To promote and develop tennis in Virginia.

Picutered left to right: Rosalind Welsh (Captain), Carol Killmer, Beverley Bigelow Byrd, Linda Challinor, Elaine Dennison, Martha Wolfe, Penny Haag, Sandra Vess

View the team's championship PhotoShow

It was Rosalind “Lynn” Welsh’s time. A captain for seven years, her 3.0 Senior Women’s team not only made it to the National Championship, they won it.

Welsh has put together a 3.0 team for the USTA league out of Winchester, Virginia for seven years. Each year her team did so well, she would lose at least half the players to being bumped up to 3.5’s. But that was no deterant for Welsh, who sought out players from every nook and cranny of the Winchester area year after year to fill her roster. In the past four years, her team has made it to the USTA/Virginia District Championship four times and the USTA/Mid-Atlantic Section Championship twice. But each time, they couldn’t quite get past the strong teams from Maryland. 2010 was different.

The 3.0 Senior Women’s team out of Stonebrook Fitness and Swim Club, including team members Carol Killmer, Beverly Byrd, Linda Challinor, Elaine Dennison, Martha Wolfe, Penny Haag, Sandra Vess and Welsh, started out in their local league playing a 10 week season against four other teams, with eight total matches. Welsh’s team won seven of those eight matches, securing a bid to the USTA/Virginia District Championship in Wintergreen, VA.  In the cool weather and on the forgiving clay courts of Wintergreen, Welsh’s team went 3-0. Not a bad weekend with great results on the court, in a gorgeous setting. A couple weeks later it was on to the USTA/Mid-Atlantic Section Championships at Huntington Park in Newport News, VA. Though Welsh had been at this tournament a few times before, her roster changed annually, maybe this would be the year. In her draw she immediately saw there were not one, but two teams representing Maryland. This was going to take some work. With Welsh’s can-do attitude and skill of her players, the team won the tournament, and even went 3-0. Now this was exciting!

Their bid into the USTA National Championship in Indian Wells, California brought uncertainty of just how many of the eight team members would be able to make it. Because of previous plans Byrd was not able to join the team at the District or Section Championships, and though she was available to travel to Nationals she felt it was unfair to the team. But her teammates encouraged her to make the trek to California with them, it was a team effort after-all, and she had helped them through the local league matches. This would be Byrd’s first tournament ever, and she was starting off at a National Championship. The team was also not sure if Dennison would be able to join them. Her son was battling cancer and Dennison was with him in Kentucky. But with the encouragement of her son, she agreed to fly out to California from Kentucky to play. The team vowed they would play in honor of her son, they would compete with the tenacity that he fought his cancer.

The USTA National Championship featured sixteen teams from across the nation, with four teams in four separate flights. Welsh’s team, now representing the USTA/Mid-Atlantic Section, drew teams from USTA/New England, USTA/Eastern and USTA/Caribbean. The Caribbean was slated to be their toughest match and it wouldn’t help that Wolfe had a sore ankle and Welsh was battling tendonitis. The team’s first match with USTA/New England was a team from Massachusettes. Welsh put Wolfe and Challinor at #1, Vess and Killmer at #2, and Byrd and Dennison at the #3 spot for the match. It worked, both the #1 and #2 teams won and their team was off to this second round of pool play. USTA/Carribean was their second match of the day and because of Wolfe’s sore ankle, Welsh altered her lineup to prevent further injury. At #1 was Vess and Killmer, #2 was Wolfe and Challinor and #3 Welsh and Haag. Though Welsh and Haag couldn’t pull off their match with opponents harnessing such spin they’d never seen before, #1 and #2 courts won their matches. USTA/Caribbean was shocked, as Welsh’s team found out later, Caribbean was slated to win the whole tournament. On their high from two wins, the team entered their final pool play match against USTA/Eastern, a group of super-nice women from New Jersey.  Not only was their friendliness a wonderful surprise, but they also brought a gift for all of Welsh's team, not just for the six match players.  Welsh's team enjoyed the red face towel sporting a racket labeled "Jersey girls cause a racket. Welsh’s team exchanged their gifts of a tennis notepad with the names of her team members and tournament name/date, USTA wristbands and dampeners and local Winchester goodies with all three teams in their pool, a suggestion from the tournament that all teams bring with them. For the match, Welsh placed Wolfe and Challinor at #1, Vess and Killmer at #2 and Byrd and Dennison at #3. For the third straight match, #1 and #2 won, sending the team to the semi- finals of the USTA/National Championship.

