< PreviousMost research suggests that the popularity of tennis was at its peak in the U.S. during the 1970s. Players such as John McEnroe, Chris Evert, Jimmy Connors and Billie Jean King energized fans with both dominance on the court and personalities that demanded attention. Though there are many variables for ranking a nation’s interest in tennis, America generally falls around fifth behind Australia and several European countries in terms of tennis obsession. New variations of court games, however, such as Cardio Tennis and pickleball, have attracted new players who may have been intimidated by starting out playing in a standard match. Additionally, the strange phenomenon of the 2020 coronavirus pandemic appears to have benefitted tennis - or at least given it an “advantage.” As the shutdown took hold last spring and people were anxious to get out of their homes and do something, public tennis courts across the country were busier than they had been in years. Tennis provided an opportunity to participate and socialize while maintaining a social distance. According to a February press release from the United States Tennis Association, there was a 44% increase in new tennis players in this country from the end of 2019 to the end of 2020. The data was collected from sports participation surveys done by the Physical Activity Council. More than 21 million Americans reported playing tennis last year, with 2.96 million of them playing for the first time. Additionally, the 3.82 million Americans who returned to the sport represented a 40% increase over those returning to the sport in 2019. Entry-level racquet sales also went up by nearly 40%. Leah Friedman, the current USTA director of engagement, says tennis has seen a recent “jolt in popularity” and is now booming. Friedman, a former tennis player at both Taylor Allderdice High School and the University of Pittsburgh, hosts the USTA program Net Generation Live, a series of free virtual tennis classes targeted at youth that focuses on building athletic skills, character development, and tennis fundamentals with fun, heart- pumping games. Previous classes include tips and messages from top American players, including 2021 Australian Open finalist Jennifer Brady. For novices and casual players, tennis is a fairly inexpensive sport. After the purchase of a racquet, balls and possibly court shoes, tennis can largely be played at no cost if the weather is dry and reasonably warm. In the Allegheny West Magazine readership area, there are numerous complexes with free, multiple outdoor courts (see our list on page 29). Certain courts, of course, may close due to COVID-19 restrictions. Those who wish to advance and play year-round have more limited resources in the west Pittsburgh suburbs and will pay for court time. Players can expect costs of at least $25 for one hour of playing time and $60 for two hours, depending on the time and day of the week. Fees for individual and private lessons are determined by tennis pros. For a more comprehensive list of area courts, clubs, leagues and resources, visit www.globaltennisnetwork.com. The site allows users to view courts within a 20- mile radius and contains information on whether courts are public, private, lighted, indoor or outdoor, and whether a fee is required. Start raising a racquet! Tennis makes a comeback Tennis may be experiencing an upswing, so to speak, in America BY JILL BORDO For one-touch quick links to any of the clinics and websites mentioned in this section, along with interactive maps to courts, download our free app, AWMag Events, at awmagazine.com. 40 • Allegheny West Magazine • March/April 2021Local clinics Tennis players in the airport corridor are still feeling the void left by the closure of the Western Area YMCA in Robinson Township. Though in need of renovations, the facility offered seven indoor courts and was the only option for year-round tennis in a 20-mile radius. After a severe storm in 2018 caused $650,000 in flood damage, the YMCA board of directors voted to close the facility. Mike Lucente, former director of tennis and sports at the YMCA, spearheaded a fundraising campaign for the YMCA two years prior to the flood. Roughly $150,000 was raised in about three months for repairs to the facility’s tennis courts. Though disappointed by the decision to close the YMCA, Lucente continued to be an advocate for the game. He is particularly committed to advancing the tennis skills of local youth under the age of 10. COVID-19 guidelines permitting, Lucente plans to run weekly youth clinics at Moon Park in the spring and summer. He holds a “red and orange ball” program on a half court with smaller groups of children to teach basic techniques in skill and control. As studies show that the “core” age group supporting the tennis industry is over the age of 50, Lucente believes that the future of the game lies with the youngest players. “Gaps in the popularity of tennis can be pinpointed to focusing on junior players,” said Lucente, explaining that coaches were putting all of their efforts into advancing one or two exceptional teen players with the hope that they would turn professional. In the meantime, less talented players were overlooked and their interest dwindled. Lucente, who is the current boys varsity tennis coach at Moon Area High School, stated that he and several other local tennis coaches have been