February Newsletter

Court Status:
A critical city bond election is scheduled for March 10th. Question 3 involves “quality of life projects” which includes monies to rebuild the existing Oregon courts. If this bond does NOT pass, the courts will continue to deteriorate, with no foreseeable monies available for this purpose. In order to vote you must live within the city limits and be a registered voter. There are provisions for voting if you live out of the city limits and own property in the city limits, and for early and absentee voting with some deadlines as early as Feb. 23. Call city hall at 439-4205 for more information. Encourage your friends, neighbors, and any interested persons to vote FOR question 3 on March 10th!!!

ON THE CALENDAR:
Feb. 11: Town Hall meeting, Willie Estrada Civic Center at 4:00. City will discuss details of upcoming bond election
March 4 ATA Board meeting at noon; all members welcome
March 7th: AHS annual invitational tourney
March 10: Bond election VOTE
March 14 Play Day; 9:00; Joy and Darryl Gallent are hosting
April 18-19: ATA Spring tourney; this year is the 35th year ATA has conducted this USTA sanctioned event. Mark your calendars now!

ATA WINS Battle of the Clubs, Jan 23 and 24th in Las Cruces. Our ATA team played in the 3.5 team section, composed of six teams, each team playing five matches totaling 30 sets. All nine team members played in every match. ATA scored 148 games while team Cheema won 145 for second place. Winners received etched wine glasses (with the wine!) and a trophy which will be engraved and kept at Picacho Hills.



Battle of the Club team: Sabine Fahl, Robert Schreiner, Dale Emmert, Linda Gilliland, Grady Nicholson, Gail Richardson, Steve Schuster, Nell Nicholson, and Sandy Sanchez.


Dues are Due in January! $15/single and $29/family still remains a terrific bargain. Dues can be given to Neil Bottger or any board member or mailed to ATA, PO Box 684, Alamogordo, NM 88310. Get these in by March 31st to avoid a $5 late fee and get your name on the ATA roster (out in April).

High School Scholarship: High School Seniors interested in applying for the 2009 ATA scholarship need to submit a short essay to the ATA Scholarship Committee. This will be due by April15th and can be turned into the High School counselor’s office. Contact Linda Gilliland or Neil Bottger for more information.
Volunteers Needed: There are several upcoming items that need volunteers:
Court repairs: Upcoming work days will be scheduled to patch and fill cracks on courts in preparation for the High School tournament on March 7, and the ATA tourney on April 18. Watch for emails on this.
High School Tournament: Adults will be needed again to transport players to other sites and to help with the tournament. Contact Grady if you are able to lend a hand on Mar. 7.
35th Tourney: Pien Latham is heading up a committee to plan a special dinner event and special prizes for the spring tourney on April 18-19. Contact her if you have some time and ideas to help make this a very memorable event.

Play Days:
January Play Day was hosted by Pien and Darrell Latham. Three courts of players showed up for a morning of beautiful weather and good tennis. Steve Schuster and Joy Gallent were the winners and Paul Sanders and Sabine Fahl came in 2nd place. Thanks Pien and Darrell!
Ladies Play Day: Despite colder weather, five lady players from Ruidoso joined ATA ladies on Jan. 28th for some good tennis. We look forward to doing this again!
February Play Day was hosted by Sabine and Wolfgang Fahl. 26 players turned out to enjoy nice weather, good food, and great tennis. Thanks Sabine and Wolfgang!

Senior Olympics are approaching with local competition the end of April, State competition the end of May in Las Cruces, and National competition in August in San Francisco. More information will be forthcoming as it becomes available.

Tennis training: Sabine Fahl, Gail Richardson, Steve Schuster, Linda Gilliland, Carl Jones, and Pien and Darrell Latham attended tennis training on Jan. 11th in El Paso.
Jack Michalko conducted the clinig. He runs the USPTA in the Southwest and is one of the top pros in the southwest.

