Captain Sam Shouldis Guides Pair of Mixed Teams to Nationals

The 55 & Over 6.0 mixed team will be making its second consecutive appearance at nationals. The crew captured their USTA St. Louis league, which propelled them straight through to nationals with no section championship to participate in. They will compete in the Mixed 55 & Over National Invitational on March 22-24 in Scottsdale, Arizona.

“Everybody is excited,” Shouldis said. “We’re all looking forward to it. It should be nice and sunny by March.”

“Everybody was pretty excited,” Shouldis said. “Last year, we didn’t even advance out of our own local league. And then when we went to sectionals this year, each match was just a rollercoaster ride. Everybody was biting their nails, just barely winning two out of three courts for each of the matches.

“When we finally got to the last match, we won the first court. Then on the second court, we’re getting close. Once we finally clinched that, everybody had like a big sigh of relief. ‘Wow, we’re actually going to nationals.’ None of us has ever been to nationals in any other leagues or things out of our district. Most of us are pretty excited and pretty hyped.”

The recently held Mixed 55 & Over Section Championship was just the second-ever rendition of the event in USTA Missouri Valley history. With the victory there, Shouldis’s 8.0 crew likewise progresses to the Mixed 55 & Over National Invitational in Scottsdale on March 22-24. Just like the rest of his teammates, Shouldis will have the opportunity to play for a national championship for the first time in his USTA career.

“I’m pretty hyped,” he said. “Just to be able to go and compete at the national level, that’s always been I think everybody’s goal.”

Shouldis is also looking forward to hanging out with his friends, meeting new ones and all that comes with traveling to a different part of the U.S.

“That’s why we play,” Shouldis said. “Locally after we play tennis, we usually hang out, have dinner or socially have drinks together. Same thing when we go out of town for sectionals or nationals. Checking out a new place, meeting other players and opponents from all across the country — that’s always fun.”