working together in recent years rather than competing against each other. Their intent is to maintain player interest and build longevity in the game. Lucente’s second main focus is on Cardio Tennis, which is a growing phenomenon for people who are more interested in a high-intensity workout than improving their serve or backhand. Cardio tennis not only provides extreme physical exercise with fun games and music, it can also introduce beginners to the game without intimidation. Special balls bounce more slowly and allow participants to control shots and have fun as they learn technique. This summer, Lucente is planning to hold clinics for junior and senior high school players at the Moon Area High School courts. For more, call him at (412) 779-0230. One of the largest and most successful youth tennis clinics in the area is the McDonald Summer Tennis Program, which officially began in 2006 with the completion of the Heritage Park tennis and basketball complex. McDonald native Alice Thomassy initiated the program with the mission of keeping participation costs low enough so that any child who wanted to learn the game would have that opportunity. Scholarships were made available and racquets were occasionally purchased for kids who “had sustained interest,” said Thomassy. Based on a peak enrollment of 122 youth one year and several other statistics, Thomassy believes that the McDonald clinic was at one time one of the largest youth programs in the USTA middle states region. A USTA representative visited the class several times and provided junior racquets and other needed amenities. Six years ago, Thomassy turned management of the clinic over to Dave Hayden, former coach of the Baldwin- Whitehall varsity tennis teams and current coach of both the men’s and women’s teams at Westminster College. Hayden said that the clinic was down slightly in 2020 due to parental concerns about COVID-19, but he expects a good turnout this summer. Because there are only two courts for use, the McDonald program fills up quickly and has no room for expansion. Hayden has added spring and fall clinics for youth and adults who want more opportunities to play. The McDonald Tennis Program will start a five-week spring session on May 4 beginning at 4 p.m. for players aged 10 through adult. The nine-week summer session runs from June 15 to Aug. 12, beginning at 9:30 a.m. It will offer six different sessions for participants, ranging from 5 years of age to adult. Both the spring and summer clinics are held on Tuesday and Thursday. For more information, contact Dave Hayden at dahayden1@comcast.net or by calling (412) 735-6477. North Fayette Parks and Recreation is also hosting a youth program for ages 8 through 17 from May 1 through June 12. Visit www.north-fayette.com for more. March/April 2021 • www.awmagazine.com • 41Equipment For tennis shoppers who prefer personalized customer service and the opportunity to see and feel merchandise, there is one brick and mortar retail store remaining in Pittsburgh that is uniquely dedicated to racquet sports. Tennis Village, located at 5419 Walnut Street in Shadyside, has been owned and operated by Debbie Rosen since it opened in 1976. Rosen held fast while other racquet sports stores around the area closed their doors. Rosen attributes the longevity of her establishment to the exceptional customer service of her staff, as well as to competitive prices, quick turnaround, and the practice of allowing customers to borrow racquets to try before making a purchase. In a 45-year period, Rosen said she and her employees have witnessed the transition from wooden and steel tennis racquets to the graphite models favored by current players. Material for tennis shoes has also progressed from classic canvas to the more supportive and durable options of rubber, mesh and synthetic leather. Perhaps the most important change to equipment, remarked Rosen, has been to the technology used in racquet strings. Tennis Village originally sold only natural gut and nylon variations, whereas current string options include natural gut, nylon, multifilament and polyester. Rosen said her store has seen an “explosion” in customers asking for polyester-based string, which is more durable and better for producing spin on the ball. She stated that the “excellent stringers” on her staff are more frequently asked for a lower string tension that is easier on a player’s arm. Another Pittsburgh tennis establishment founded in the mid-1970s is Gamma Sports. Located at 200 Waterfront Drive, Gamma is a manufacturing and distribution center for big box stores, schools, specialty tennis stores, e-commerce partners and international distributors. Individual customers, however, can order racquet sports products directly from their website at www.gammasports.com and have them shipped directly to them. Chuck Vietmeier is the director of product marketing with Gamma and has been with the company for 33 years. Prior to joining Gamma, Pickleball, one of the fastest growing sports in the country, has actually been in existence since 1965. The game was invented by two fathers who were trying to keep their bored children entertained during a vacation in Washington state. The summer home owned by one of the families contained an old badminton court but not enough racquets for the two families to use. So, the resourceful fathers used ping-pong paddles and a whiffle