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Midwest 3.0 Adult Team
© Andrew Ong/USTA
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Birthday girl Deb Kunz
© Andrew Ong/USTA
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By Tom LaDue, usta.com
TUCSON - Everyone knows the Disney story about Cinderella. Well, at this weekend’s USTA League presented by Chrysler 3.0 Adult Women’s National Championships a team from Bannockburn, Illinois is writing their own version of the fairy tale.
For the first time in the forty year history of the Midtown Athletic Club in Bannockburn a group of women has made it to the National Championships at the 3.0 level. In the fairy tale, Cinderella tells of a young woman living in unfortunate circumstances which suddenly change to remarkable fortune. You can say the same for the women from Bannockburn. The word “Cinderella” has, by analogy, come to mean one who unexpectedly achieves recognition or success after a period of obscurity.
When asked about how their story started, team Captain Debbie Coe replied, “When we first formed this team we were all just looking to go out and have some fun together.”
“It’s very surreal,” said Ellen Kingsepp. “We just kept winning and doing the best we could and before we knew it here we are….most of us are just a bunch of stay at home mom’s”
“It’s unbelievable!” said Debra Kunz who is also celebrating her birthday this weekend.
One win led to two, two to three, three to four and you get the drift. After winning the districts the team noticed that something magical was happening.
“I’m walking on cloud nine, I’m so excited. I could never have thought we would be here in Tucson,” replied Coe.
It was a core group of women that have led the team all the way to Tucson but the real “prince charming” has to be coach and team captain, Todd Seltzer.
“This team has come a long way to get here. They got on a roll and just started knocking off teams over the past few months,” said Seltzer. “The core group is very strong and along the way each player has improved her game.”
“To be honest with you when we got this team together….making it here wasn’t even a thought that has crossed my mind,” laughed Todd.
The team might have the last laugh to the ending of their “Cinderella” fairytale as Todd has told the team that if they win the National title he will put on a women’s dress on center court.
This team can only wish all of their dreams come true before the clock strikes midnight!
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