Twenty Years ago what was my main passion? What got me out of bed in the morning?

I thought about this as i woke up after a really fun and challenging TT last night and a long weekend of racing in Albany, MN. After bumping into a college friend last night at the TNTT and helping him do his first ever TT ( super job, JAY!) that my life is really so great. I am so lucky to still have awesome friends and teammates and still be healthy and fit enough to do a team sport AND an individual sport.

Tennis, is really an individual sport, but when your team score is tied and you are on the court in the 3rd set, trust me, it becomes a team sport. Doubles is obviously a team sport, kinda like a 2 person TT or a tandem.

All the folks i copied below are women i played with or knew. I suspect many dont play anymore..but i know a few do, and they are still playing with passion and intensity and for fun. 20 years ago and even 10 years ago i was either playing tennis, teaching tennis, watching tennis ( Pat Rafter was the FED of that era for me) or driving in snow storms to play indoors wishing i lived in a better climate for tennis. I have played in snowstorms before the MSHSL took all the tourneys indoors..I have played on red clay I have played on hartru- green clay and i have played in just about every country i have visited ...you see it is very easy to pack a tennis racket. Much easier than a bike, and cheaper too!

The only time I took an extended break, and that was needed, was while i was in full time graduate school. 3 Years off. Much needed and like now, i didnt look back. I just looked ahead and was thankful I could run, swim and bike. But like CJC knows, I didnt want to play and not play or compete to my ability and at the level i once had. So i let it go from 1994-1997.

Must comment that while playing tennis the extent of "impact" injuries was getting pegged with an overhead at close range, or having a mixed partner nail me mid-scapula with a serve at over 100 mph. Neither felt good. So if i tend towards TT's its bc i really dont feel that that the "rite of passage" of a broken clavicle is something i need to experience to fufill my life. Really.

The Class of 1985 Spirit Award:

1985 Debbie Willing

1986 Davida Sherman

1987 Christina Stearns

1988 Julia Mairs

1989 Christina Kirkmire

1990 Christina Kirkmire

1991 Shannon Crockett

1992 Sara Welch

1993 Alexis Boss1994-1996

2007 Kerry Snow ...MN native, tho her parents moved to FLA.



Most Improved:

1982 Kate Rugen and Diane Henry

1983-1984 Jan Gordon

1985 Stephanie Taylore

1986 Davida Sherman

1987 Christina Kirkmire and Stephanie Taylor

1988 Julia Mairs

1989 Heather McClelland

2006 Kerry Snow


Top Doubles Players (Based on Percentage -- 25 Match Minimum)
Player
Matches
Won
Lost
Pct.
Patty Hannon '86...my partner for 1 year
37
29
8
.784
Carly Bashleben '02
89
69
20
.775
Sarita Yardi
104
79
25
.759
Doris Lee '91...Dor-Tree remember the Atlanta wedding? Dor was my partner my Sr. year.
59
44
15
.746
Julia Mairs '88
53 matches
38 won
15 lost
.717 percentage
Kiyoe Hashimoto '95
46
33
13
.717
Debbie willing '85
27
19
8
.704
Heather Staley '90
30
21
9
.700
Allison Taff '00
66
46
20
.697
Kelly Busby '89
39
27
12
.692
Cathy Birkeland '94...Edina native
48
33
15
.688
Chris Stearns '87
35
24
11
.686
Jenny Lange '00
54
37
17
.685
Chrissy Kirkmire '90
56
37
19
.661