Tennis league puts the 'net' in networking

Each Monday morning and evening, on public courts around Sarasota, members of the Women of Wonder doubles tennis league can be found honing their skills in the spirit of friendly competition.

The league was formed nearly five years ago by local tennis enthusiasts Evelyn Herring, Edith Dean and approximately two-dozen other women, with whom they had played in another tennis league in Venice.

The league was born out of the women’s desire for a way to play tennis in a more local environment and with a greater emphasis on the game’s social aspect.

“It’s not meant to be competitive,” said coordinator Edith Dean. “It’s more about the social aspect. If you make a mistake, there are no bad remarks or put-downs here — we accept everyone of all skill levels, and we try to build them up.”

The league consists of fall, spring and summer leagues, which are divided into day and night leagues and grouped by experience level. Women of similar skill levels are paired together and promoted through the ranks as they develop their skills.

The women rotate the location of their games and practices among the area’s public courts and the condo courts of members, and the only requirement is that each new player has at least six months of experience.
Over the years, the league’s membership has grown from a lineup of approximately 25 women to a current count of 94 active members and 36 subs. The participating women come from a broad range of age and experience levels, but they’re all united by their love for the game.

“Our oldest player is 82,” said coordinator Herring. “Our youngest player is probably 30, so there’s a pretty big range.”

In the spirit of emphasizing the social aspect of the game, the league uses the money it raises from dues to pay for end-of-season socials that take place at members’ homes. If there is leftover money, or in the case of an emergency, the women are quick to use the funds to help out a fellow member in financial crisis.

As the league approaches its five-year anniversary, Herring says it’s provided an excellent way to make friends and get regular exercise.

“It’s a great way to be able to play tennis all the time,” she said. “It’s really social; it’s not too serious, and I think it’s made quite a few ladies happy over the years.”