By MICHAEL BOYLAN
mboylan@thecitizennews.com

The Peachtree City Tennis Center has been the site of many great matches and many outstanding players have graced its courts, but never before has a team from the Tennis Center won a state championship. Until now.

The adult women's team, which plays in USTA 3.0 and is captained by Sheila Van Fossan, recently won the state championship and earned a berth in the USA League Tennis Sectional Championships, which will be in Mobile, Ala. in July.

There are 11 women on the team, with ages ranging from 29-51. Several of the women took lessons together and formed a team. They frequently played against another team made up of Japanese women who also took lessons together and formed a team. The two teams combined and they entered the Ladies League at the Tennis Center and won.

From there, the team put together an amazing string of victories. They captured the Southern Crescent championship, the district championship and the state championship, leading them to be one step away from entering the national championships.

“We just take it one match at a time,” said Van Fossan. “We don't think about playing for a state championship; we look at it as just another game.”

That attitude seems to have worked so far. The ladies are very humble about their success and are far more concerned with being good teammates, playing good tennis and having fun. Just not too much fun.

“I couldn't belive some of the teams at the state championship,” Van Fossan said. “They were up partying all night. We all went to bed early. We were playing for a title in the morning.” Other than getting their much-needed rest, the team has no specific pre-game rituals. They make team decisions democratically, voting on lineup changes or anything that directly affects the team. The relaxed environment has kept the team successful.

“There are several players on our team that could easily play for other teams at a higher level,” Van Fossan explained. “They want to stay. Everybody likes each other and makes equal sacrifices for the team.” The sacrifices include practicing nearly every day, making the long road trips to matches and tournaments, playing through injuries and putting the team before almost everything else. Though it can seem arduous, their winning attitude breeds success.

With their success comes a reputation. First to notice were the folks at the Tennis Center, who watched the team play its home matches there. Next were the opposing teams, who would see that they were the juggernaut's next opponents. Soon, officials would make comments after victories, assuring the team that there was something special about the group, that its destiny was pre-ordained.

“There have been a lot of things that have happened, where it shouldn't have worked out and we should have lost, but we didn't. There have been several injuries or mismatches that never worked against us,” Van Fossan explained. “Now, we just wonder, where is it all going to end?”

This team isn't thinking about conclusions, though. Members are focused on Mobile and being the best team in the South. Soon they will start to practice in the heat and humidity of the summer afternoons to prepare for the climate during the tournament.

The women on the team have had an amazing ride so far and they do not want it to end. Not in Mobile and not without a national championship.

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