Kraemer Having a Ball with Tennis

“It’s great fun and great exercise,” Kraemer said. “It’s quick. I love to play golf, too, but that’s a lot longer. With five kids, I’m super busy driving. It’s getting easier now as they get older. I was able to start sneaking in a little exercise time for myself, and it’s just been wonderful.”

Kraemer noted tennis is an activity she can continue playing later in life as well. Her mother-in-law, who is 85-years-old, played tennis into her 70s and still plays golf today. Kraemer credited her mother-in-law with influencing her to pick up whatever sport she can as she gets older. Kraemer said she was nervous at first about joining a USTA league, but that quickly dissipated.

“As soon as I started, I just kind of fell in love with it,” Kraemer said. “I played with the 3.0 team for a while. The people I knew on that team moved over to another USTA team, which is the one I’m on now. Amy Fikes and Mary Beth Handley — the team captains — just make it super fun. They do girls’ weekends, award prizes for just silly things and have great practices. They make it so fun.”

Kraemer competes on one 3.0 team and a pair of 3.5 teams based out of Frontenac Racquet Club. She emphasized the involvement and dedication of captains like Fikes, Handley and McMillan made playing in leagues a joy from the get-go.

“Once I joined, I felt like everyone was very nice,” Kraemer said. “Because it is a little bit more competitive, that makes it more fun. You always play better when you play better people. The USTA does a good job providing a lot of different opportunities and tournaments. I haven’t been to any, but maybe when my kids get a little older I can start doing that.”

Kraemer said she and her teammates got a kick out of her recognition as May Player of the Month with her being so new to the sport and USTA. She received a handful of items for claiming the award — including a USTA bag, car windshield visor, cup, sunglasses and fan. Kraemer said she intentionally whips out the fan and uses it in front of her teammates to spark a laugh.

Kraemer is hopeful to continue playing in several leagues this fall, especially day options when her children are at school. She said she works hard to be very present when around them, which is a majority of the time. Kraemer believes adding USTA tennis leagues to her schedule — and the exercise that comes along with them — has only made her a better mom.

“My 3.0 team is just the best team ever,” Kraemer said. “They’re so fun. We get together for parties. Everyone stays after each match. We just kind of rehash everything, talk about stuff or have lunch together. We’ve really gotten close. We’re a close group of women who just enjoy being with each other, having fun and laughing.”