Start at the beginning....
- Peggy Duffie
- Mar 27
- 4 min read
Updated: Mar 30
How did For the L<3VE of tennis take root in State College? I think it is a fantastic story of incredible people and a community that came together in the most excellent way: through the sport of tennis!
Part 1: The Move
We moved to State College in December 2020. At the time, we were in the throes of a global pandemic, and State College was blanketed in snow.
Driving in, the borough looked like Santa's village. We didn't have any real connections in this area, and with the lockdown, we had no prospects for meeting anyone.
In sunny Albuquerque, my primary form of connection and friendship was through the sport of tennis. I had played and captained many teams over the years and knew that 'tennis' would be a way to meet people.
Do you all agree that making friends as adults is hard? I am not sure why it feels difficult, but as adults, we don't have the same opportunities to form friendships, unlike when we were kids. You can't just go to the park and approach an adult and say, "Hey! You wanna go slide with me?" and seconds later, you're besties. As an adult, you have work friends, book club buddies, acquaintances, and if you don't move...your old friends.
To me, tennis is the equivalent of "Hey, let's play!"
Needless to say, you can imagine my shock when I called USTA to find out who organized tennis in State College and was told, "There are no leagues."
In terms of tennis, we found a bright spot in Ebensburg! Jamie Taylor (the pro) offered clinics every Wednesday night. Eric and I would drive up to play, and yes, we masked up (safety first)!
Back at home, I didn't know what to do, and I have to admit, I was worried about how I might connect as a new person in a small town working on a dissertation linked to a college in another state.
Part 2: Establishing Connections
It is amazing how one phone call and connection with a person can change everything. Who is this mystery person? She was no mystery to those who lived in State College, as she had supported tennis in this community for years. Cathy Shaak did not know who I was when I called her desperate to find tennis, and even though adult leagues were not her designated responsibility, she wanted to help.
It felt like an eternity for summer, but Cathy and I had a plan. We pulled in support from Jeff Hall with Centre Region Parks and Rec and planned a USTA tennis event to see if we might find players interested. The video below is our first event in State College, and the start of many tennis connections that would shape our leagues moving forward.
Part 3: Dark:30 Tennis Events and more connections
Cathy also connected me with others! I met Zoe Cykosky, who connected me to Bill Potoczny, who connected me to Terrance Guay, who connected me to Ming Tien, and suddenly you're in!
We also started holding Dark:30 events!
What is dark:30? This was a 'Burque tradition. We would meet, play, eat, and have a beverage (adult or not).
In addition, I gained new partners in crime!
The first league in State College happened in May of 2021...it was 19 people strong!
We now have over 185 people who play league, and we are growing. So, when you ask me how to build a tennis community?
Connection <3
The people above are not an exhaustive list. It would not be a fitting end if I did not recognize staples in the State College community like Becky, Allie, Ming, and Rob. Additionally, I need to mention the tremendous support from all my additional partners in crime at USTA: Michael, Lauren, Katie, Renee B., and Renee L. Our leader at USTA Ben Zislis, and the CPD council, who funded my position as a league coordinator in northern central PA.
So many of you took a chance on a stranger from New Mexico. I am most grateful.
For the L<3VE of Tennis
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