PC MARC’s women’s tennis team wins USTA-Intermountain match

PC MARK's 3.0 Women's USTA District League Champions. Photo: courtesy of PC MARK Tennis

SALT LAKE CITY — As the U.S. Open begins, some of its biggest fans in Park City have their own reason to celebrate. The Park City Recreation Department’s women’s 3.0 tennis team, sanctioned by the USTA Intermountain Division, won their regional tournament at Salt Lake City’s Liberty Park.

The team competed against other Utah teams to determine which would advance through the season.

“Developing tennis players and successful teams is a group effort,” MARC Tennis Professional Tim Donnelly told TownLift. “All the coaching staff at the MARC that have contributed to this team success are proud of their achievements and thank them for making the Park City MARC their home. Best wishes for the upcoming sectional tournament.”

Donnelly, who is originally from Australia, has coached at the MARC for 20 years.

The team has been working toward this goal for several years. It can take time for new teams to find their rhythm, but this group has found its momentum.

For most of these athletes, tennis is a hobby. Many spend only summers in town and have other careers and pursuits that occupy much of their time. The sport provides a way to connect socially with like-minded individuals who enjoy tennis — a main philosophy of adult tennis for Park City Recreation.

While many teams at the MARC play for fun, this team has a more competitive focus and collective mission to move up in the rankings, 

The team’s co-captains are Kelly Kruger and Sarah Yates. They coordinate practices, determine lineups, organize matches and keep athletes informed about rules and their rights. Tennis is unique at the recreational level because players call their own lines — something that doesn’t happen in many other sports. Each week, the co-captains coordinate scheduling with other teams, which can be a thankless job. But their stewardship has allowed players to keep their focus on winning, 

The green and yellow banner seen in the photograph will be displayed on the unofficial walls of fame around the MARC alongside similar banners won by 2.5, 3.5 and 4.0 classified teams throughout the years.

Next, the team will compete in the tournament they’ve earned a spot in: the sectional tournament in Denver on Sept. 6. The Intermountain Division comprises six states.