Back to TopJohn and Nick Gill lost in the Peachtree finals to Atlanta's Peter Lauer and Jay Bailey
Ansley Golf Club and Piedmont Driving Club played hosts to the 1st Annual Peachtree Invitational Platform Tennis Tournament January 14 & 15. This is a new APTA Region VII PCQ event that follows on the heels of last year's successful exhibition and clinic that kicked paddle in Atlanta into a higher gear. The two-day event was limited to 16 teams due to court capacity (there are currently just two courts in Atlanta). Nine players traveled in from as far away as New Jersey and Virginia to participate in the event.
Atlantans Jay Bailey and Peter Lauer took the inaugural Peachtree title over brothers John and Nick Gill (from DC & Alabama). Bailey and Lauer also won the Southern Invitational in Winston-Salem, NC, two weeks later over Mark Fischl and Alex Whaling. [enlarge image to read full story]
If the 2006 Nationals had a decidedly Chicago flavor, it wasn't lust because of the location. Men's champions Brian Uihlein and Dave Keevins and Women's champion Mary Doten are all long standing area residents and Susie Keane, though living in the Detroit area, learned her paddle skills in Chicago.
The path to the finals for both winning teams was dramatic, though in very different ways. Keevins and Uihlein had to survive four consecutive three-setters from the round of 16 on, and came from behind in every match to win. Maybe their gutsiest win came in a three-set quarter-final against Anthony Cosimano and Steve Haller when, down 5-6 and triple match point and Uihlein cramping badly, they survived in a tie-breaker. The semis proved no easier against defending National Champions Bill Anderson and Mike Stulac. Stulac showed his toughness by overcoming a sprained ankle in[...]
It seems that David Keevins must have grown up with a racquet in his hand. At 18, he received a full scholarship to play tennis at the University of Kentucky. By the end of his senior year, he was ranked #37 nationally in singles.
After earning his MBA from the University of Chicago, David was burned out on tennis. He explained, 'Tennis no longer interested me. Someone suggested platform tennis so my dad and I went to our club (Tennaqua) and played. We both liked it. I was hooked."
David knew Brian Uihlein from junior tennis. About ten years ago, Brian and John Hough began inviting David to play in their platform tennis practice games. They have been practicing ever since.
Comparing his tennis background to platform tennis, David said, "Paddle is a game of mistakes. Power has less of a premium, just look at the lobbing nature of the game." He added, "In tennis, sometimes one bre[...]
The snow had melted and leaves were starting to appear on the trees. Knees swollen from a winter of pounding on the paddle courts had started to heal. Tennis whites and racquets with strings had been removed from the closet. Then the phone call came. A good friend called and said, "I played tennis last night. It occurred during the match that paddle is much more fun than tennis. Would you be interested in playing paddle during the summer?" Three thoughts came to mind after hearing the proposal. First, that paddle really is more fun than tennis. Second, there was no reason that we couldn't play during the summer. Last, could we find anyone else crazy enough to play? [enlarge image to read full story]
PHILADELPHIA — The APTA held its Annual Meeting and Board Meeting at Waynesboro Country Club in Paoli, PA, May 5-6, 2006. Highlights from the meetings include:
A new APTA mission statement was developed. It reads:
The mission of the APTA is to:
A. Govern the sport
B. Grow participation
I. Among all levels and types of players
2. Across all our regions
C Improve all aspects of the game
We will accomplish this mission by: maintaining the rules and codes of behavior to ensure the integrity of the game; creating and increasing awareness of our sport; providing guidance to clubs and municipalities on how to start platform tennis programs and then how to make those programs successful, and; promoting the sport among current players to raise their level of addiction
APTA finances in 2005-06 were in the black by approximately $49,000.
The Board approved a $12,500 grant for [...]
Viking Athletics announces the manufacture of its 25,000 OZ paddle, the most played with paddle in platform tennis.
To celebrate, Viking is giving away more than $25,000 in product.
Viking will be supplying every paddle manufactured for the upcoming 2006/2007 platform tennis season with a scratch-off ticket that is redeemable for product at the Viking Pro Shop.
The APTA and PPTA will partner this season in an effort to bring more juniors into our sport. The APTA will provide the funding and the PPTA the know-how at Junior Paddle Days around the country. Generally, these will be scheduled to precede a junior tournament by a few weeks, in order to build interest in those "follow-up" events. All juniors who become APTA members, during one of these events (necessary for participation in APTA tournaments), will receive a gift from the APTA. If you would like to host an event in your area, or learn about an event scheduled for your area, please contact Marjorie at the APTA Office. Parents, pros and other interested adults are encouraged to get involved.
Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol.8, Issue 1, September, 2006
Jerry Brown of The Paddle Company provided an update:
Since 1995, platform tennis has enjoyed an amazing technological transformation with graphite, carbon fiber and titanium making paddles lighter, stronger and easier to play with. This has helped to reduce the stress on players' bodies and encouraged a broader participation in the sport. Developing new paddles for the sport has been an enlightening and rewarding experience. Within standards developed, by the American Platform Tennis Association, there are numerous ways which paddles can be adjusted and made to look and feel different from one another. And with the new materials accepting vibrant colors, the new graphics allow paddles that are distinctive and attractive.
Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol. 8, Issue 1, September, 2006
Bob Callaway, Chair, Rules Committee reported:
At the Annual Board of Directors meeting in May, a number of rule changes were approved and will be in effect for this 2006- 2007 season. Since a most recent edition of the Official Rules of Platform Tennis has not been printed and distributed, the APTA wanted to alert all players of the following changes:
Rule 1: Dimensions and Terminology
The Board approved as an option, a gap of up to six inches in the alley lines where the alley lines meet the service line and extending toward the baseline. It was felt that this optional alteration in the painting of the lines will make it easier to make calls on serves.
Rule 10: Fault or Out
In the third paragraph an additional sentence will be added: "In an officiated match, depending on the Chair Umpire's responsibilities regarding line calls, agreed to ahead of time with the Tournament Dir[...]
Brook Kindred was inducted posthumously at his home club, Fox Meadow Tennis Club, by Bob Brown in a heartwarming, well-attended ceremony on March 18,2006.
Sue Aery and Gerri Viant were inducted into the Hall of Fame ceremony in Summit, N.J., where Patty Hogan, a 2005 Hall of Fame recipient, stressed the significance of their talent and the disciplined approach to the game that they both possess.
Howard Sipe was inducted into the Hall of Fame at a ceremony at the National Championships on March 4, 2006 at the Glen View Club.
Prior to presenting the award, 2004 Hall of Fame recipient Walt Peckinpaugh expressed that "Chicago is the 'hub' of the sport right now, in part because of his pioneering efforts."
Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol. 8 Issue 2, November, 2006
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