Mixed & Matched: League team blends talent from across Nebraska

For the past 10 years, Kearney usually fields around one or two USTA League mixed doubles teams that compete with Omaha and Lincoln teams. This year, for the first time, Jane Strawhecker’s 40 & Over 7.0 Mixed team made it to the USTA Missouri Valley League Section Championships, and not because of a wild card like in the past.

“This is the first time that a team I captained won at districts to earn advancement to the USTA 40 & Over Mixed 7.0 sectionals,” Strawhecker said. “That’s pretty special.”

The team is actually made up of four Kearney players, four from Lincoln, two from Grand Island and one from Marquette. The team went undefeated during the course of the regular season and beat the top Omaha team at the USTA Nebraska District League Championships.

“The mix of players from Kearney, Grand Island and Lincoln made for a fun season while sharing our passion for the sport of tennis,” Strawhecker said. “We got to play our home matches at the Grand Island indoor facility.”

Though the team lost in the semifinals of their League Section Championship on Sept. 19-21 in Kansas City, Strawhecker said they ended up exceeding their expectations. She said it was fun to get to know everyone better during the long weekend in Kansas City.

“At this year’s sectionals in KC, it was the first time all of us were together and it was fun getting to know more about our teammates,” she said. “We even had a team dinner at Jack Stack.”

Team members include: James Boedeker, Ken Brand, Sheema Budler, Chris Johnson, Michael Martin, Kevin Patterson, Stacy Pickering, Christa Pope, Jane Strawhecker, Ty Strawhecker and Frank Tenkorang.

Learn more about USTA Nebraska leagues by clicking here.