ball to create a completely new sport. The name is thought to have been taken from one of the founders’ dogs, Pickles, who liked to run off with the ball during games. Pickleball gained momentum in the Pacific northwest and a pickleball corporation was formed in 1972, mainly to assist interested players with purchasing equipment. A pickleball court is sized closer to badminton than tennis, with So, what is pickleball?! Vietmeier tested products and taught tennis at the home club of Gamma’s founder, Dr. Harry Ferrari. It was Ferrari’s creation of a superior synthetic racquet string that mimicked the characteristics of natural gut tennis string which became the catalyst for Gamma’s launch in 1974. It is Vietmeier’s opinion that the tennis industry the tennis industry started to become flat around 2000 as participation in the sport declined and young people became more interested in less competitive activities such as hiking, kayaking and gaming. Vietmeier also believes that the lack of new technology in tennis equipment has hurt the sport. Vietmeier stated that the new popularity of pickleball - particularly during the pandemic when people realized they could play on their driveways, has helped to reenergize racquet sports. Though pickleball has been around for over 50 years, said Vietmeier, “it has become the fastest growing sport in the U.S. over the last six years.” He stated that the explosive growth that began around 2015 caused Gamma to take notice and the company added pickleball supplies to its equipment inventory. measurements of 44 by 20 feet. The net height is 36 inches. Hard-surface paddles are slightly larger than those used in ping pong and the hard plastic ball with holes in it is similar to a whiffle ball. Basic rules of the game call for an underhand serve to the cross-court service zone, after which the ball must bounce once on each opponent’s side before it can be hit in the air or volleyed. Players may not stand in the “kitchen,” or zone close to the net, while volleying. Games are played to 11 and must be won by two points. Unlike tennis, points are only awarded to the serving team. While most often played as doubles, pickleball can also be a game for singles. Pickleball is a friendly, easy-to-learn game where players welcome newcomers and enjoy socialization together. Though it can offer a reasonable physical workout, it is much easier on the body than tennis. Equipment is fairly inexpensive, with basic paddle and ball sets starting at less than $50. Maureen Greco, a local retiree, organizes several pickleball groups in the area, including ones at the Sewickley YMCA and the North Fayette Recreation Center. The latter remains closed due to COVID-19 at the time of this writing but, before it closed, it did have set times for pickleball groups. Both of those facilities require a membership. Pickleball groups also play at Moon Park during the week (courts are located on the upper side near the batting cages) and at the Findlay Township Recreation Complex at Leopold Lake. The Landing on Ewing Road also has pickleball on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. until noon. Donations are requested. For more, email Greco at fmgreco@msn.com. LEFT: Gear sold by Gamma Sports includes rackets with their own specially developed string, pickleball paddles and tape. BELOW: A woman plays a game of pickleball. 42 • Allegheny West Magazine • March/April 2021 Though tennis did not originate in England, it quickly surpassed croquet as a lawn game of choice during the proper times of the Victorian period. Lawn tennis was perceived as a virtuous game for both ladies and gentlemen and it spread to many of the British empire’s colonies. By the late 1800s, lawn tennis had become fashionable in America, but was primarily played in the wealthier areas of New York and several New England states. By the 1890s, the sport was gaining popularity in the Coraopolis area. In June of 1892, the Pittsburgh Commercial Gazette mentioned in its Society Gossip section that the Coraopolis tennis club had 32 entries in its inaugural tournament. The Pittsburgh Dispatch reported a month later that the Coraopolis club would hold a three-day tennis invitation tournament the last week of July. The article states that, “Invitations have been extended to the following clubs of Western Pennsylvania, most of which have promised a representation of at least two members: Washington, Mansfield, Crafton, Beaver, Rochester, Beaver Falls, New Brighton, Sharpsburg, Wilkinsburg, Blairsville, Latrobe, and Saltsburg.” Players desiring to stay overnight would be accommodated at the Ridge Avenue Hotel at a rate of $1.50 per night. Records show that the Coraopolis tennis club had begun plans to construct a “very handsome” three- story clubhouse that was expected to be “one of the best in the country” upon completion. It is unclear whether a lack of funding or leadership delayed or altered the project, as there is no mention in the archives of the facility’s opening. It is possible that efforts shifted to the need for a local facility for the betterment of young men, as a grand building to house the Young Men’s Christian Association was constructed on State Street and dedicated in 1911. Tennis, as well as an auditorium and bowling alley - all of which were mentioned in the clubhouse plans - remained a focal point of the YMCA. The organization’s western