|
by
Jenna Wright
 3.5
LOTA Women
The 2008 Senior League State Championships is proud to host the
3.5 LOTA (Lake Oconee Tennis Association) women for the very first time!
Everyone is aware about how difficult it is to make it to the State
Championships as it is, but try doing this with a brand new team!
So far, the LOTA women have won one match. “We won the first
match, but after that it has been down hill [but] we slid down gracefully!”
This may not be the results they were hoping for, but the ladies have
acquired many wins from individual matches throughout the tournament. Team
member, Brenda Pinson, is a perfect example of this. She has clinched three
out of four matches at the number one doubles position. Although she won’t
be able to walk away with a perfect winning record, not many players this
weekend will be able to say they fought so hard to win that they took their
opponents to THREE tiebreakers! Brenda Pinson is a trooper!
Team member, Barbara Voyles played a major part in putting the
LOTA league together eight years ago. When she first took on the role as
president, there were just 63 members. Throughout the four years she led
this organization, she worked endless hours trying to promote tennis around
Oconee community. Her work has paid off! The league has grown at an
astronomical rate, now containing 250 members! Everyone on her team agreed
that if it were not for Barbara, the league would not have 250 members and
they would not be able to have any USTA teams in the area.
Having a large membership isn’t just all about big numbers. For
these ladies from Oconee, it’s more about trying to include and get to know
everyone around their retirement community. None of the ladies knew anyone
when they first moved out to the Oconee area. When LOTA first began, the
small group practiced at the local clay court facility. They would schedule
match play every Saturday, but wanted to expand in order to make more
friends and be exposed to different styles of play. Now that the league has
expanded, they have been able to get enough involvement to make several USTA
teams within their LOTA league. Although they have separate teams, the
ladies’ loyalty still remains with the entire LOTA league as a whole. They
view themselves as one large team.
Did someone say FUN? Well, this team knows how to make it
happen! Most of the team went to the US Open last year together and had such
a great time that they have another US Open trip scheduled for this year. In
addition, the league takes frequent trips to Hilton Head Island together.
All players on this team agree that the LOTA league has changed their lives.
If it weren’t for tennis in their retirement community, it would have been
very difficult to get to know people and make friends.
This team is special because they are a great representation of
what tennis is supposed to be. Yes, winning is a great feeling, but try to
follow the example that these ladies have set; just go out and have a great
time. Reach out to new players in your community, make new friends and have
fun! Isn’t that what tennis for?
|