Do You Know:
Faye Stokes, Roswell volunteer and ATA member, has been named as the 2008 USTA Southwest Community Tennis Volunteer of the year! Congratulations Faye!!!

Adios John Mangimeli, long time ATA member, February Play Day Crowd! Thanks to Wolfgang who is retiring and moving to Arizona! And Sabine! Lots of winners!

December Newsletter

December 2008

Court Status:
The city commission met on Nov. 11 to consider proposed bond issues. ATA was well represented with 15 members in attendance, most of which stayed the entire 4 and a half hour meeting. After much consideration of important issues, the commission decided to include tennis court rebuilding on the upcoming bond issue which will most likely happen in March 09. Special thanks to Steve Schuster and Linda Gilliland for presenting ATA needs and concerns. ATA is planning a campaign to promote the tennis portion of the bond. Much more info will be coming out on this; please give any feedback or ideas to board members.

ON THE CALENDAR:
Jan 5th: Play Day; 9:00; Pien and Darrell Latham hosting
Jan 7th ATA Board meeting at noon at El Camino Restaurant.
Jan 23-24 Battle of the Clubs Las Cruces
Jan 28th: Ladies play day with ladies from Ruidoso; RSVP to Evelyn


2008 Ends with a BANG!
Christmas Party was again hosted by Ruthven and Sintra Sampath. Great food and Sintra’s famous tacky gift exchange made for a fabulous and hysterical evening.
December Play Day was hosted by Robert and Marita Meints, and Anke and Carsten Witak. This team did a fabulous job with Christmas attire, snacks, and prizes. A delicious German lunch followed at Meints home which made this a memorable and festive event.





Thanks to Ruthven and Sintra Sampath who hosted the ATA Christmas Party again.
Robert Meints unwraps and kisses a frog, only to eventually lose it to Sintra.
Play day winners and hosts

Dues are Due in January! $15/single and $29/family still remains a terrific bargain. Dues can be given to Neil Bottger or any board member or mailed to ATA, PO Box 684, Alamogordo, NM 88310. Get these in by March 31st to avoid a $5 late fee and get your name on the ATA roster (out in April).


Battle of the Clubs in Las Cruces is Jan 23-24 with entries due on Jan 9. We need a team of 8—4 women, 4 men, but we can enter more teams with more players. Fees are $35/person. Event promises food, prizes, and good tennis!! Contact Sabine Fahl to get your entry in!!

Ladies Play Day and luncheon on Wednesday, Jan. 28th. Ladies from Ruidoso will be coming to Alamogordo to play, with lunch to follow at the Gentas. Please RSVP to Evelyn as we want to get players to fill courts. Email reminders will be sent in Jan.

No newsletter in January. Next newsletter will be a combination JAN/FEB newsletter. Necessary updates on information will be emailed.

Sabine already has the Play Days lined up for 2009:

Month Hosts
January Pien and Darrell Latham
February Sandra and Wolfgang Peterson
March Joy and Darrell Gallant
April 18th and 19th: 35th annual USTA sanctioned tourney (no play day)
May Cathy and Harold Waggoner
June Sabine and Wolfgang Fahl
July Anke Witak
August Marita and Robert Mients
September Diane and Lee Gustafson
October Fall tourney TBA; no play day
November Neoma and Ken Smith
December Maurice Lopez

Of course watch the newsletters for dates, times, and any changes

Court Status:
An upcoming bond issue may afford funds to rebuild old courts. The city commission is having a special meeting to consider “quality of life” projects (such as tennis courts) for the bond election. This meeting will be on Tuesday, Nov. 11, at 6:00 at the Willie Estrada Memorial Center. ATA members are strongly encouraged to attend this meeting and show support for rebuilding the Oregon courts. You are also encouraged to attend the regular city commission meeting at 7:30 on Tuesday, Nov. 18th at the City Hall. Steve Schuster will be presenting ATA concerns to the city commission.

