Wikepedia defines a captain as a leader, one who brings out the best in a team, exercises command and serves as the team role model. This month's feature includes comments from the local USTA Florida adult league captains on the highs and lows of their role on teams headed to this weekend's regional competition in Bonita Springs.

Pinellas teams challenging for a regional win and a trip to the state tournament next month include women representing St. Petersburg Tennis Center (4.5), Safety Harbor Spa (4.0), Largo Tennis Center (3.5), East Lake Woodlands (3.0) and Belleair Country Club (2.5). Men's teams include McMullen 4.5, Seminole Lake Racquet Club 4.0, Shipwatch Tennis Club 3.5 and Countryside Country Club 3.0.
From first-year captains to longtimers, the most rewarding part of the "job" is the team camaraderie that develops throughout the season. Among the more challenging aspects of being in charge is getting focused to play while worrying about lineup strategies and everyone showing up.
"We have a young and spirited team, who are very excited about going to regionals," said Countryside's second-year captain Arthur Esterbrook, 74.

"We have a lot of new people on the team this year and watching them get spirited is wonderful, while keeping the team together and making certain we don't lose valued players is challenging. We have a lot of strategic things to discuss before the tournament begins. It's a first trip to regionals for everyone but me."
With nine of the 13 players going to regionals, Arthur plans to use Bill Perry and John Crist among the singles players and will rely on James Wolfgram, Chuck Ayres, John Guthrie, Joe Price, Pete Proly, David Peterson and himself for doubles.

Some of Countryside's 3.0 team with tennis director Jose Campos.
This was Ivette Ogden's first year to captain a team, and she soon realized there was more involved than she imagined. Working with the pros at Belleair, especially Jim Rudolph, proved rewarding for the leader of the women's 2.5 squad.

"I'm pretty organized, so that helped me, plus I tend to be a little more vocal than some," said Ivette. "We practiced a lot together on a weekly basis and that helped us come together as a team and I think that made a difference in our success. We're all pretty excited - and nervous - and are looking forward to the trip to regionals."
Joining Ivette will be Kerryn Elison, Nicole Piccarreto, Heather Keller, Allison Dolan and Brandy Paul.

Standing Left-to-Right: Ivette. Allison, Nicole, Kerryn, teaching pro Jim Rudolph. Kneeling: Anne Haydon, Brandy, Heather.
When Steve Talner was asked how long he had been a league captain, his first response was "too long." He came to be captain role innocently, as many of us have, when long-time captain Rob Williams was ready to give it up and Steve offered to take it over. That was in 1992, and Steve has been a captain since!
In fact, in his first year leading the squad, the team advanced to nationals.
"I love tennis but I love the team concept so much I don't really even care if I play," said Steve, captain of the McMullen 4.5ers. "First of all, we have such a good roster, plus there's coordinating practices, setting the lineups and seeing that everyone that's to play is there that I find it hard to focus to play. Getting focused to play after taking care of those details is my biggest challenge as a captain."
Steve will be taking 15 of the 17 qualified players with plans to get everyone in at least one match. Terry O'Grady, John Miller and Christian Yepes will be the primary singles players and Ken Chevren, Jimmy Gatza, Jimmy Dundee, Michael Erbe, Tim O'Brien, Ron Wiser, Mark Taylor, Bill Funk, Colin Hill, Marvin Wilhite and Paul Reilly will defend the three doubles positions.
"The team's goal," said Steve, "is to make it to nationals."
Emily Signorraci's biggest challenge as a captain was the logistics of leading a 4.0 women's team in Pinellas and another in Hillsborough at the same time. As it turned out, she did well as both teams won their respective local leagues to advance to regionals. (Last weekend, the Hillsborough squad competed). This weekend a squad of 10 representing the Spa head to regionals.

"I think it will be key for our singles to be strong," said Emily," and I plan to play everyone as equally as possible while being as strong as we can be."
Qualified players include Emily, Stephanie Geshel, Kim Damico, Tatyana Hankinson, Caren Mulay, Irene Few, Laurie Gereaue, Janet Stuart, Rene Lutthans, Joanne Molter, Dianne Albina, Tammy Conrad and Cindy Nunn.
After serving as a co-captain last year, Leslie Vann offered to be East Lake's 3.0 captain if no one else volunteered and, of course, she became the captain! Now, as a result of leading a division of eight teams, the East Lakers are relishing in their "road to regionals" celebration.

"This is the best group ever, and it's been so rewarding to enjoy the camaraderie we've developed," said Leslie. "When I lived in Connecticut, I went to regional play a couple of times, but it's difficult to tell about Florida. I never underestimate anyone, and although there will be pretty good teams there, I think we're a pretty good team, too."

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