Pennsylvania championships were held there in September of 1918. Tennis continued to be popular in the area in the 1960s and 1970s. Rita Wilson, the girls varsity tennis coach at West Allegheny High School, recalls how, in the 1970s, Moon Park’s courts were so heavily used that players had to sign up and were limited to an hour of court time. Those courts were originally situated near the entrance to the park. Wilson also recalls other courts located on Thorn Run Road near Robin Hill Park where a town home community now sits. Growing up, Wilson lived on the Robert Morris University campus, where her father was the director of maintenance. She played on the school’s two tennis courts, which were located behind the Amherst Acres neighborhood. That plot of land is now a parking lot. Wilson recalls that the courts offered tennis enjoyment in the summer and skating fun in the winter, when her father would freeze them over so students and locals could go ice-skating. The YMCA in Coraopolis is pictured in the mid-20th century. PHOTO COURTESY CORAOPOLIS HISTORICAL SOCIETY A bit of local tennis historyPlaces to play: Clever Park, Three tennis courts with pickleball lines Settler’s Cabin Park Six tennis courts off Ridge Road Moon Township Park Four tennis courts on lower side, two pickleball courts near batting cages North Fayette Community Center, Donaldson Park Two outdoor tennis courts by community center, indoor pickleball courts for members only Leopold Lake Park, Findlay Township One pickleball court Heritage Park, McDonald Two tennis courts on east side Collier Township Recreation Center, Oakdale Two tennis and two pickleball courts near entrance March/April 2021 • www.awmagazine.com • 4344 • Allegheny West Magazine • March/April 20211XFirebeatFirebeat BY JOE KULIK Joe Kulik has been a member of the Kennedy VFC since 2002. NOW HIRING! Oces located in Robinson Twp. & Monaca 412.494.2000 ExpressPros.com Full-time and part-time job opportunities in a variety of positions: Administrative, Professional, Industrial, Skilled Labor, Skilled Trades, and Skilled Professional. Call to schedule your interview! No Fees! When I was a little kid, I enjoyed playing with balsa-wood and plastic airplanes, and all those other fun things that we could make fly. Now, I enjoy them just as much as a grandfather, and my grandchildren share the fascination I held (okay, still hold) for these flying contraptions. Whether it is simply tossing a paper or balsa plane into the air, or pulling back on a rubber band to send a little plastic plane flying, there is always something exciting about flight. Now there are new flying machines that are assisting firefighters. Several years ago, one of our department members, Don Martin of Martin Communications, exposed our department to the use of drones. The use of drones has “taken off” in recent years and they can be used in a variety of ways. They are, for example, great tools to assist in search operations. They can also be used for seeing the area of an incident scene. We all know that there are thick woods throughout our area. A drone allows a view of impenetrable areas where a child may have wandered or a person is in distress. A drone can easily be sent down into a culvert, valley or other area that cannot easily be accessed on foot. Many fire companies have started using drones at fire scenes. If the roof of a home is difficult to access, a drone can provide a view of the roof structure, such as to show if smoke or fire is present. Similarly, a building may be right along the edge of a cliff or river, or feature other forms of physical restrictions. A drone can easily be flown to the rear of a structure to allow a view for incident commanders. A drone with a thermal imaging camera can locate a person who is trapped in an upper room or storage area. One of the most widely known uses of drones for firefighting has been with regards to wildfires. Drones are extensively used in large forest fires so as to provide images of the area and assist with creating maps of fire zones. The images from drones can help show how and where a fire is spreading, and can point out “hot spots” where a fire could reignite. A very interesting proposal was also recently submitted to the Federal Aviation Administration that indicates how private industry is considering using drones. A division of Google submitted a formal request to the FAA for the use of drones not only to monitor fire scenes, but to also help fight fires. I am sure you have heard of other plans for drones. In 2019, Google obtained approval for the use of drones for delivery of merchandise. In fact, drones have been used extensively to deliver food and medical supplies during the pandemic. Google’s most recent submission proposed using large drones to fight fires. These large drones are not what you might see in your neighborhood or at a sporting event. These craft can weigh up to 100 pounds. They were originally designed and developed for the purpose of spraying chemicals on farms. The theory is that they could similarly be used to spray water or fire retardant chemicals at a fire scene. Unfortunately, as soon as their submission was published in the Federal Register, Google chose to withdraw the plans. The reports indicated that Google had actually submitted the initial petitions almost a year ago. Now, however, they have reported that they have no