In the semi-finals the team drew USTA/Northern California.  With a lineup of Haag and Welsh at #1, Wolfe and Challinor at #2, and Vess and Killmer at #3 and the cheering section of the USTA/Middle States team behind them, they won 2-1. It was off to the finals of the 2010 USTA National Championships for Welsh and her team.

USTA/Pacific Northwest, a team from Seattle, would be their last foes of the tournament. They had made it to the finals. They had overcome the odds. It was their time.

With the support of Wolfe’s daughter, Sarah, who throughout the tournament warmed the team up and took over 600 photos of their journey, the team took to the court. Wolfe and Challinor played #1, Vess, whose husband, Steve, working in Australia, flew in for the match and Killmer played #2 and Byrd and Dennison were on the #3 court. Wolfe’s mother, Isabelle Long, who clutched her rosary beads, praying for a win, throughout the matches, and her sister flew in from Chicago to be a part of this moment. The matches were in play. Wolfe and Challinor breezed through their match, before Vess and Killmer were even done with their first set. Byrd and Dennison, who were playing on a court situated in which they couldn’t view their teammates, had no idea if #1 and #2 were winning or losing. This may have ultimately been the best thing that could have happened, because as the #2 court lost, Byrd and Dennison had no idea that it was now up to them to decide the winner. And they did; playing exceptionally well, they won. They didn’t just win a solitary match at #3, they had just catapulted their team to win the whole entire team match. They had played their heart out and they were now part of the 2010 USTA National Championship 3.0 Senior Women’s Champion Team. Lynn Welsh, Carol Killmer, Sandy Vess, Martha Wolfe, Penny Haag, Beverley Byrd, Elaine Dennison and Linda Challinor were now the best 3.0 senior women’s team…IN THE NATION! It was only right they make a call to Kentucky, to let Dennison’s son, Jim Pinholster, know they had won and that this win was dedicated to him.

Team members were given glass trophies and a national champions banner.  Vess’s husband, Steve, sponsored a champagne toast in the hotel lounge, and they all celebrated. After their homecoming, Stonebrook Fitness and Swim Club hosted a reception for the team, where the team presented the Champions banner with each of their names on it to the club, which the club pro, John Dokken, has placed on court #3.  A month later, the team was presented with the USTA/Mid-Atlantic President’s Award at the USTA/Mid-Atlantic Annual Meeting.

Welsh couldn’t be happier and more proud of her teammates. “We had a wonderful, cooperative team” and “everyone pitched in to help get us this far, it was truly a team effort” exclaimed Welsh.

For a team that had no team uniform; no coach with them at nationals, just family; and had so much going on personally for players off the court, it was such a great example of how a group of women can pull together, fight for one goal and succeed. The only thing that Welsh could have added to the trip to California to make it perfect, would have been time to sightsee while they were there. It’s hard to see more than the tennis court, when you’re winning so much; this may be a pretty good problem to have.

Of the eight team members, only three will remain 3.0’s in 2011, including Welsh. When asked what her future holds in league tennis, “I’ll be taking a year off from 3.0 Senior tennis, but as soon as some of the ladies turn 50 at the club, I’ll be back with a team.” For now, Welsh is looking forward to USTA Tri-Level and 3.0 Adult Leagues. If I were a senior player in the Winchester area, I think I’d be knocking on her door for a spot on the team in 2013, maybe you should too.

*It should be noted that Jim Pinholster passed away at Christmas, after battling cancer for several years. His memory will live on with this team and his family and friends.

Allen Huang (left) with co-captain, Chris Brown

Not too many tennis players can say they play in 12 USTA Adult Leagues in a year all while juggling a career and social life. There is one though, Allen Huang, a native of Richmond, Virginia who is doing just that.

