News from Our President – NO TRICKS – ALL TREATS!

As introduced last Fall, LCTA is again offering MAX tennis this fall. Our goal is to provide our LCTA players with as many options for league play as possible.

Register to participate in the LCTA’s First Responders Red Ball Event.

Sunday, October 25th 11AM-1PM at Mount Pleasant Recreation Department 889 Whipple Road

The LCTA has partnered with USTA South Carolina to equip fire stations in the Town of Mt Pleasant with portable nets, red balls, racquets, and official play guidelines to enable local firefighters to enjoy and train for the upcoming Red Ball Pro-Am Event.

This free, all-levels event will pair each firefighter with an LCTA player for a high-energy doubles tournament, complete with complimentary refreshments courtesy of LCTA. Additionally, there will be door prizes raffled off!

In addition, there will be a free one-hour clinic led by a teaching pro for the firefighters’ family members in attendance. As an added bonus, any LCTA member who participate in the the event and plays with a first responder, will receive one FREE SPRING REGISTRATON (less the $3.15 tennis link fee). An unbeatable perk, for a great cause!

LCTA members, the Town of Mount Pleasant council members and staff are warmly invited to join the fun; simply scan the QR code or click on the link below to secure your spot today!

Questions: contact April Gift at gift@sctennis.com

Register Here For Red Ball Pro-AM

Congratulations to our Local League Champions

We had such great competition this summer amongst our players in the Lowcountry. We made it through a hot and rainy season.

Thanks to all the Captains who endured several rainouts and heat advisory reschedules, and were able to get all their matches in.

Good luck to our Local League winners heading to States!

18 and Over Women

5.5 – I’On – Captains Adriana Jacoud and Emily Calcagno

5.5 – DIC – Captains Samantha Sheetz and Ann Harrah

6.5 – I’On – Captains Christyn Lansing and Jessica Perkal

6.5 – Hamlin – Captains Stephanie Sutherland and Dana Keys

7.5 – MPR – Captain Suzie Zhang

7.5 – I’On – Captain Stephanie Leahy

8.5 – MPR – Captain Juliann Loesch

9.5 – Independent – Captain Alice Kryder

9.5 – CTC – Captain Katie Richey

18 and Over Men

5.5 – LTPDI – Captain Nicholas Taylor

6.5 – Danny Jones – Captain Grady Rogers

7.5 – MPR – Captain Steven Howle

8.5 – I’On – Captain James Elliget

9.5 – Maybank – Captain Bryce Richards

9.5 – I’On – Captain James Elliget

9.5 – Wild Dunes – Captain Josh Smith

40 and Over Women

5.5 – I’On – Captain Suzanne Howard

6.5 – Hamlin – Captains Megan Eichelberger and Dana Keys

6.5 – Maybank – Captains Alison Shira and Allison Soler

7.5 – Maybank – Captain Corene Kronsberg

7.5 – Snee Farm – Captains Lauren Courcoux and Leah Walters

8.5 – LTPDI – Captain Teri Robinson

40 and Over Men

6.5 – LTPDI – Captains Rusty Fox and Steve Fennell

6.5 – Snee Farm – aptains Ryan Evsich and Noppon Kichanan

7.5 – Maybank – Captain John David Pfile

8.5 – Maybank – Captain Daniel Strickland

55 and Over Women

6.5 – Ashborough – Captains Tammy Karika and Susan Mock

7.5 – LTPDI – Captain Charlene Magnuson

8.5 – LTPDI – Captain Pat Boyd

55 and Over Men

6.5 – LTPDI – Captain Jim Lund

7.5 – Collins Park – Captain Tony Wespy

8.5 – Maybank – Captain Daniel Strickland

8.5 – MPR – Captain Frank Pettersen

8.5 – MPR – Captain Mike Cladakis

65 and Over Women

6.5 – Ashborough – Captains Melanie Ivonowski and Lynn Meador

7.5 – MPR – Captain Becky Montgomery

LCTA Captains and Players Meeting 2027

• Annual Meeting date: January 14, 2027
• Doors open: 5:30 PM
• Meeting starts: 6:30 pm with 1st DOOR PRIZE AWARDED at 6:33 pm – MUST BE PRESENT TO WIN!
• Cash bar with LCTA provided appetizers

Hope to see you there!

All-Star Spotlight – Lance Tyner

If the name Lance Tyner sounds familiar, it’s probably from an LCTA newsletter. His teams have a habit of showing up when celebrating local and state LCTA champions. In 2024, his LCTA 40+ 3.5 mixed doubles team made it all the way to Nationals.

There were no junior leagues or school teams in the area where Lance grew up. It wasn’t until he moved back to the Florence area after college that he met Paul Pittman, former president of South Carolina USTA and a member of the South Carolina Tennis Foundation Hall of Fame. Paul saw Lance playing singles one day and asked if he would like to play league. He had no idea the door Paul opened for him that day. Paul was thoughtful, wise, strategic, and had a heart larger than any man should have. He taught Lance so much of what it is to be a good teammate, a good captain, and a giving person.

The competitive bug really came during Lance’s first season playing USTA league tennis with Paul’s team when their team advanced to the State Championships. It was also during these matches that Lance was asked to play doubles with Al Suggs, a man over twice his age who had limited mobility and basically one shot, the deep lob. One of their opponents in this match was a former high school competitor of Al’s in track and field. Although they won a very close match that day, the real win for Lance was getting to know someone over 50 years his elder. Lance made a new connection and Al renewed a connection. Bringing people together, that’s what tennis is all about. Al taught Lance the value of a good lob that day and that’s why it is his favorite shot. Every time he hits a good lob, he thinks of Al, he thinks of Paul, and how unlikely friendships are forged through this great game of tennis.

Lance has been playing in the LCTA for about 13 years, captains on average nine teams a year and serves on the South Carolina Adult League Committee. He got his start in the LCTA at Charleston Tennis Center, close to home, before he was recruited to play at Maybank Tennis Center. He credits Toni Young with making the Maybank players feel like family. A spirit that carries into Friends of Maybank, where players fundraise together to support junior tennis.

For Lance, the appeal has never just been about winning. He loves volunteering and getting people excited about tennis. He’s seen firsthand how league play can transform lives and build community through socialization. Through tennis, players become healthier, happier, and build better lives. That same spirit carries off the court, too. Lance coaches three of his five kids’ teams across different sports and serves as president of his HOA. For Lance, showing up for people is the whole point, wherever that happens to be.