Tennis, Anyone? La Verne Tennis Association Players Making Quite a Racquet on Saturday Mornings
Steve Daniels volleys as his doubles partner Fil Bernal looks on.
LA VERNE, California, September 2, 2017 — Don’t get in Warren Denning’s way on Saturday morning. The pre-nonagenarian (he’s only 89) saddles up his car, backs out his Glendale driveway, hops onto the 210 East and heads to Bonita High School in La Verne, where for the last quarter century he has been a fixture in the La Verne Tennis Association, holding court as it were.
The Association, started by La Verne Councilwoman Robin Carder 36 years ago, comprises 54 members of all ages and abilities, but they all share a love of the game.
“I enjoy the game, I love the game, always have,” Denning said in between sets.
His opponent on the other side of the net on Saturday included Carder who was showing her elder no mercy. That’s because every week, stats are compiled, based on wins and losses, showing who is the top dog in the association and whether each player is ascending or descending on the all important rankings ladder.
James Nehring is well positioned to gain a point.
So while it’s not competitive, it is. Although players’ legs may not be as springy as they once were, the pride that players take out on the court is still as buoyant as ever. These guys still know how to send that little fuzzy green ball screaming across the net, as if they were playing in the U.S. Open.
On September 2, where temperatures were headed north of 100 degrees, 40 players packed the courts — six at Bonita and another four courts at Las Flores Park.
Play always moves briskly because the Association only has the courts reserved from about 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., so you don’t see too many arguments over line calls. It’s serve and volley and game on, best of three sets.
“We have devoted players, including many who have been in the program since the beginning. As you can see, everyone pretty much stays fit. This is a good sport for people.”
Robin Carder tries to deliver an ace.
Carder encourages people to come out and take a look to see if Saturday tennis might become a healthy activity in their future.
The cost of registration for the year is $55, which covers the cost of the courts and balls and a t-shirt. You can come out to the tennis courts at Bonita and complete a registration form or you can visit City Hall (3660 D St.) and pick one up at the Community Services Office. For more information, call 909.596.8700 or visit www.cityoflaverne.org.
Daniel Fernandes delivers a big serve with calm approval from his doubles partner, Gary Harvey.
Regardless of your position on the leader board, staying fit and having fun seem to Priority No. 1 with the La Verne Tennis Association
Members – Point Leaders
Savay Lieu
Bill Laubach
Brian Gore
Hans Looyenga
Zhao Wang
Gina Ammar
Terry Wachel
Robert Carder
Mike Wickersham
Kathleen Johnson
Susan Hare
Dale Johnson
Amy Bloom
Tom LeVay
Fil Bernal
Dan Fernandes
Steve Daniels
Gary Harvey
Steve Watanabe
Andrew Mesdjian
Richard Sakamoto
Perci Chin
Linda Reardan
Craig Hare
Dixie Beutler
Kay Russell
Becky Reyes
Marian Sherman
Martha Bybee
Diane Horn
Leon Directo
Jonathan Ho
Vic Dixit
Joe Garr
Rudy Bituin
Jim Wickersham
Alex Bernal
Anne Valdes
Ken Morris
James Nehring
Gail Sundberg
William Chapman
Deo Bituin
Keith Marshall
Adriana Marshall
Roland Monaco
Simon Villasis
John Swank
Martha Ramirez
Warren Dinning
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