrated with a toast to the new courts. A team format resulted in the “quail team” consisting of Ken Smith, Robert Meints, Harold Waggoner, and Dave Bolin turned up high scorers, with Ken Smith with the high score for the day. Thanks to the Gentas for hosting and to Sotaks, Anke Witak, and Dale Emmert for helping with snacks.

No newsletter in Jan. Jan. and Feb. newsletters will be combined and out in Feb.

Do you know: Do you know that 40-40 is NOT deuce? Deuce is actually defined as returning to 40-40 in a game.

ATA web page: http://alamogordotennis.blogspot.com/

November Newsletter

ATA Newsletter November 2009

Court Status: Well, the worst possible scenario has become a reality. Just as the construction bids were finally being opened and reviewed, all capital outlay monies were pulled due to the $6.6 million deficit. The monies are gone, along with ATA’s hope for new courts. Note ATA letter to editor.

ON THE CALENDAR:

Dec. 2: ATA Board meeting at noon; all members welcome.

Dec. 5: December Play Day and ATA Christmas Party. Dinner party and tacky gift exchange is being hosted again by Ruthven and Sintra Sampath, beginning at 7:00. It will be potluck with ATA providing ham, turkey, wine, and Ruthven will make his famous jungle juice. Don’t miss it!

ATA Newsletter November 2009

Results: ATA closed Tourney Oct.

Holloman AFB employee and assistant High School tennis coach, Carl Jones, won the Men’s Open Singles in the 2009 Otero County Closed Tennis Tournament. Jones defeated local attorney and recent District Attorney, Scot Key, 6-2, 6-4, in the final. Crystal Messer, Denver, won the Women’s Singles event, defeating Alma Villanueva, High Rolls, 6-4,6-3, in a two hour final.

Results of the remaining finals: Men's Singles 45 Thomas Springer def. Rick Sotak 6-4; 6-1. Men's Singles 65 Jess Blough def. Jeff Lazar 6-4; 2-6; 7-6(5). Men's Doubles Open Jeff Lazar / Murray Jeffrey def. Chase Schimel / Alex Tolsma 6-0; 6-1. Men's Doubles 45 John Genta / Sotak Rick def. James Crouse / Thomas Springer 6-2; 4-6; 7-6(5). Men's Doubles 65 Steve Schuster / John White def. Jess Blough / Ken Smith 2-6; 7-5; 6-1. Women's Doubles Sabine Fahl / Crystal Messer def. Pien Latham / Gail Richardson 6-2; 6-2. Mixed Doubles Open Cameron Emmert / Richardson Gail, 2nd place Leonard Sampath/Emily Dodson. Mixed Doubles 35. Sabine Fahl / Paul Sanders def. Allen Campbell / Crystal Messer 6-2; 6-0. Mixed Doubles 55 John Genta / Evelyn Genta def. Pien Latham / Steve Schuster 6-1; 6-3. Youth Boys Singles Ben Dodson def. Andy Moezzi 8-5.

Special thanks to Grady and Nell Nicholson for running our tournament—again!

New ATA Board members elected at the Oct. 11 annual meeting are John White and Anke Witak. Special thanks to outgoing members Steve Schuster and Joy Gallant. The ATA board for the 2009-2010 year is:

John White, President; Evelyn Genta, VP & Newsletter; Sabine Fahl, Secretary; Neil Bottger, Treasurer; and Anke Witak, Member at Large.

Thanks also to all members who were interested in running for the board, and to Pien and Darrell Latham for hosting the annual meeting.

ATA Board: L to R: Neil Bottger, Treas, Sabine Fahl, Sec.; Steve Schuster, outgoing Pres.; Joy Gallent, outgoing Sec.; Anke Witak, member at large; Evelyn Genta, VP; John White, Pres.

Roswell/Alamogordo Exchange: ATA emerged victorious in Roswell on Oct. 24th, retaining the coveted white sands/alien trophy. Thanks to all who participated and special thanks to Roswell for their hospitality and to Steve Schuster and Terry Cleveland for organizing such a smooth running event.

November Play Day and turkey shoot, was again hosted by Ken Smith with 7 courts of players turning out to compete for the prized turkeys and a one of Dale’s famous pies. High scorers were Lee Gustafson, Nori Morgan, Joy Gallent, Rick Sotak, and Anke Witak. Congratulations to those winners. Following play, Nori and Pat Morgan invited everyone to their home for Nori’s delicious gumbo lunch. Thanks again to Ken and to Pat and Nori!!

2009 Play Day Schedule:

Jan: Pien & Darrell Latham

Feb: Joy & Daryl Gallent

March: Dale Emmert

April: no play day (tournament?)

May: Sabine & Wolfgang Fahl

June: Cathy & Harold Waggoner

July: Anke Witak

Aug: Halie Purdy

Sept: Marita & Robert Meints

Oct: no play day (tournament?)