2008 Otero Closed Tourney held in Oct. was a big success despite weather predictions. Rains held off and play was almost uninterrupted. Thanks to tourney directors Nell and Grady Nicholson who directed this event, again.

Tourney results: Ruidoso business man, Dennis Johnston, won the 2008 Otero County Closed Tennis Tournament Men's Open Singles, when his opponent, Jose Fantauzzi, an engineer at the High-Speed Test Track, had to retire due to an injury. The two had split the first two sets, 6-7, 7-5, before Fantauzzi retired. Fantauzzi won this event the previous two years. The Women's Open Singles was won by 15 year old Alamogordo tennis whiz, Natalie Rivera, besting Alma Villanueva of High Rolls in a tight three set final, 4-6, 7-5, 6-2. Fantauzzi and Rivera teamed to beat Linda Gilliland and Scott Key, 6-4, 6-1 in the Mixed Doubles Open.
Darryl Gallent, an Alamogordo business man, and his brother, Cliff, who traveled from Mississippi for this tournament, won both the Men's Open Doubles and the Men's 35 Doubles. The brothers beat Johnston and David Kaleh, 6-3, 6-4, in the Open, and Rick Sotak and John Genta by the same score in the 35's. The tournament was Sponsored by the Alamogordo Tennis Association in cooperation with the City of Alamogordo.
Results of the remaining finals: Men's Singles 45 Scott Key def. Patrick Morgan 6-2; 6-2. Men's Singles 65 Thomas Springer (1) def. Robert Schreiner (2) 6-1; 6-2. Men's Singles NTRP 3.0 Maurice Lopez def. Christian Wally 6-1; 4-6; 6-3. Women's 35 Doubles Cindy Carey / Lois Whitmire def. Neoma Smith / Anke Witac 6-2; 6-1 Women's 55 Doubles Pien Latham / Gail Richardson def. Sabine Fahl / Linda Gilliland 6-2; 6-1. Mixed Doubles 55 John Genta / Evelyn Genta (2) def. Pien Latham / Rick Sotak (1) 6-3; 6-4. Boys' 18 and Under
Singles Daniel Moezzi def. Cameron Riggs 6-0; 6-0. Boys' 14 and Under Singles Cody McNeely def. Aslan Gallegos 6-4; 7-5
Also, thanks to the ATA members who showed up for work day. Members cleaned courts and patched and filled some of the court cracks. Special thanks to Grady Nicholson for his contacts with the city and for obtaining supplies.


Welcome new members: Several players joined ATA during the fall tourney: David Kuale, Dennis Johnston, Cindy Carey, and Lois Whitmore all come from Ruidoso. Cliff Gallent (Darryl’s brother) comes from Mississippi!

ON THE CALENDAR:
Nov 11: Special city council and town hall meeting; 6:00, Willie Estrada Center
Nov. 18: Regular city council meeting, 7:30, town hall
Dec 3 ATA Board meeting at noon at Margo’s Restaurant. (Note board meetings will usually be scheduled for the 1st Wed. of each month).
Dec. 5: Christmas Party again will be hosted by Ruthven and Sintra Sampath. Mark this date on your calendars and be on the lookout for more info. You don’t want to miss this party!
Dec 6: Play Day, 9:00, hosted by Anke Witak

New Board:
A new ATA board was elected at the annual meeting in November.

New officers are: Steve Schuster, president, Sabine Fahl, member at large; Neil Bottger, treasurer;
Joy Gallent, secretary; Evelyn Genta, vice president/newsletter.

Thanks to outgoing president and vice president, John Genta and Maurice Lopez, for a job well done!

Nov. Play Day was a big success with more than 6 courts of players competing for the big turkey prize. Thanks to Ken Smith for hosting this event—again, and to Nori and Pat Morgan for hosting Nori’s famous gumbo lunch following play.

Did you know?

