The Mail-Journal, Volume 26, Number 21, Milford, Kosciusko County, 8 July 1987 — Page 12

THE MAIL-JOURNAL — Wed., July 8,1987

12

Summer

Hard work causes tennis skills to improve

Hard work is not very enjoyable. But the fruit of the labor often is. Several area high school tennis athletes have found this to be the case as their tennis skills have improved with extra work on the courts. Unlike other sports, tennis is an individual event. Oh, a team score is kept, but it is totally up to the individuals as to the eventual outcome. One way Wawasee is working to help develop tennis players, like Marci Wright and Lora Hollar, is its new summer tennis program. The new system was initiated by Warrior girls’ tennis coach Cindy Peterson. The program, initially, offered tennis lessons for anyone interested. Then, after the fourweek program, players participated in match play competition. In addition, players are competing with other high schools in the area one night a week. In the play, no scores are kept, except for each game. Winners are determined by the players’ conduct, on and off the court. "This is something that we have needed for quite some time,” insisted Peterson. “Everyone involved benefits.” Perhaps the most noteworthy player in Kosciusko County is Leesburg’s Tamra Payne, a freshman sensation on the Warsaw Community High School tennis courts. In her first varsity tennis experience last season, Payne captivated the hearts of area tennis fans as she played in the state finals in Indianapolis. What an accomplishment for such a young lady. But her feat is the result of long hours on the court, expert

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coaching, and a determination on Payne’s part to excel in the sport.

It is Payne’s determination, or for a better phrase, mental toughness, that sets her apart from any other tennis player in the Northern Lakes Conference. For NLC foes, it must be frightening having to face Payne on the courts. It won’t get any easier, either, with three more years of eligibility. "What really impresses me about Tamra is her mental toughness,” insisted Peterson. “She played like a senior, but was only a freshman.” Other area female tennis players with similar tennis savvy are Wawasee’s Wright and Hollar. Both Warrior athletes have picked up the sport a few years ago. Payne, meanwhile, chuckles that she has been playing since birth. Payne actually held her first racket when she was four, taking lessons before kindergarten. A turning point, perhaps, in Wright’s playing career was a week-long camp in Florida. At the session, Wright discovered a new love — tennis. Her attitude changed and she, along with Hollar, are the two top female tennis players at Wawasee. — The bottom line to all these players' success is hard work. The old saying is true, No pain — No gain’. The three athletes play.? tennis year around, obviously experiencing pain for future gain. “I play all year around,” said Wright. “I really love the sport and I’m working to improve.” Payne also participates in a similar program in Warsaw. Although tennis is more of an individual sport, it does have

many of the same aspects of team sports. In both instances, confidence is the key to winning. Maybe even more in tennis. "Once tennis players get their confidence, they are awfully hard to beat,'padded Peterson; “Confidence may have been the factor why Tamra went as far as she did this year. It is definitely a big factor in tennis.”

K uy JUigiojtfv *’* w \' BS Al, * MW vwWßßMp wv« \ ■.•• H • gpgr VAXIiWrl — * ” ■4ft jTwKfr \ ~5§L > • < '■ I 1 -. v i RETURN VOLLEY — Terry Meyer of W heeling. 111., plays tennis at Wawasee High School's tennis courts during the Fourth of July holiday . The ever-growingh sport is very popular in the Wawasee community. (Photoby Mark Weinstein)

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The tennis keys — mental toughness and confidence — are also important to players who are not involved in high-pressured competition. It is never too late to learn new things. It is obvious by the overcrowded tennis courts at Wawasee and Warsaw High Schools that tennis is still very popular. People of all

ages are participating in the activity. "Tennis is becoming more popular than other sports,,” said Peterson. “A few years ago, people were not playing tennis that much. Now, the trend is changing back towards tennis.” Indeed, tennis is a very popular sport It offers great recreational value while stressing sportsmanship. - -

JfHL Ml w ill | 1 j| 'I ■■uiii i I |gs PARK EMPLOYEES — Pictured above are four-of-six Syracuse park summer employees. Standing in front are Jon Vitaniemi, maintenance coordinator; and Jack Ridings, senior lifeguard. Pictured in the back are Dave Keener, maintenance; and Andy Kitson. maintenance. Not pictured are Chris Hackleman and Carl Rough, both lifeguards. Syracuse parks have grown in popularity each year, largely because of family reunions and other family outings. Because of the extended interest in the parks. Syracuse now has three maintenance workers and three lifeguards. The employees work seven days a week and focus on keeping the beach and park area clean. < Photo by Kip Schumm)