immediate plans to continue with the project. Hopefully, some other company will step forward with the plans and ability to bring this project to fruition. It is amazing to consider the technological advancements that we have seen over the years, and this is just another advancement that could save the lives of firefighters. The use of drones This image shows an artist’s concept of a firefighting drone equipped with fire retardant chemicals. Drones similar to these could be a future tool for fire departments. Drones already assist fire departments by providing views of fire scenes that were previously impossible to see or otherwise inaccessible. March/April 2021 • www.awmagazine.com • 45St. Clair Hospital News Seniors are among those who have been given the highest priority in Pennsylvania’s COVID-19 vaccination rollout. However, between the high demand and short supply of vaccine doses, many seniors have found it difficult to secure a vaccination appointment. For those who don’t use computers or drive, securing a vaccine has proven to be near impossible. That includes many seniors residing at senior residences. Thanks to St. Clair Hospital, a number of area senior residences have been getting vaccines brought right to them. St. Clair Hospital staff have been visiting the residences over the past couple of months and, as a result, seniors who may have found it difficult to secure a vaccine on their own are now protected. Among the very first senior residences that St. Clair visited to hold a vaccine clinic was Goodwill Manor in Bridgeville. Hospital staff visited the residence Feb. 5 and administered shots of the Pfizer vaccine to 64 residents. Pamela Stein, the facility’s property manager, says that up until then very few of her residents had been able to receive a vaccine. She says those who had were fortunate to rely on family members to register them and get them to their appointments. Stein says that she had many people approaching her and asking how they could go about getting a vaccine. She didn’t have an answer for them until St. Clair Hospital contacted her in January and offered to hold a clinic. Stein jumped at the opportunity. At that clinic, G. Alan Yeasted, M.D., senior vice president and chief medical officer emeritus at St. Clair Hospital, administered 64 doses of the vaccine. Yeasted said that two weeks after injection, the vaccine would provide recipients with 75% effectiveness against the virus. He said that protection would jump to 98.5% effectiveness following the second dose. Those at the Feb. 5 clinic received their second dose Feb. 26. The vaccine shots are not only life saving, but also potentially life changing. Even though experts advise that people shouldn’t alter their behavior once they receive a vaccination, the shots do mark some light at the end of what has otherwise been a very long and dark tunnel. “Many of these people haven’t seen their children or grandchildren in a year now,” said Yeasted. “It’s going to make a great difference for these elderly people and their families. Hopefully this is going to help us get through this pandemic.” Among those who received the vaccine Feb. 5 was Linda Pratt. Rather than relieved, however, Pratt said that she had actually been hesitant about getting the vaccine. Ultimately, though, she decided to go through with it in order to protect those around her. She said she also misses her family members and is looking forward to being able to travel to see them again. Bob Crytzer, St. Clair Hospital’s manager of hospital communications, says that between the vaccines administered at the on-site clinics for senior residences and vaccines it has administered at the hospital, St. Clair has vaccinated more than 10,000 people. Stein says that the pandemic hasn’t been easy on her residents. She says that they had to close down social spaces and enforce mask wearing. However, she says some residents have at times tried to find ways around those precautions. This vaccination will therefore provide her residents with an added layer of protection, she says. To date, Stein says the residence has been fortunate and only experienced a single case of COVID-19 among residents. Visit stclair.org for the latest information on COVID-19 vaccinations. St. Clair brings live-saving vaccines to vulnerable seniors G. Alan Yeasted, M.D., senior vice president and chief medical officer emeritus at St. Clair Hospital, administers the COVID-19 Pfizer vaccine to Linda Pratt at Goodwill Manor on Feb. 5. STORY AND PHOTO BY ALLEGHENY WEST MAGAZINE 46 • Allegheny West Magazine • March/April 2021SAFER KINDER FASTER DON’T DELAY EMERGENCY CARE Emergencies happen even in uncertain times. Don’t risk your health by putting off needed medical care, especially when you have access to the region’s only hospital to be awarded an ‘A’ grade for patient safety for more than 8 consecutive years. Our emergency room utilizes the latest protocols to get you well — and keep you safe — so that the healing starts the second you arrive, all at a hospital that’s a national leader in patient satisfaction. So don’t wait. Get the care you need now. Safer, kinder, faster. 1000 BOWER HILL ROAD • MT. LEBANON, PA 15243 • 412.942.4000 • STCLAIR.ORGPRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID PITTSBURGH PA PERMIT NO. 5605 Hughey Publications, LLC P.O. 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