Game. Set. Match.

A group of North Georgia ladies made a trip to Columbus, Ga this past Thursday to compete for this year’s USTA (United States Tennis Association) Georgia State Tournament. Several of the team members are Chattooga County residents. The team was looking to improve upon their showing from the last year when things did not go their way. At the tournament last year Nancy Carr stepped on ball and had what was decided at the time a broken ankle in first game. The team came home and have had several things happen since last September. While Carr’s ankle healed, her partner Suzanne had a wreck and suffered a broken sternum among other things, one of the players battled cancer and went through chemo and radiation. But tennis is proven to improve heath and healing, it is heart healthy, improves bone health, boosts brain power, improves discipline and friendships improve everything else.  “We watched an 84 year playing that was strong and absolutely amazing. Our bond, our strength together as a team made us want to go back this year,” said Carr. The team not only went back, they won the 2016 USTA Georgia State Tournament Championship.  The team represented North Georgia Tennis Association.

The team was composed of Cindy Skelton, Nancy Carr, Sarah Cargle, Betty Anderson, Cindy Logan, Rhonda Garrett, Suzanne Pauley, Shelia Jackson and Darlene Morgan. They played Savannah, Macon, Albany, Columbus and were triumphant over them all. In the finals, the team faced off against another Columbus team from a different division, and they won. Next stop for the ladies will be sectionals March 3-5 in Auburn, Alabama to represent Georgia in the Doubles Combo 7.5.

USTA League tennis is the country’s largest recreational tennis league, helping more than 900,000 participants nationwide get on the court, have a good time, and step up their game. The league is organized as competitive team match play. Teams are made up of a minimum of 6 to 10 players depending upon division. Teams and matches are set up according to NTRP ratings, so the teammates and opponents will be at your skill level. The competition is exciting, the atmosphere is social, and since players compete on teams, you have a built-in cheering section.

Southern Combo Doubles is the fastest growing adult league program in the South. Local men’s and women’s team play is available in Combo Doubles 18 & Over at 2.5 or combined levels 5.5, 6.5, 7.5, 8.5, 9.5 and 10.5. Combo Doubles 40 & Over combined levels 5.5, 6.5, 7.5 and 8.5, and Combo Doubles 55 & Over combined levels 6.5, 7.5 and 8.5. Every year, each State will host a State Championship with winning teams advancing to the Southern Sectional Championships. Currently there are 55, 000 combo players.