Standing out in a sea of Chicago Volunteers
Volunteering in Chicago is rather easy these days. With the largest platform tennis league in the United State with a great number of tournaments, people are needed! Robyn Cohn loves how many people are willing and able to help. But what makes Cohn such a fabulous Chicago-area volunteer? Because she leads well, she finds the time to be thoroughly involved, and she makes good decisions….[click image to read more]
Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol. 15, Issue 1 Sept./Oct. 2013
There are certain names in the platform tennis world that everyone recognizes. Bob Brown is one. His staying power is impressive—the oldest player to win a National title—but it is his ability to foster growth and change in the sport that is just as impressive. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1993 but has been accruing so many titles since then he may need to be inducted again. But just as impressive as his 21 gold and 18 silver National Championship medals is his service and commitment to the game.
Brown has always been affiliated with the sport and the APTA in one way or another since he started playing over 40 years ago. His time as the Chair of the APTA Hall of Fame Committee and the Platform Tennis Museum and Hall of Fame is worth noting. All told, Brown has been at the helm of the committee for 20 years total. He spent ten years as the Chair of the Honor Award Commi[...]
"How cool was that!" Two club players in the Boston area, at different times in one weekend, both used that same expression when they tuned into Live Streaming of the Chicago Charities tournament.
Live Streaming
For some fans, watching video and listening to the commentary offered access to the best players in the nation playing the best paddle. For some viewers, it was the first time they had ever seen the game. For anyone who tuned in, watching the late rounds of one of the top tournaments of the season provided great entertainment and some education.
While this isn't the first time the APTA has used Live Streaming, the quantity and quality of the production was much better and more comprehensive than ever before. Viking's Cort fish connected Charities Chairman John Noble with ENetTV, a St. Louis-based company that has expertise in producing other similar-sized sporting even[...]
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation was the biggest winner of all. The tournament brought in over $3,000 for the cause.
The stars of the platform tennis world descended into Chicago for the annual Chicago Charities tournament the first weekend of November. This tournament usually boasts one of the strongest men's and women's fields of any tournament after the Nationals. Last year, Hurricane Sandy laid waste to that claim, but this year the draw was back to its former stellar status. Many new combos were there to compete and the resurrection of some old partnerships created some pop.
The women began their play on Friday, and finished up just as the men's round of 16 was shaking out. For the women, it was the story of the inexorable march to victory by National Champions Ana Brzova and Viki Stoklasova. This was their third title in three tournaments this fall and they did not lose a set i[...]
There is an adage, "The time to make hay is when the sun is shining." Right now, the sun is shining on junior platform tennis, so get out your tractor and baler because the APTA is making some hay.
For starters, in September, the APTA appointed Kathy Cramer of Darien, Connecticut, to the newly created position of APTA Junior Tour Coordinator. Kathy will work closely with the tournament directors, tour sponsor Viking Athletics, and the APTA Board to ensure that the numerous events, Junior Nationals, and the year-end ranking process all run as smoothly as possible. The growth in platform tennis among juniors in recent years, along with the renewed marketing partnership with Viking, makes this an excellent time to bring on an individual with Cramer's talents, experience, and passion for our game.
A self-described "club player," who was introduced to the game by her father in the 1970s[...]
John Y. Noble
Residence: Lake Forest, Illinois. John Noble was born in Berkeley, California, grew up in Lake Forest, and graduated from Lake Forest High School and Ball State University.
Occupation: Noble works, as an Owner and Vice President of Sales, with his brother in a unique healthcare company—PathFinder Health LLC—that focuses on connecting people with doctors, so that more people can engage and follow through to improve their health.
Family: He has three beautiful daughters, Susanna, Sarah and Catherine, and a wonderful wife, Susan, who has been and continues to be of great support. Tennis and service have been major influences in his life; his grandfather presided over the Westerns for many years and his father served as president of the Chicago District Tennis Association.
Getting into the game: Being friends with a good number of the Chicago-area tennis pros, who t[...]
Many years ago, a young Delaware lawyer, Barry Snyder, made a discovery far more momentous than any legal writ: Paddle is a lot more fun than most racquet sports. "I was in my 20's when I played my first platform tennis tournament," Snyder explained. "I was used to tennis events where, because I wasn't very good, I would quickly lose my first match and head home. There were no parties, and there was no socializing."
But in paddle, he found a sport with tournaments that guaranteed at least three matches, and at which adult beverages were expected to be quaffed after matches, sometimes between matches, and on occasion, during matches. He was hooked. Paddle became a sport that eventually sparked his favorite mantra: "Play paddle! Have fun!" It now adorns a license plate on his car.
Every paddle area has its Mr. or Mrs. Paddle - many of whom have been celebrated on this page. He or she[...]
It's mid-March and the last platform ball has hit the aluminum. The platform leagues across the country are crowning their league champions. But for many of us, we experience a sense of withdrawal that kicks in right after the season is done. The desire to compete more and socialize with friends continues to fuel us. To add to that feeling is the plain fact that the weather in mid-April thru the beginning of June has not warmed up—it's still platform weather. Along with the want for more platform, there is also a sense of wondering among the league champions. A wondering if my teammates and I are the best team in the country at our level….[read more - click on image]
Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol. 15, Issue 4 Feb/March 2014
David Lee
Residence: Darien, Connecticut
Occupation: Investment Management
Years of Service on the APTA Board: 1
Family: Wife, Jenny; Daughters, Isabel, 18, and Julianna, 16
Years Playing: 10
How did you get started playing platform tennis? The first time I played platform tennis was in 1994 at the invite of a friend. I had played competitive junior tennis and thought it would be a breeze. However, many service faults, missed drives, and screen embarrassments later, I thought the game was silly and I didn't play again for almost 10 years. In 2003, I joined the Milbrook Club in Greenwich, CT, which had three courts and a solid core of players. My tennis friends encouraged me to give it another go, and this time I also took some lessons. From there, my playing took off. The camaraderie, sportsmanship, and mental aspects of the game made it addicting. I also realized that while my b[...]
Recruiter, Captain, Commander, Communicator
If you were at the Nationals last year at Indian Trail Club, there is a good chance you saw Peter Dampf in action. He seemed to have all the answers. He knew who was playing and where, how to update the Live Scoring, and where the balls were kept. He also knew about half of the players, having recruited many of them for his Division 1 team in the Westchester League (WPTL) in Greenburgh, New York.
Dampf plays platform tennis about three times a week, but has recently had to restrict night match play due to some vision issues. As a non-playing captain, he sets the line-ups and will put himself in for at least one match as long as it doesn't hurt Greenburgh's chances for a top-seeding in the yearend Division 1 tournament. His dedication to his team is note-worthy. And his post-match emails are legendary. With humor and wisdom, he discusses e[...]
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