Regional Wrap-up
Fall means many things to me. It means the start of football season, homecoming parades, red leaves on our maple tree, 12 bags of chocolate candy for just a handful of trick or treaters.
In the fall, we trade in yellows, greens, pinks and purples, for oranges, reds and browns. It is a time to reflect on the memories of summer and wait for the first hint of winter.
Few places can compare in beauty to Colorado in the fall. With colorful landscapes that change daily, weather that still allows shorts with a sweatshirt, and fragrances of pumpkins and spice, it is a wonderful place to be. It’s not too shabby for tennis, either.
There are still some great tournaments to be found in our little slice of heaven. Whether your goal is to win a sanctioned event, or to have fun in a doubles mixer, Colorado tennis in the fall is exciting, great exercise, and not to mention – hurricane free. So keep me posted on all of your tennis news, from all the grown up Ghouls and Boys, down to the little pumpkins.

Vail Unveiled
Just a quick note from Vail Resorts that all fall tournaments have been cancelled due to some major renovations taking place at the club. Head Pro Greg Warner said they would be losing two tennis courts to allow more room for their fitness facility. We’ll keep you posted as the construction progresses.

Steamboat Successes
Big things are happening in the beautiful mountain town of Steamboat Springs. Not only did they have a great summer season, but they have their eye on the future, as well. The Center hosted the ITA 12s Memorial Circuit, the ITA Senior Sectional Championships, as well as the Steamboat NTRP Championships. The Steamboat Tennis Association’s two major tournaments netted over $18,000 for junior tennis in Steamboat, including underwriting the unfunded girls and boys high school teams.
Mark you calendars as the Center hosts the following upcoming events: Steamboat City Mxd Championships, October 29-31;  Team Colorado Training Retreat, November 12-14. For information on any of these, please call 970.879.8400.
Going into the winter season, where 92% court occupancy from Monday though Friday has become the norm, the local and tournament-playing tennis community has begun to raise funds to help the City of Steamboat replace the aging bubble with a new facility. Based on the court occupancy, potential indoor summer play, energy savings and other factors, the city’s Citizen Facility Replacement Committee has recommended that the four-court bubble be replaced with a six-court frame and fabric structure. During the recent summer tournaments, the Steamboat local tennis communities’ fundraising efforts have been bolstered by a number of out-of-town players chipping in to help convince Steamboat’s city leaders that summer mountain tournament in the ‘Boat capture their interest as well.
The Steamboat Tennis Association has committed to help raise one-sixth of the project cost of the six-court facility – a commitment of $350,000. With the help of a $100,000 challenge grant from Wilhorse Meadows, a multi-faceted development that will be built immediately behind the center, the “new” Tennis Center at Steamboat Springs is well on its way. For ways to support mountain tennis and the Center, contact Becky Brane at beccyb@sprynet.com.
Thanks to Jim Swiggert, Director at the Tennis Center in Steamboat Springs, for contributing to this report.

Colorado Springs Cares
The Pikes Peak Community Tennis Association (PPCTA) is looking for deserving candidates 18 and under who reside in the county of El Paso for their scholarship program. The PPCTA believes that tennis teaches important life skills such as responsibility, discipline, integrity, and self-control, and is committed to providing the means to instill these attributes in El Paso children regardless of economic, social or ethnic background. The awards are based on financial need, are considered confidential, and will not exceed $500. Scholarship recipients are expected to maintain high standards of sportsmanship on and off the court. Recipients are also expected to represent the sport of tennis by maintaining an outstanding reputation in both school and community. The scholarships are awarded twice per year, with the next deadline being November 1, 2004. For more information on the application process and requirements, please go to www.ppcta.com or call Donna O’Steen-Mixon at 719.478.5022, or email osteenmixon@pcisys.net.

Twinkle Twinkle
Keep your eyes peeled for the next tennis star. The Star Search Program, whose mission is to develop, nurture, and promote the tennis skills or identified 8-14 year olds from culturally diverse community through Colorado Springs who are already involved, committed, and have a love of the sport of tennis. The program provides a platform for those players to excel in their tennis skills and expand their involvement in more formal competitive events and activities. Some of these opportunities include sanctioned tournaments, USA Team Tennis, High School Tennis, etc. Applicants must meet several minimum skill requirements. They also must meet expectations and show their commitment beyond summer programs by participating in sanctioned and non-sanctioned events, setting up practice sessions with peers, taking instructional lessons, and attending tennis camps. For more information on the Star Search Program, go to www.ppcta.com.

G’Day Mate
It’s not too early to start thinking about our international tennis playing friends. Mark your calendars for March 19-24, when 30 Australian tennis players will come to Colorado Springs and Denver for sightseeing and some tennis fun. If you are interested in joining the fun, contact Donna at 719.478.5022.  

Durango Days
My good tennis friend, Stephanie Cooper, tells me that Durango remains committed to the sport of tennis and to the positive ways tennis can reach a community. Take for example the recent fundraiser in Durango, which combined both golf and tennis to raise $35,000 for the local Mercy Hospital. Twenty local tennis players paid $50 each to play in a round robin tournament at Tamaron Resort, which has three new synthetic grass and sand courts (which made for some interesting play!) Also in the works for next year, the DCTA met with the Special Olympics and will be starting a six-week program for them next summer. Keep up the good work, Durango!

Montrose Makes it Happen
The Montrose Tennis Association Fundraiser Tennis Tournament was held on August 27-29, 2004. Forty tennis players of all abilities from Montrose, Ouray, Delta, Olathe, Austin, Grand Junction, Fruita, Loma, Palisade, not to mention Mesa, Arizona and Salt Lake City participated.  
Special thanks go out to sponsors Wal-mart, Jean’s Westerner and Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co. Thanks also goes to Joan Schmidt, Mary Nell, Paul Story, Jerilyn Sheldon and all the volunteers and participants that helped to make the Montrose Tennis Association Fundraiser Tournament a great success. Jerilyn also wanted to thank Mother Nature, who blessed the tournament with excellent tennis weather!
The Montrose Tennis Association’s Junior Beginner Tennis Tournament was held Friday, August 20 at the Holly Park tennis courts. Twelve boys and girls from Montrose and Paonia participated in this wonderful event. The goal of this tournament was to offer kids who are new to the sport of tennis a format that would be fun. Thanks to Joe Chittick, Jerilyn Sheldon, Don Tetsell, Ed Jackson, Darlene Siebert, many volunteers, as well as the assistance and cooperation of the Montrose Recreation District. Thanks to the Colorado Youth Tennis Foundation and the CTA providing grant money for this tournament, each participant received a Montrose Tennis Association t-shirt as well as a booklet with the basic rules of tennis. Winners and Finalists were awarded Olympic-style medals. These junior players are the future hope of Montrose tennis and the association is proud and happy to be encouraging the sport of tennis in the lives of these children!
The Montrose Tennis Association Youth Appreciation Day Tennis Tournament was held August 21, 2004. It was the first opportunity that the MTA has to participate in the Montrose Rotary Club’s Youth Appreciation Day Events. While just a small number of kids participated in this inaugural event, those that did enjoyed a day of fun with tennis and prizes. Thanks to Darlene Siebert and Don Tetsell, who gave the kids, some of which had never held a racket, some excellent tennis pointers. Racquets were provided by the Montrose Recreation District for use during the event. The MTA provided a ball machine for older participants and was operated by Ed Jackson and Nancy Griepentrog. Linda Sullivan and Barb Bond, MTA officers, also provided assistance to Jerilyn Sheldon.
For more information on the MTA, please call Jerilyn Sheldon at 970.252.8780 or email her at jsherilyn@earthlink.net.