Huang began playing tennis at the age of eight when his father took him out to the courts to show him the basics. From there he enjoyed group lessons at Robious (now Midlothian Athletic Club) from local tennis professional, Cris Robinson. Cris, now at Willow Oaks Country Club in Richmond, remembers Allen beginning the game of tennis and comments on his progression, “Allen had a good, healthy attitude from the beginning.  He enjoyed tennis, was not easily discouraged, was a good listener, and got along with the other junior. As I look back, it is easy to see that Allen has gotten so much of the benefit tennis has to offer - competition, exercise, friends and a skill to use and pass on for life; Allen’s progression in tennis is a great story to share.”  Huang entered his first tournament at ten years old, remembering he “got wiped off the court”. Though the junior tennis circuit was not his future, tennis certainly was. Attending the Maggie L. Walker Governors School for Government and International Studies, Huang continued to pursue the game playing #1 and #2 singles and doubles for his high school tennis team and also acting as captain.

When it was time for college, Huang chose The College of William & Mary for its quaint atmosphere and attractive campus. He happened upon the club tennis table at the activities fair at the beginning of his freshman year and signed up right away. “I wanted to stay active and enjoyed the competition” that club tennis at William & Mary provided me for four years. Huang acted as treasurer of the club tennis team his junior year and president his senior year. During his involvement in club tennis at William & Mary, the World Team Tennis co-ed format took off which he “grew to love because it created a closeness with his teammates.”  Club tennis, now known as Tennis on Campus by most, provided Huang a chance to travel to play other colleges in a team atmosphere, extended his social network, and provided a competitive outlet creating the well-rounded individual you see today. Huang encourages any high school player who “wants to stay active and enjoys competition, to join the club tennis team” at the college/university they chose to attend.

After college graduation in 2008 with a major in linguistics, Huang was employed by Capital One in Richmond, where he played on their corporate league. His hitting partner, a Virginia Tech alum, introduced him to the idea of USTA League and he hasn’t looked back. In 2010, Huang played on 12 USTA Adult Leagues in Richmond including: 8.0 mixed winter, 7.0 mixed winter, 4.0 weekday men, 4.5 weekday men, 4.0 weekend men, 4.5 weekday men, 7.5 men’s combo, 8.5 men’s combo, 4.0 singles, 4.5 singles, 7.5 mixed combo, 8.5 mixed combo and tri-level. Of these 12 teams, 6 advanced to the USTA/Virginia Adult District Championships and his 4.5 singles team won Districts just last weekend. Currently working for BrownGreer, PLC, Huang enjoys the flexibility of USTA Leagues and the chance to “play as much as I can”.  He does admit that his game has improved quite a bit since playing on 12 USTA Leagues, making the possibility of being bumped up to 4.5 next year likely. USTA/Virginia Tennis League Administrator, Bill Fitzgibbon, comments “Allen is a great ambassador for USTA League Tennis and the reasons for play:  love of the game, meet new people, competition, health, and improvement.   Competing in 12 USTA leagues demonstrates an impressive ability to schedule lots of tennis in your life!  There is no question Allen loves the game, and all who compete with or against him will also.   Playing lots of league tennis will always improve your game – take it from Allen!

This is quite the example of the “USTA Tennis Pathway” of an eight year old to now 24 year old continuing with the game from junior clinics, through high school tennis, into USTA Tennis on Campus and now USTA Adult Leagues. The great part about USTA programming and the game of tennis is you can make it as fun or competitive as you’d like to meet your needs as a player. Whether you’re just out of college and starting your career or a stay-at-home mother of three, USTA has the league to fit your needs. To find a USTA league in your area, visit http://www.virginiatennis.com/leagues/alcs.html.

Mike Jones

Bringing Tennis to the Military

Mike Jones has come full circle. Serving in the Army from 1981-1984, Jones’ first duty station was at Ft Eustis in Ft Eustis, Virginia. Now 24 years later, after serving in Korea, and being stationed in Germany, Hawaii, Ft. Belvoir (VA), Ft. Lee (VA), and Ft Monroe (VA), Jones is back at Ft. Eustis acting as the Youth Sports and Fitness Director.

USTA/Virginia Tennis came into contact with Jones in 2005 when he was the Youth Sports and Fitness Director at Ft. Monroe. After an initial site visit, a Tennis Block Party was planned with a 6 week junior tennis program, run by USTA/Virginia Community Tennis Chair, Arthur Allmond (retired Navy), in place following the event. This tennis program became the first consistent tennis program on base and expanded to include the parents of the junior players, in a parent-child tennis program also. Tennis has been introduced to many youth and adults at Ft Monroe within the past 5 years, thanks to the partnership between Jones and USTA/Virginia.