Linda Gilliland and the AHS tennis team recently received recognition from USTA as a “no-cut school tennis team.” This honor is the result of much hard work by Linda and Carl Jones to include all players on the AHS team. Congratulations!

You can’t ask for a let because of a broken string. Replace your racquet after the point has been played out.
(The Code, Item 44) Tennis Dec. 08

Tournament Results

Johnston Wins Otero County Closed

Ruidoso business man, Dennis Johnston, won the 2008 Otero County Closed Tennis Tournament Men's Open Singles, when his opponent, Jose Fantauzzi, an engineer at the High-Speed Test Track, had to retire due to an injury. The two had split the first two sets, 6-7, 7-5, before Fantauzzi retired. Fantauzzi won this event the previous two years. The Women's Open Singles was won by 15 year old Alamogordo tennis whiz, Natalie Rivera, besting Alma Villanueva of High Rolls in a tight three set final, 4-6, 7-5, 6-2. Fantauzzi and Rivera teamed to beat Linda Gilliland and Scott Key, 6-4, 6-1 in the Mixed Doubles Open.

Darryl Gallent, an Alamogordo business man, and his brother, Cliff, who traveled from Mississippi for this tournament, won both the Men's Open Doubles and the Men's 35 Doubles. The brothers beat Johnston and David Kaleh, 6-3, 6-4, in the Open, and Rick Sotak and John Genta by the same score in the 35's. The tournament was Sponsored by the Alamogordo Tennis Association in cooperation with the City of Alamogordo.

Results of the remaining finals: Men's Singles 45 Scott Key def. Patrick Morgan 6-2; 6-2. Men's Singles 65 Thomas Springer (1) def. Robert Schreiner (2) 6-1; 6-2. Men's Singles NTRP 3.0 Maurice Lopez def. Christian Wally 6-1; 4-6; 6-3. Women's 55 Doubles Pien Latham / Gail Richardson def. Sabine Fahl / Linda Gilliland 6-2; 6-1. Mixed Doubles 55 John Genta / Evelyn Genta (2) def. Pien Latham / Rick Sotak (1) 6-3; 6-4. Boys' 18 and Under Singles Daniel Moezzi def. Cameron Riggs 6-0; 6-0. Boys' 14 and Under Singles Cody McNeely def. Aslan Gallegos 6-4; 7-5

Court Status:

An upcoming bond issue may afford funds to rebuild old courts. The city commission is having a special meeting to consider “quality of life” projects (such as tennis courts) for the bond election. This meeting will be on Tuesday, Oct. 21, at 6:00 at City Hall. ATA members are encouraged to attend this meeting and show support for rebuilding the Oregon courts.

ON THE CALENDAR:

Oct. 9th: 9:00 Work Day in preparation for tournament. If you can lend a hand, come with knee pads, putty knives, push brooms, blowers, etc. to help prepare courts for tournament.

Oct. 11th & 12th: ATA Otero Closed Tourney; entries due to Grady Oct. 4

Oct. 12: Annual meeting/party

Oct. 21: Special city council meeting

Nov. 1st: Turkey shoot play day, hosted by Ken Smith. Play begins at 9:00 a.m. Lunch will follow at Pat and Nori Morgan’s. Nori will be cooking her famous gumbo!

Nov. 4th : ATA board meeting, noon. ATA members are always welcome and encouraged to attend board meetings.

Annual meeting and pot luck party will be hosted by Maurice Lopez after play on Sunday, Oct. 12, at 7:00. Please bring a pot luck dish and own drinks. Party will start at 7:00 and ATA Board elections will be held. If you are interested in serving on the ATA Board, please contact any board member.

Welcome new members: Terry Marquardt has recently joined ATA. Terry has been the force behind the capital outlay funds for new tennis courts and we heartily welcome him to ATA.

Mid School Tennis program has come to an end with 37 mid schoolers participating and a dozen ATA volunteers. Thanks to everyone who came out and helped teach these young tennis players!

