Senior team competes in N. Carolina
A local group of tennis players from the Petersburg Racquet Club has long been competitive in tennis. The players had more than enough experience in winning and losing on the tennis court.
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Mary Jane Rekito, from Martinez, serves during mixed doubles practice with her partner Don Murphree, of North Augusta, at the Petersburg Racquet Club. The eight members of the club's senior mixed doubles team were to represent the state of Georgia at the Southern Sectional Mixed Doubles Championship in Cary, N.C.. this weekend.
photo by J. Scott Trubey
They're all more than 50 years old.
They call themselves the Claws and Paws. They're a senior mixed doubles tennis team from the Petersburg Racquet Club, but they play all over the Southeast. They're serious about their tennis.
The team is currently in Cary, N.C., as representatives from Georgia in the Southern Sectional Mixed Doubles Championships.
The group, made up of team captain Don Murphree, co-captain Yvonne Harrison, Larry Bailey, Gregg Jennings, Donnalene Pullen, Richard Pullen, Mary Jane Rekito, Jim Spangler and Joan Steinberg, has already come a long way.
Paws and Claws went undefeated as a team at the Georgia State Senior 6.0 Mixed Doubles Championships in August. The seniors battled other teams from around the state and fought through summer temperatures up to 99 degrees to win the tournament by one match in Rome.
This weekend, the squad will face teams from eight other states in the Southern Sectionals in North Carolina.
While most seniors called it quits on competitive sports years ago, the Claws and Paws crew said the competition helps them stay fit.
Larry Bailey, of Martinez serves during mixed doubles practice with partner Joan Steinberg, of Augusta, at the Petersburg Racquet Club.
photo by J. Scott Trubey
"Most of them realize it is good for their health," Murphree said. "If you don't get out there and motivate yourself and move your body, you won't have as much fun."
Though staying healthy and having fun are positive by-products of playing, Murphree said there's no doubt that these seniors are playing with a competitive drive.
"With this group the idea is to try to win these tournaments," Murphree said. "To me, that's a motivating thing when you play on teams. I'm looking to compete and to win."