Left to right: Ruthann Nelson, Della McCleary (Captain), Mary Jo Leonardson, Carrie Bergquist, Carolyn Cruzat, Kathy (Lila) Hughes, Jill Wakefield, Barbara Selemon, Nita Kraught. Two members of our team were not able to attend the tournament: Janice Brennan and Sally Linebarger.
Photo courtesy of Barbara Selemon
While a lady rarely discusses her age there is sometimes a very good reason, especially if being a champion is involved.
Mary Jo Leonardson, of Burien, recently returned from Orlando, Florida along with several other ladies who can claim to have earned championship medals in a United States Tennis Association tournament held in late January and early February.
The team of the over-65 age group (6.0 level) won all four of their matches (two on the final day) to take home the gold in competition with 16 other teams from around the country.
Playing out of the Boeing Employees Tennis Club in Kent, Leonardson was joined by Kathy Lila Hughes of Normandy Park and Della McCleary of SeaTac. Della has been team captain for a number of years. Leonardson, a Highline High graduate, played in high school but only picked up the game again about 34 years ago. In the tournament she excelled in doubles with her partner Nita Kraught.
With medals gleaming from their lanyards, for these ladies, showing their ages is a point of pride.