Pickle Ball anyone? Strokes are similar to tennis. They play on Wednesday evenings. Contact Pat or Nori Morgan.

Chihuahua!!! 9 members from the Club de Tenis de la cd. DePortiva traveled to Alamogordo for lots of tennis play and good times. Special thanks to Dale Emmert, translator and organizer; and Joy and Darrell Gallent who hosted the party. Also special thanks to host families: Pat and Nori Morgan, Maurice Lopez, and John and Evelyn Genta.

Did you know?

70% of errors on the courts are related to footwork. Tim Hand, USTA rep.

During play, spectators are not to interfere with play at any time, even to indicate “ball on court.” No spectator has a part in the match! Item 17, The Code

Two years old—not too early to start!

Entry for the ATA Closed Tournament

Click here to download the Word version of the entry form!

September Newsletter

Chihuahua!!!
Our friends from down south are planning to visit Sept. 12-14. Play will start at 9:00 on Sat. morning and Sun. morning. ATA will provide sandwiches for lunch; members are asked to bring chips, fruit, or drinks. A potluck dinner/party will be hosted by Joy and Darrell Gallent Saturday evening, at 6:30. Bring your swimming suit as Gallents are planning to warm up their pool, weather permitting. You don’t want to miss this!!!

Court Status:
Plans for new courts are still in progress. City has changed architects so time line has also been extended. An upcoming bond issue may afford funds to rebuild old courts. More info as it becomes available.

Mid School Tennis program is off and running with 37 mid school players! This is more than expected and ATA members have jumped in to lend a hand.



Tues/Thurs Open Play: Please be diligent to not overlook players waiting to play during the T/Th open play times and work these players in at the completion of a set. Players waiting to play need to either sit on the bleachers where players can easily see that they are waiting, or notify players on the courts that they are waiting to play.

ON THE CALENDAR:
Aug. 19-Sept. 26: ATA sponsored Middle School Tennis program
Sept. 12-14: Chihuahua visit
Oct. 7th : ATA board meeting, noon, at the 19th Hole Restaurant. ATA members are always welcome and encouraged to attend board meetings
Oct. 11th & 12th: ATA Closed Tourney; get these dates on your calendar! (No Oct. Play Day)

ATA Board elections will be held after tourney in Oct. Terms for three board members (John, Neil, and Maurice) will expire. If you are interested in serving on the ATA Board, please contact any board member.

Did you know?
Long time ATA member, Judie Frances, offers a free exercise class, open to both men and women, meeting at the mall MWF’s at 8:30 a.m. This is an excellent class which offers a complete exercise workout. Judie has been teaching this class for 6 years; she has fitness instructor and personal trainer certifications. Contact Judie for more information.



Cancer Treatment Centers of America Championships Nov 5-9, Surprise, AZ features 8 champions competing for title and $150K in prize money. For more info see ChampionsSeriesTennis.com.
Senior Olympics results:
Tennis- Men’s dbls 70s: Grady Nicholson & Robert Schreiner, gold
Men’s singles 70s: Robert Schreiner, gold; Grady Nicholson, silver
Men’s dbls 75s: Tom Springer & Jim Crouse, gold
Men’s singles 75s: Tom Springer, gold; Jim Crouse, silver
Women’s Dbls: Sabine Fahl and Linda Gilliland, gold
Mixed dbls: Sabine Fahl and Robert Schreiner, silver Grady and Nell Nicholson, bronze
Badminton-Nori Morgan-Gold in women's doubles, bronze in mixed doubles
-Pat Morgan- Silver in men's singles, bronze in mixed doubles
Pickle ball-Nori Morgan-Gold in women's doubles, Gold in mixed doubles,
Pat Morgan-Gold in men's doubles, Gold in mixed doubles, and Gold in men's singles

Following are pictures of Tim Hand, USTA rep for our area, who presented a clinic for the mid school program on Sept. 5:





Thanks Tim!!