Posted: November 7, 2005

Tree Mail - The Wickertree Online Newsletter

Smash With Love

Saturday night, October 29, was a tremendous success for the Stephanie Spielman Cancer Fund. Approximately 200 people attended and a lot of money was raised on a very fun night to help combat breast cancer. Everyone had a great time, ate a lot of food and played a lot of tennis. The silent auction and regular auction prizes were both terrific and also raised a nice amount of money. After a few weeks of rest the intrepid, dedicated ladies of the executive board will be back starting to plan for next year's big event. If you are interested in helping with this great event next year, please contact Laura Pisciotta.

State High School Tournament

Congratulations to all our Juniors that made it to the State tournament at Ohio State last weekend. Sydnee Bridger and Kelsey Kinnard both drew rugged opponents in the first round and had very tough matches. Sydnee drew Neela Vaez, the defending and eventual Div I State champ, and lost a tough 7-5, 6-1 match. Kelsey also drew the eventual Div. II State champ in the first round, and lost 6-3, 6-2 to Kristen McPhillips in a good match. Christine Johnston won her first three rounds and made it to the Div. I State Championship match before falling in a long three setter, 4-6, 7-5, 6-1 to Neela Vaez. Teauana Long partnered up with Brittany Rings to represent Pickertington, and, unfortunately lost 6-4, 6-1 in the first round to the eventual 4th place team. Amy Nini paired up with Peg Hemphill to represent New Albany in the State tourney. They won their first round match before losing to the eventual third place team from Dayton Oakwood. Congratulations, "Way To Go" and a job well done to one and all.

Wi-Fi

Please remember, and as information for those of you that are new to the club, that Wickertree is a Wi-Fi enabled facility and an internet hot spot. A word of caution; the network is open and not secure, but as long as you are not doing classified work, this should not be a problem. If you are here with your juniors for lessons or clinics, remember to bring your laptops and get some work done while you are watching the kids. Many of our parents really enjoy this benefit and catch up on lots of paperwork and emails during clinic hours.

USTA Leagues

We have quite a few teams that are slicing through their seasons, like hot knives through butter, spreading their opponents into submission like Shed Spread on crackers. Teams that are in first place in their respective divisions are: 3.0 Women Daytime WT#1 captained by Carol Seiffert, 3.5 Women Career WT#1 captained by Kim Simon and 3.5 Women Career WT#2 captained by Pat Rothney and Mary Ellen Mulder, 3.5 Women Daytime WT#1 captained by Shelby Rhyne and 3.5 Women Daytime WT#2 captained by Annette DiMichaelangelo, 4.0 Men captained by Hesh Green. 4.5 Men captained by yours truly. 5.5 Men captained by Steve Siegel.

Thanksgiving Activities and Schedule

We will be open on Thanksgiving Day from 8 AM to 1 PM for those of you trying to prevent too much turkey intake and get a little workout in advance. We will close at 1 PM so everyone can get home for food, family and the football games on TV.

Friday, November 25, 2005

• Junior One Day Pound It Clinic (actually the parental head start on shopping day), from 9 to 12:30. Drop the kids off at 8:30 for donuts and Cartoon Network and a morning long clinic session with our pros while you in get 4 to 5 hours of kid free shopping. We will provide the morning donuts and juice and a healthy snack midway through the clinic. Please pick the kids up between 12:30 and 1 PM.
• Adult clinic - there are no USTA matches over the Thanksgiving weekend so on this Friday we will have an adult clinic from 1 to 4 PM concentrating on strokes to make you a better and more complete player. Our pro staff will be working on a selection of drills to help you master a new shot or two that will vault you up to the "next level". Sign up at the front desk for the clinic.

Saturday November 26, 2005

• Wickertree will have a regular schedule for all activities during the day until 5 PM. From then on we will be having our ...
• Fall Pro Calcutta featuring many of the top pro teams in Central Ohio and around the state in an exciting compass draw format. They will be competing for over $1500 in prize money and the right to be known as the top doubles team around. We will be having pizza and beverages for all spectators and participants. This is always a great spectator event because you can bet on your favorite teams to "Win, Place or Show", just like at the race track. You can bet on any team, or as many as you wish. This is also a fundraiser and we will donate 10 % of the gross betting dollars to the Stephanie Spielman Breast Cancer Research Fund.

Sunday, November 27, 2005

• The morning activities will be the same as any other Sunday, but since there are no USTA matches scheduled on this Sunday, we will have a junior doubles tourney in the afternoon and early evening. Pizza and pop for all participants when we at the conclusion. Grab a partner and contact Doug DiRosario if you are interested in playing. Doug's email is: wickertree1@aol.com.

Fitness Facility and Workout Groups

Remember, we have one of the finest work out rooms and facilities you will ever see, and it is free to all our tennis members!! Get your team together after your practices and do a half hour of group weights Ð you will be surprised how much this will help your game. You can never be too strong or in shape. When you are ripping forehands with just a flick of your wrist, you will understand how much it helps. We can assist in organizing your team or group if you need it.

You are the best, And, please send me anything you want to put in the newsletter, Arnie (email address wickertree2@aol.com).