By Judi Platt
Following a long, snowy winter in the northeast, daffodils and tulips brightened our spirits with their bold hues that beckoned the start of spring. Trees unfurled their gifts of green, and azaleas and rhododendrons in wimbledon colors of purple and green signaled the start of yet another season in Eastman—“tennis season.”
Many Eastmanites anticipate “the nets going up” as eagerly as we await the first robins and the return of the loons. For the next few months, the eight har-tru courts on draper road will be home for three established teams in the Community Tennis Association (CTA) in the Upper Valley. A new banner is hanging at the courts, to celebrate the Eastman’s Women’s B team’s victory at the 2013 championship tournament held at the Quechee Club in July. And, a dozen or so women will begin their quest for yet another one.
The 2013 season began with some cold and wet days; for a while it seemed as if it rained almost every monday evening and that the team would never be able to practice. The first few matches were played in March-like temperatures. Then, the weather— and the team warmed up considerably. It was “game on” in the dirt off Draper Road.
After playing seven matches in a league of nine teams in the Upper Valley, the Eastman Women’s B Team did not finish the regular season at the top of the roster, but in the top four. Nonetheless, with characteristic team spirit and strategic planning, when it came to the post-season playoff matches, the Eastman women’s team played both the #1 and #2 teams and defeated both for the second time that season.
Considering that some Eastman teams were often playing opponents who were young enough to be their daughters, victories throughout the season were particularly sweet for the seasoned players. Experience, skill and guile prevailed. In the championship matches played at the Quechee Club on a sunny summer day, team Co-Captain Amy Hoffman and partner Judi Platt teamed up for the first time against two younger players. After dropping the first set as the new partners got used to each other’s play, they won the second set and the 10-point, third-set tiebreaker. Christine Cecchetti and Jay Leavitt gave a clinic to their opponents at line 2, winning very quickly in straight sets. Pauline Shea and Co-Captain Sharon Frank also teamed up for the first time and fought through a very long, arduous match at line 3, keeping spectators riveted to the very last point.
There was no trophy presentation. There were no trips to regional or national championships. The team played for what matters most to these Eastman athletes: the enjoyment of being on a team, the camaraderie of playing with other tennis enthusiasts and the health benefits of playing a rigorous sport. and, their prIdE. Title IX was not on the books when several of the Eastman players were in high school or college, so the team experience is one to be cherished.
The Eastman Women’s B Team has been competing in the Upper Valley for over 10 years. In recent years, former Eastman resident Milly Dunfy captained the team, followed by Christine Cecchetti as captain for several years. The 2013 championship was the culmination of Amy Hoffman’s three years of leadership. The rosters change with players being added and others moving on to other pursuits or locales. The constant in the past six years has been coach Gary Conklin, Eastman’s tennis pro.
But, what truly has set Eastman women’s tennis team apart from the other eight teams in the league is the fan base. According to Amy Hoffman, it has been noted at CTA captains’ meetings that Eastman definitely has the best fan base. A case in point was the 2013 championship in Quechee; a contingent of Eastmanites travelled to Quechee and lined the fences to support the women’s team and the Eastman men’s team that also played that day. There were no visible—or audible—supporters for the opponents.
The Eastman women’s team draws a loyal fan base both at home and away. One of the first bits of tennis folklore that players new to Eastman tennis hear is that one particular team in the CTA is not particularly fond of playing Eastman women. Apparently, in years past, the Eastman fans showed up to cheer on our players – loudly. Very loudly. Reverberating with the sound of a Davis Cup match on home soil, Eastmanites would show up with cowbells! While there were no cowbells sounded in the 2013 season, the Eastman team had an entourage at every match – team members, spouses, children and neighbors in numbers that would make any Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) or Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) satellite player envious.
That’s what makes playing for the Eastman teams so special. We are a community. And, noisemakers withstanding, that takes team spirit to a whole new level.
The team has no cute uniforms with the Eastman logo, no young ringers playing when they return home from college, no former circuit champs. Players juggle demands of jobs, family and other interests in order to play. Conversations before matches may be more about how it’s becoming more difficult to find tennis shoes that fit than what’s the latest in string technology. There’s not much acing for easy points or drilling 90 mph passing shots going on at this level of play, where finesse shots and high-percentage play are the keys to winning. But, what there is in abundance is dedication and hard work, both in matches and practices.
While only six players could play in the championship match, it took contributions from each and every member of the team to get to the final match. Members of the 2013 championship team were: Christine Cecchetti, Maureen Connelly, Kathleen Curwen, Danielle Haxton, Sharon Frank, Amy Hoffman, Barbara Jones, Jay Leavitt, Melissa Miner, Judi Platt, Pauline Shea, Diane Sheehan, Sheila Shulman and Jackie Underhill. A core group of these players returned to play on the 2014 team co-captained by Sharon Frank and Jackie Underhill.
To learn more about tennis at Eastman, visit eastmannh.org/tennis.
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.