Longboat Key Tennis Center women bid farewell to season with festive frivolity

Longboat Key
Neighbors

Spirits and wind speeds were high as the women of Longboat Key's tennis scene partook in some holiday-inspired frivolity to celebrate the end of the season.

Split into two teams, the tennis players joined some friendly but fierce competition in several rounds of skills-based games.

Jackie Gibbins, one of the board directors of the Friends of Tennis and event orchestrators with Sandy Schonhoff, said the group typically plans its fun day at the beginning of the busy season, giving everyone time to catch up from any travel.

However, the October hurricanes delayed the get-together, which was rescheduled to March 17 and embraced a St. Patrick's Day theme.

The teams squared off for points in best costume, best skit and the various physical challenges.

Sign Up for Daily Headlines

A daily dose of news from Longboat Key, East County, Sarasota and Siesta Key.

Gibbins put them through their paces. Participants had to attempt catching a tennis ball in a small cone, volleying the ball to their teammates multiple times before attempting to score, and playing in doubles pairs.

While everyone got in the competitive spirit, they agreed it was all in good fun.

Attendees said they especially enjoyed the coordinated song and dance prepared by Ellen Zimmerman.

author

Dana Kampa

Dana Kampa is the Longboat Key neighbors reporter for the Observer. She first ventured into journalism in her home state of Wisconsin, going on to report community stories everywhere from the snowy mountains of Washington State to the sunny shores of the Caribbean. She has been a writer and photographer for more than a decade, covering what matters most to readers.