After 25 years...

  After 25 years without so much as touching a racket or giving the game much thought, I have picked up Tennis again.  It started the day we went to watch my niece Gracie play in her first tournament on a cold weekend last February.  I walked out onto the balcony overlooking the bank of 5 courts where the static smell of tennis balls and tarps brought back a flood of memories.  I could recall the same sounds of squeaking shoes, ball bounces and that good solid THUMP of a good shot hit right in the sweet spot. It was a blast watching her and the kids stretched out over 5 courts battle and grunt it out for points.

  I had been sitting around now for months, not doing much but getting soft, totally ignoring my new years pledge to get back in shape.  I didn't like the way I was feeling, I even had a kidney stone crop up and make me feel my age. In past years I had plenty of physical activity running and racing sled dogs, snowshoeing and skiing and just keeping up with the farm and chores. But last February I remember staring at the stationary bike one month after new years, watching tv and thinking what I should to, but not motivation to get started.  So, my wife Diane rented us a court for my birthday and we played with the family for a couple of hours, then going to a few Saturday drills at Bay Tennis & Fitness...starting out with my old Wilson Sting (circa 1986?).   I already knew I was out of shape, but an hour on the court had me winded and wounded from the high aerobic activity and impact on legs, especially my knees .  I also found myself missing a ton of shots in the net, long wide..  sometimes literally missing the ball...  but lots of it went well and the fundamentals from time spent as a junior started to work through to the surface.

  Within a few weeks I was asked to sub for a Wednesday night doubles league.  I had a fun and played well with a good group of guys who would end each week's matches with a burger and beer at the Side Door.  I ended up joining the league for the spring session, leading into playing on a 3.5 men's USTA team against Traverse City and Alpena. I won my singles matches, not easily but won them just the same.    Warm weather rolled around and it was easy to go to the high school courts to hit around, and I found plenty of people to hit with.  I met Gus, who invited me to join in on pickup games two nights per week and started playing mixed doubles with a really nice (and competitive!) group on the weekends.  All of the tennis players I've met in Petoskey have been inviting and friendly.  I've enjoyed making friends and competing... win or lose it's a lot of good fun.

  Early summer I was invited to play on a summer Men's 4.0 team. I split my singles matches, but won both doubles matches, (thanks mostly part to good partners).  Our team won a close double header match-up against Alpena and ended up qualifying for state's.  We met up for the competition in Ann Arbor, which was pretty awesome.  The courts at UofM are as impressive to a tennis player as the 'big house' is to a football fan.

  And although I lost both my single matches, I have to admit the competitive side of me was fueled.  It was a good experience and I learned a lot from each match.  I don't really remember learning from losing when I was a kid.. just playing and winning or losing.  Now the learning is my favorite part.  Working and improving on anything is worthwhile and great fun. I guess life's lessons sometimes come around again and again.

  This winter I'm playing 2-3 days per week, plus a couple of USTA league matches events in Traverse City.  I guess because I played on the 4.0 team and won a few matches, I got bumped up to a 4.0 USTA rating this year, and am looking forward to the upcoming 'BOB' doubles tournament in Traverse City.  I'm hoping too to play on a Men's 4.0 team, and qualify again, and give State's another shot in Ann Arbor.

More importantly, I find myself in better physical shape than a year ago and in much better spirits.  For me inactivity leads to more inactivity and lethargy.  Now if I go a couple of days without exercising or playing tennis I really crave it.  I look forward to my weekly league and playing with the friends I've made in the Petoskey area and Northern Michigan through tennis.  I especially enjoy playing with friends and against new opponents. The USTA tourneys and leagues make this possible, offering both formats where you can test yourself against people with similar skills and have a lot of fun along the way.