You can have fun at EPH's 'They're Playing Our Song'

Brainstorm as I might, I could not. for the duration of the first act, come up with an adjective appropriate to describe “They’re Playing Our Song." That is the play currently featured at the Enchanted Hills Playhouse east of Lake Wawasee. Is this modest musical winsome? That would be a disservice to the most recent individual I described as winsome. Is it clever, or precious? Hardly. What. I thought as I watched this Neil Simon musical comedy last week, can be the matter with me? The play is saturated with Neil Simon one-liners — through most of which the audience sat on its collective hands. The music? Well, it s OK. but I cannot imagine anyone walking to his car and singing anything from this play. Or even humming it. And that’s the bottom line. For their third production of 1987. the folks who operate the venerable barn theater have chosen a play that has. in at least this reviewer’s opinion, little redeeming merit. The plot? A lyricist and a musician get together, primarily to put the former's lyrics to music. And they fall in love; sort of. But the lyricist has a friend she finds difficult to forget, and the musician tends to think — not without reason — that the lyricist is a total flake. It's a two-person show, and Enchanted Hills has cast Paul Gregory nelson as musician Vernon Gersch, and Michele Van Note as the lyricist. Sonia Walsk. The action takes place mainly in New York and on Long Island, predominantly in Vernon's apartment. decorated in early sloven. The players deserve an “E" for effort, and perhaps even a “A" for trying to make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear. They handle the dialogue neatly, their emotions credibly and the songs tunefully, all. on the night I was there, before an audience that could be described only as soporific. The book is by Neil Simon, and it clips along rather well, in sort of a jogging manner, as the two players go through a “getting to

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know you" phase followed by an abundance of humor-laden doubt. The music is by Marvin Hamlisch; Carol Bayer Sager did the lyrics. Again, nothing redeeming here, but pleasant music <1 like “Failin'” much better than “They’re Playing Our Song”) that fits the rest of the show. This play is not a happy choice, but it is not a disaster, either: Mr. Nelson does portray Gersch in a very winning way. and Miss Van Note plays the flaky Miss Walsk in a most believable fashion. The sets: Depressingly authentic. The costumes? Well, the character played by Miss Van Note is supposed to be eccentric in the way she dresses, and this point comes across well. The backup? Voices, on and offstage. that underline the Gersch and Walsk roles are also done believably, if a bit broad-

Fishermen should comply with limits

■ ■■■ ' ■ " "(■ Fishermen who keep sublegalsized largemoiith bass not only face court fines and penalties, they jeopardize future bass fishing. The Department of Natural Resources is now studying impacts of 14-inch minimum bass size limits at several northeast Indiana Lakes and the outcome will determine whether the DNR imposes bass size limits at all area lakes. According to DNR officials, success of the bass size limit depends heavily on angler compliance with the law. Unless fishermen comply with the restriction, the study could show size limits do not improve bass fishing. This could delay widespread application of a bass size limit and allow overharvest of too many small bass. “We are currently spending a lot of time and money to study bass size limits.” says Bill James, DNR fisheries chief. “It

brushed. The backstage orchestra does well. And there were no notable glitches in technical matters the night I was there. My main complaint is not with the cast or crew but with the vehicle itself, and that's unfortunate. Neil Simon usually clicks; this one. for me. did not. Two-person musicals are extremely tough to carry off, unless they are “star vehicles” with two nationally- > known players. It's to Mr ' Nelson’s credit and Miss Van Note's credit that they do well: extremely well For that reason, an evening at “They're Playing Our Song" will not be an ill-spent one But if you go, get with it The gags are funny even if the whole premise is not. You can have fun. "They're Playing Our Song" continues through Sunday at Enchanted Hills Playhouse. Curtains are at 8 tonight iWednes day) through Saturday, and at 7 p.m. Sunday.

throws a wrench in our work when fishermen don't adhere to the limits.” James has asked conservation officers to step up efforts to enforce bass size limit regulations. The DNR has figures showing 63 percent of bass removed from some lakes are less than legal size, despite size limit restrictions. The problem, says James, is not always this severe but it does interfere with tjis field staff efforts to accurately evaluate bass size limits. "We want Indiana's bass fishing regulations to be based on good, sound, biological data." says James, “and to get good information. we need all fishernfen to comply with the law." Summer dessert An easy dessert for summer: Fill packaged spongecake shells with any fruit-flavored sherbet and top with berries.