By David Rowe, ALTA First Vice President
Thursday Women: Chateau Elan A3, Maria Wendell
Nominated by: Stacey Smith, Central Park Courts
We’re all excited for a fun and competitive season of tennis. It’s electric, that feeling of gearing up to play the sport we love so much. For many teams, it’s a new beginning. It’s meeting new players, trying out new partnerships and, hopefully, making it all the way to City Finals. But for me and my team, it’s about saying goodbye. It’s about realizing that there is more to tennis than the wins and the losses. It’s seeing that tennis can bring people together in the best of times and the worst of times. And this is a story about both.
On Mar. 14, 2025, my team was one week into the season when we received the news that our long-time teammate and dearest friend, Stephanie Gillespie, had lost her two-year battle with colon cancer. She was an original member of this team, going back 12 years. And, if you knew her you knew that she was the sweetest person anyone was lucky enough to meet. Her Celebration of Life service was set for March 27, a Thursday. As captain, I immediately contacted the opposing captain to discuss some options. Maria Wendell of Chateau Elan called me back and we began working on a solution. Maria graciously agreed to play lines out of order and agreed to play on both hard and clay courts so that we had enough courts. This way, eight of my 10 players who knew Stephanie could make it back in time to honor our friend and teammate.
I texted Maria two days before the match to inform her that my players had decided that we would wear light blue that day. It was Stephanie’s favorite color. I told Maria that we don’t normally wear matching outfits and that we would do our best to get through the day, but to please let her players know the situation. We didn’t want them to feel uncomfortable.
On match day, my teammates and I walked down to the courts at Chateau Elan with heavy hearts, many of us holding back tears. That’s when I noticed it. Every one of our opponents was also wearing light blue. We took it all in, realizing exactly what Maria and her players were doing. They were choosing to help us honor Stephanie, someone they had never met, by also wearing light blue. The tears fell because I couldn’t believe what I saw. Women on the opposite side of the net showing up for us saying “We understand, and we’re sorry.” We played our matches. There were some laughs, and it was great tennis. There was even a little joy. Afterwards, we hugged our opponents and did our best to show our gratitude for an act of kindness so unexpected that we were all moved by it. And, then we left to go say goodbye to our friend one last time.
That day was a win inside of a huge loss. A loss bigger than one on the court. A team of women showing up for another team who were really hurting and doing our best to just get through. In truth, it’s something Stephanie would have done. And isn’t that what tennis is really about? The sportsmanship and friendships built along the way? So, this story is for Maria Wendell and her Chateau Elan ladies. Thank you, sincerely, for the comfort and understanding on our toughest day on the court. You are everything that tennis is supposed to encompass. Meeting the challenge but also recognizing when someone is not ok and helping them find their way through. And we will always remember your kindness and the respect that you showed us as we grieved.
Junior Girls: Mayfair-St. Clair 15U B1
Nominated by: James Kwon (manager), Falls of Autry Mill 15U B1
I would like to nominate the Mayfair-St. Clair team in our division. I was super-impressed by the sportsmanship displayed by all their lines, singles, and doubles.
The entire team deserves this award, but I wanted to give a special call out to one player in particular, Naomi Brody. We have played her twice and she has been outstanding.
Specific examples of good sportsmanship by Naomi and all her teammates:
Fair line-calling
Friendly and sportsmanlike behavior before and during the match. I have never seen a junior team compliment their opponents after good shots as much as I’ve seen with this Mayfair team.
VERY sportsmanlike after matches. Each of their lines has been gracious in their wins and complementary to our girls in their losses.
