Ruthanne Strohn Sun Lakes resident Kenneth Nichols won the Championship at the National Senior Olympics in Table Tennis, which were held in Des Moines, Iowa, in August. Ken had qualified to play in previous years by winning the Arizona Senior Olympics in 2020-2022, but to play in this year’s Nationals, he had to requalify. He…
DD Kullman The annual Bradshaw-Neu Charity Tennis Classic, held Nov. 16-22 and hosted by the Cottonwood Palo Verde Tennis Club, drew an impressive field of more than 115 players from across the Valley, including 44 talented competitors from IronOaks Tennis Club (IOTC). We’re proud to celebrate several IOTC members who brought home victories in their…
DD Kullman On Nov. 11 the IronOaks Tennis Club and Sun Lakes HOA3 proudly co-hosted A Veterans Day Celebration, a day filled with heartfelt tributes, athletic excellence, and community connection. Held at the IronOaks Tennis Club courts, the half-day event honored veterans for their service and featured exhibition matches by the Grand Canyon University (GCU)…
Barb Jorgensen A combination of women tennis players from IronOaks and Cottonwood Tennis Clubs have united to play in a 70+ USTA League in the East Valley. This Queens of the Court team is led by Diane James (captain) and Barb Jorgensen (co-captain). Diane works in legal court cases, thus, the play on the name.…
Tennis Tip: Think Outside the Crosscourt Box As players, we often default to the familiar—the reliable crosscourt return. It’s what we drill, what we see, and what we expect. But here’s the truth: Sticking to that pattern makes you predictable, and predictability gets punished. There are two high-opportunity zones most players overlook: 1. The Center…
Have you ever considered how much communication influences your performance in match play? Many doubles players ask only basic questions like, “Do you prefer the Ad or Deuce side?” or “What’s the score?” However, effective communication goes far beyond these surface-level exchanges. To truly excel, you and your partner need a strategic game plan—a shared…
Dannette Hunnel Even as pickleball’s popularity surges, tennis participation in the United States rose to 25.7 million players in 2024, the sport’s fifth consecutive year of growth, says the U.S. Tennis Association, citing an analysis of numbers drawn from two studies not yet fully released. The jump of 1.9 million players from 2023’s total of…
Michele Renahan The Jason Morton Memorial Tennis Classic returned to the courts at IronOaks Fitness and Racquet Center in Sun Lakes. The IronOaks Tennis Club hosts this USTA tournament, which has a long history in Sun Lakes. The annual Jason Morton Tennis Classic runs Feb. 26 through March 2 and is named after the longtime…
DD Kullman IronOaks Tennis Club (IOTC) offers a new spin on tennis, ideal for beginning players or those with injuries or mobility challenges. Masters Tennis sounds like it’s reserved for seasoned champions, but it’s almost the opposite. Masters Tennis is very similar to the actual sport of tennis, except it’s played on a smaller, 60-foot…
Dannette Hunnel and Susie Dunn In December the Cottonwood Ladies Tennis Leagues gathered to celebrate the end of the Fall Tennis Season. Food, laughs, and prizes took place. All came away with an appreciation of individual accomplishments, full bellies, and new recipes. The CTC tennis players are wonderful bakers and decorators, too. From Susie Dunn,…