The 3rd Annual PATA Park of Tennis Fame, clinic and induction ceremony is coming up quickly, Sunday – October 8th at the Yavapai College tennis facility and we hope many of you attend this special occasion. In the past two years we’ve had some very notable people become part of our local history of inductions – notable because of the things they’ve done for the game of tennis on many levels, locally – in the Southwest Section and nationally. The criteria of each inductee falls under the categories of player, instructor, coach, volunteer, special personality, promoter – writer, journalist, anything you can imagine that each person has done over and beyond the normal in and with the game of tennis. This years inductee’s happen to all be local – but very well known in the tennis community due to all the work they’ve done playing, coaching, instructing, volunteering and especially with our youth and high school athletes – in the past and currently.
Dick McGaw:
Dick McGaw has been playing the game since the age of 5, over 70 years now, playing and competing at the highest level. Growing up in Indiana, he lived across the street from the main tennis center in Fort Wayne and fell in love with the game. Playing in his first tournament at the age of 8, ball-boying for the men’s professional tour, and competing successfully in tournaments as a youngster through the present. “Tennis has been good for me. It helped build physical and Psychological strength, moral character, and social relationships.”
Dick has given back as a volunteer assistant coach at PHS, served on the committee to rebuild the YC tennis facility, was former tennis chair at Hidden Valley as well as many other tennis programs.
Binki Thalmeier:
Binki is a long time admired and hard-working USPTA Tennis Professional, serving as the Head Pro at the Prescott Racquet Club for years. She received the National Award for the Women’s 55 and over Player of the Year in 2011, one of many awards received during her career. At 18 years old she won the Girls 18 & Under singles event for the Phoenix District Tennis Championships. During her time teaching in the Prescott area she brought many players into the game that are now solid in the tennis community.
Her main hope is, “That the students I have taught, developed a love for the game that gives them the same things it gave me – positive benefits for good health and lasting friendships.”
Sterling Fetty:
Sterling has been coaching the Prescott High School boys & girls team for the last 10 years. He has walked the walk, in winning the 4A State Doubles High School Tennis Championships with partner Cory Bennett in 2000. He went on to play community college tennis became a USPTA Tennis Professional, teaching at the Prescott Racquet Club. He is currently running his own Junior Tennis Academy at Prescott High School.
His background in playing junior and adult tennis has given him the experience to help hundreds of tennis players, concentrating on juniors and having much success at the high school level – even here in the rural community of Prescott. Sterling has found a special formula in teaching junior players, having pulled off many team regional championships, for the boys & girls teams, with some of his juniors going on to play in college. One of his juniors, Taylor Johnson, a local player he coached for many years, is now ranked one of the top 10 girl players in the world.
Rick Bothell:
Rick Bothell who retired from teaching tennis at PHS in 2005 after 24 years there winning many regional tennis championships for both the boys and girls teams, coach of the year honors, two doubles state champions in Shannon and Michelle Howell, as well as Sterling Fetty and Cory Bennett, created some unmatched feats as a local coach to date. He began playing the game at the age of 11 playing high school tennis, earning a 2nd place berth with future tennis professional Jim Munsil his junior year. He went on to play at Phoenix College – teaching during his spare time. What Rick doesn’t tell anyone is all the things he did around being a great high school coach. He is a man of many talents – putting in divider fences at the high school courts, enclosing part of the tennis patio at Y.C. to create a shed for a pro to reside/, fixing cracks, volunteering hundreds of hours to kids and the program. He’s the best!
Esther Brown:
Esther Brown was the girls’ head tennis coach at Prescott High School from 1990 – 2004. During that time, she led the team to several regional championships and was awarded Coach of the Year seven of those years. In addition to the time she spent coaching tennis, she was teaching high school students full time, showing tremendous dedication.
Joe Morales:
The death of Joe Morales left a very big void in the Prescott Valley tennis community. He coached players at Bradshaw Mt High School and was relied upon to provide opportunities for players, especially juniors, to hit with. Even after he retired from coaching, he continued to attend tennis clinics held at the high school, in addition to playing on a daily basis.
He was also integral in the high school’s expansion from 4 courts to 6 courts.
The inductions will begin at 12 noon on Court #7 with a guest speaker doing an intro and the inductee speaking a few minutes thereafter.
The stories will be interesting and moving – so please come and honor these special men and women for the help they have given so many over the years.
Phase one of the park is to be started by the Vicente Landscaping Company this week, so that will be real nice to see prior to our event on the 8th. Phase one is the main brick entrance to court #7 from the parking lot.
The clinic, which will be on 6 of the 7 courts from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., will be put on by our local tennis professionals and the money earned will be graciously going to help build phase #2 of the park.
Players will be grouped together based on similar ability levels…advanced beginner to advanced, all are welcome.
Local pro’s instructing and donating their time are: Bernie Adam, Sterling Fetty, Jason Jamison (former USTA National Junior Program Director), Binki Thalheimer, Dave Hibbs, Tim McClintock, Nick Cristea, Cathy Low, – helpers Jan Fisher, Daniel Beffel and myself.
Pro’s will be split between all 6 courts and each court will have a special theme that will be worked on with 25 minute rotations.
So, for $35.00 you can be a part of the clinic (9:30 to 11:30 a.m.), which includes a free bagged lunch – the inductions begin at 12 noon and are free to attend.
To be one of 36 players for the clinic, send an email to: choward4541@gmail.com. Payment will be received the morning of the clinic, sign ups are first come, first serve.
The Park of Fame being built in front of court 7 (when totally completed) will be a real feather in the hat of the college, for the enjoyment of all, honoring many greats who in the world of tennis continue to do wonderful things.
Please come by and be a part of the third year of the annual Park of Fame, clinic and induction ceremony.