Thursday, September 18, 2008

Tennis mixer courts players who love the game

Photos by Marny Malin
Right: Will Burrell concentrates on his return Saturday during the tennis mixer held at the South Post Tennis Courts.

The South Post tennis courts were filled with action Saturday afternoon for MWR’s second annual tennis mixer.

The mixer welcomed its share of tennis players to the Belvoir courts, as well as 1st IO tennis pro Miles Hughes, who was runner-up to DCEETA’s Stephen Chen in the men’s open intramural tennis tournament in May.

“The mixer gives people a chance to get outside, have some fun and make new friends,” said Eric Falkenhagen, MWR recreation specialist.

Falkenhagen said the event was previously held as a crab feast and mixer, but this year, a barbecue was done instead. “We get plenty of support for the [intramural] tennis tournament every year, but this is the other big event we get to do annually,” he said. “I’m excited again this year because of the success we’ve had.”

Will Burrell came out to enjoy everything the mixer offered. “I wish there were more events like this,” he said. “This is a great chance to meet new people and have good competition against people with very different games, which allows everyone’s game to improve.”

Ralph Ledgerwood said he came out to the courts to have some fun, take in some new competition and “sweat,” considering the humidity outside that day.

He’d taken a few swings during drills with Hughes and took advantage of the doubles competition as well. “Singles is a much faster game, where you have a lot of court to cover and you have to run to the ball,” he said. “Doubles is a different game.”

Burrell notices the difference in doubles, a difference he preferred to the singles game. “Singles is such a workout. Doubles just works better for me now.”

A self-proclaimed athlete for all his life, Burrell said he began playing tennis three or four years ago to stay in shape. “I left the contact
sports alone,” he said. “I stopped trying to keep up with the young guys.”

Ledgerwood said one of the best things about tennis is the fact that it’s a lifetime sport. “It’s a good, fun workout, something you can play
at your own pace. If you’re not that good, you can pick it up slowly until you play faster and find it easier.”

Burrell said he is constantly recruiting players to the tennis courts.

“If I see someone in shorts and a T-shirt and tennis shoes, I immediately ask them if they play [tennis],” he said, laughing. “You can just have fun with it. It’s a stress reliever, and you get to be a kid again, just chasing the ball.”