Nov: Ken & Neoma Smith

Dec: Diane & Lee Gustafson

Schedules change, so double check your newsletters and emails for the latest updates.

If you would like to host a play day, please contact Anke Witak, or any board member.

New ATA member, Crystal Messer, lives in Denver and plays tennis in Alamogordo whenever she has a chance to visit her parents, the Campbells. Welcome Crystal!

Tues/Thurs Open Play: Please be reminded that Tuesday and Thursdays are open play days, for players to meet and join in play. Every 30 minutes players rotate between courts to allow a mix of play. If you do not wish to join in and switch around on Tuesdays and Thursdays, please arrange your own players and play on the northern courts.

ATA web page: http://alamogordotennis.blogspot.com/

October Newsletter

ATA Newsletter October 2009

Court Status: The city is beginning to show signs of moving forward on the courts. Steve and Grady met with city officials on Sept. 23rd and the upshot was:

The bid package will be finished by Friday, Sept. 25th. It will be advertised 10/4-11. Bids will be opened 10/27. The commission will meet and approve the winning bid on 11/4. The contractor will be notified on 11/5. A start date will be selected (within one month) and the City will start tearing out the fencing one week before that start date. All of this presumes that bids for the basics come in under budget. We are back to pouring over the existing courts with four inches of gravel between the surfaces. --Steve

ON THE CALENDAR:

Oct. 4th, 6:00 pm: Closed tourney entries due

Oct. 7th: ATA board meeting at noon; all members welcome

Oct. 10th-11th: ATA Closed Tourney

Oct. 11: ATA Annual Meeting and pot luck dinner; election of 2 new board members

Oct. 24: Roswell/Alamogordo exchange; put this date on your calendars.

Nov. 4: ATA Board meeting at noon; all members welcome.

Nov. 7: November Play Day! Turkey shoot hosted by Ken Smith

ATA Newsletter October 2009

ATA / NMSU-A Mid School Tennis program will finish up on Oct. 1st. With 27 mid school players and ATA volunteers, the program was a big success. Special thanks to ATA volunteers: Carl Jones, Sabine Fahl, John & Evelyn Genta, Linda Gilliland, Diane Gutafson, Pien and Darrell Latham, Bernice McRae, Steve Schuster, John White, and Anke Witak who volunteered their time to work with these kids.

ATA closed Tourney and annual meeting, Oct. 10-11. Please get your entries in to Grady Nicholson by Sunday, Oct. 4th, 6:00 pm. (Forms were sent out with Sept. newsletter; contact Grady if you need one). Also, remember that the annual ATA meeting/potluck dinner will be held on Sunday, Oct. 11 at 7:00 pm at Pien & Darrell Latham’s home (Maps will be available at tourney desk). Please bring a dish to share and your favorite beverage. Two new board members will replace Steve Schuster and Joy Gallent whose terms have expired and thus will be going off the board. So far, candidates for the two board positions are: Diane Gustafson, Bernice McRae, John White, and Anke Witak. If you are interested in serving on the ATA board, please give your name to Steve, or any board member.

Roswell/Alamogordo Exchange will be Oct. 24 in Roswell. We need to keep the alien/White Sands plaque (that Harold designed) and not let them show it off in Roswell! Let Steve Schuster know if you can play for ATA in Roswell that Saturday.

Chihuahua: Pat Morgan is checking to see if Thanksgiving weekend would be a possibility for tennis in our sister city. Pat needs to know if there is sufficient ATA interest for a Thanksgiving trip. Contact him if you are interested.

Recovering!

Despite recent shoulder surgery, two ATA members can’t seem to stay away from the courts!

What talents ATA members have!! We’ve heard through the ATA grapevine that we have a pie maker in our midst. Dale Emmert recently took first place for his pies in the annual Pie Town Pie Contest. We’re all salivating, Dale!

Tues/Thurs Open Play: Please be reminded that Tuesday and Thursdays are open play days, for players to meet and join in play. Every 30 minutes players rotate between courts to allow a mix of play. If you do not wish to join in and switch around on Tuesdays and Thursdays, please arrange your own players and play on the northern courts.

Springer and Crouse-- Senior Champs

Jim Crouse and Tom Springer recently captured gold medals at the National Senior Games in the men's 75 division. The tournament, which brought together seniors from across the nation, was held at the Taube Tennis Center in San Francisco, August 11-14.

Crouse and Springer barely made it out of the opening round, squeaking past Washington's Jim Gard and Bruce Randall in a tight three-setter. Three matches later, the New Mexico duo saw themselves in the final opposite Hawaiian duo Benny Quiseng and Norberto Baysa. Crouse and Springer saved their best match for the final, and cruised to a 6-2, 6-1 victory for the title.

It was a good weekend for Springer, who also captured the Men's 75 singles crown. He received an injury walkover in the first round, then breezed through four more rounds, including a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Roger Hing (Fountain Valley, Calif.) in the final.

Springer lost just 18 games in eight total sets in singles.