CPV Ladies 3.0 Green team members Anthea Gerberg, Jean Coates and Carol Lail take time for a photo before flight playoffs on July 13.

Article and photos by Elean Gersack

It is not all about golf in Castle Pines Village (CPV) anymore. During the past several years, tennis has really taken off. The four picturesque courts at The Canyon Club are used around the clock for competitive leagues, neighborhood tournaments, mixed doubles socials, family outings, as well as kids and adult lessons, clinics and drills.

Tennis Coordinator Jerry Eddy, along with the Tennis Activities Group (TAG), has been instrumental in growing the tennis program in CPV. “I am most proud of our growth in competitive tennis teams from five teams in 2008 (the first year for Village teams) to 29 teams in 2013,” said Eddy.

CPV now boasts seven men’s teams, five mixed doubles teams, and 17 women’s teams, which play spring, summer and late summer leagues through the United States Tennis Association (USTA).

Several of the competitive CPV teams made it through to district championships this season. The USTA Mixed Doubles 7.0 Red team, captained by Eamon Twomey, came in third place during the weekend of June 21-23. Twomey shared that it was exciting just to get to playoffs. “What made it even more rewarding was the fact we were playing in this higher division (7.0) for the first time,” he added.

The Ladies USTA 2.5 Gold team, captained by Julie Berris, and Ladies USTA 3.0 Green team, captained by Carol Lail, both finished first in their flights, making it to flight playoffs on July 13. During those matches, Berris’ team won 3 to 0 against Columbine Country Club and Lail’s team won 3 to 2 against Eastmoor Swim and Tennis Club. The wins give both teams a chance to compete for the state title at district championships in early August.

“I’m really proud of our team!  Our playoff match was a really close, tough match and the players really rose to the occasion and fought hard for the victory,” said Lail.  

From hard-core tennis enthusiasts to those looking to meet new friends and learn a new sport, Castle Pines Village tennis has something to offer everyone in the community. Penny Spencer, captain of the Ladies USTA 2.5 Pink team, led a relatively new team of ladies to third place in their flight. “I am sooo proud of them! We had a lot of fun together!” she said.

Eddy and the other leaders of the TAG deserve a great deal of credit for growing the sport and bringing in hundreds of players over the years, according to Spencer.  “They spend countless hours throughout the year lining up teams and supporting the USTA effort in Colorado and have championed to have first class tennis courts built into The Canyon Club with hopes to add more in the future,” she added.

As the Berris and Lail teams gear up to represent CPV at districts in the days to come, they are mostly excited about the opportunity, but are also hopeful that it might just be game, set, match … state!

CPV Tennis Coordinator Jerry Eddy is surrounded by the top men’s and women’s doubles teams during the annual CPV Tennis Tournament held June 29-39 (photos courtesy of Penny Spencer).