“Look what great teams we have here!” Terry Dodge, membership and program director at Deer Lake Athletic Club said, in fun.
Five teams of 17 recently played at championship levels in the United States Tennis Association summer tournament.
“We had four women’s leagues that went to championship level play and one mixed team.”
The Women’s 3-0 (donating skill level) team went the furthest, led by captains Margie Lopez and Kim Arcobello. The team played in Ann Arbor at the University Tennis Center the first weekend in August.
“We missed going to states by one court,” Dodge said. “It was heartbreaking.”
Mary Jo Colonna, tennis director at Deer Lake, said the club has been participating in the USTA for 15 years. In the past, teams have gone to nationals twice, made it to regionals a few times, and one team went on to state.
“It’s just really exciting,” Dodge said. “You can feel the buzz. Everybody is excited for everybody else and have been real supportive. That’s the best part — to go through your season and make it to championship level play, it’s great.”
An appreciation luncheon and Round Robin tennis tournament was held at the club for the teams on Tuesday, Aug. 26, with more than 40 women and a few men attending.
“One thing that is really neat about (USTA) is it’s open to all men and women. Anyone can play,” Dodge said, who has been with Deer Lake for two years. Community members do not have to belong to any particular club to play.
USTA is played during the summer only, with singles and doubles leagues for men, women and mixed. Beginning in May, one match, against other local teams, as well as one practice are held each week. Every athletic club participates in the USTA, Dodge said.
“We look forward to having people come in and visiting in the summer to play and have fun.”
And you don’t have to be an experienced tennis player to join.
“They start at any level,” Dodge said. “You can be just a beginner and still get in. You don’t have to be competitive and great to start playing.”
“One thing about USTA I think is cool is you really get a bond and friendship with one another,” she added. “It’s a lot of fun.”
“You meet some neat and interesting people,” Lopez said, who has been a member at Deer Lake for six years, the same amount of time she’s been playing tennis.
An eight-year Clarkston resident, Lopez said, “It’s an intriguing sport. You just want to get better and better at it.”
“I love the competition, and the social aspect,” Dodge said, of tennis. “I love the fact that you’re exercising but you’re not thinking about it because your chasing a ball instead of looking at the time on a treadmill.”
Dodge encourages readers “to give me a call to come and take a look at our club. It’s definitely a family here. We’re not a corporation like other clubs. We get to know our members.”
Deer Lake Athletic Club is located at 6167 White Lake Rd. in Clarkston. Call (248) 625-8686 for more information.