Now at Ft Eustis, Jones has once again brought tennis to his base. A Tennis Block Party was held June 4, 2010 to introduce and bring awareness to tennis on base. With the help of Ft Eustis EDGE! Program Director, Talisha Dixon, the event was a success with over 40 kids participating. In partnership with Ft Eustis, USTA/Virginia will provide a start-up 6 week junior tennis program, also run by Allmond, on base with more programming to follow under the direction of Sandy Chisolm, Ft Eustis SKIES Program Director. Jones and his Assistant Director, Aricka Vaughan, hope to start competitive team play once enough youth get involved in the program.

You may be wondering why Jones has played such an integral part in getting tennis programming on military bases in Hampton Roads. Yes, he is a tennis player, though he admits only a recreational one. Jones picked up a racket in high school and continues to bring a racket everywhere he goes. He recalls being “in the reserves and coming out to the tennis court in his all white outfit ready to play” needless to say his fellow reservists got a kick out of that. Jones’s son, Travell, got the tennis bug from his dad too, playing high school tennis for Warwick High School in Newport News. Jones’ wife, daughter and granddaughter also took part in the tennis program at Ft Monroe – you could say they are becoming quite the tennis family.

When asked if there is anything else he’d like to add, Jones wanted to thank Arthur Allmond for “being so energetic and such a motivation to the youth…he get’s families on the court and lights a fire”. He also attributes his own knowledge of the game to Allmond, who took him to his first cardio tennis workshop and trainings to make Jones aware of the equipment and training tools available to get kids playing tennis. Jones added “I want to thank USTA/Virginia for giving me the opportunity to initiate quality tennis programming…tennis is catching on” and he knows more military bases are to follow his lead.

Mike Jones has been a great asset to USTA/Virginia and we look forward to working with him in the years to come. He is a great ambassador for tennis and the military. We thank him for all he has done for tennis and the youth of Virginia.

A Promise Kept: Arthur S. Allmond of Windsor

Art Allmond

During my first conversation with Arthur S. Allmond, I instantly heard the passion in his voice for the game of tennis. A passion which I soon learned has grown since the age of 11 when he stumbled upon a wooden tennis racket in a neighbor’s garage. The racket was given to him in return for a simple promise – to learn the game of tennis and to teach it to others - and that is just what he has been doing ever since.

Allmond taught himself the game because there were few people in the small town of Windsor that played and less courts to play on. So instead, he would hit a rubber ball against the side of his house in the yard, the “grass court” as he called it. The love of the game continued into college where the tennis coach and textbooks on tennis helped him become more knowledgeable of the game. He also watched tennis greats of the time, such as Pancho Gonzales, and learned to “hit flat which most of the pros were doing then.”

As an adult, Allmond organized local tennis tournaments and participated in the All-Tidewater Navy Tennis Tournament multiple years. He currently is a board member of the Suffolk Tennis Association; helps his niece, Lisa Allmond, coach the Surry High School boy’s tennis team; and volunteers his time on Saturday mornings at the Smithfield Library to anyone interested in learning the game of tennis.

Allmond’s whole family, including his three year old son, plays the game of tennis. He believes that through tennis one can learn the values of persistence and patience. He continues “I think it is the only sport that it all comes down to thinking and executing...in an individual sport such as tennis, if you make a mistake it is your fault alone and when you get older you realize that life is like tennis, it’s all on you.” Allmond is known throughout the Hampton Roads area for his dedication to the growth of tennis, whether he is in Surry with the high school team or Suffolk with local players, he is inspiring others to love the game that has given him so much over the years. He credits the late Howard Mast of Suffolk with teaching him the value of community - “we are all in this boat together, if one sinks, we all sink.”

Now a Chief in the Navy, Allmond is always on the move, whether to a public speaking engagement or a tennis court. But be sure if you ever run into him, he will instill in you a passion for tennis. The Hampton Roads area is privileged to have such an inspiring and dedicated individual within its community.