The Birmingham Zoo Boys

WHEN CHARACTERS TAKE THE COURT

By Jason Steinberg

TTC2K/Team Focus/the Birmingham Zoo Boys team.

Joking around and overcoming injuries is what the Men’s 3.5 team from Alabama is all about. This team likes to have fun on the court, and at the expense of their own teammates. The team is hoping to carry this fun all the way from the USTA League Tennis Southern Sectional Championships presented by Chrysler to Nationals.

The team has three different names. Their official name is PTC2K, which stands for Pelham Tennis Center Kent Kerley. Kent Kerley is the captain of the team and others argue that the 2K part stands for Kevin and Kent. The team’s second name is Team Focus. This name came into existence at the state tournament this year when the captain had everyone put their hands in and gave a pep talk. The rest of the team stood there and thought it was cheesy. Their last name is the Birmingham Zoo Boys, which is the original name. This is mainly for all of the characters on the team.

Aside from the many names the team has, they like to have fun. They will not trash talk any of their opponents, but have no problem making fun of themselves on the court. They are their own worst enemies and believe it is more fun when they are joking about each other. Captain Kerley is made fun of the most during matches.

As much fun as they have with each other on the court, they all take the game really seriously. Injuries don’t seem to stop them from competing at their highest level. One of the members on the team, Ray Breakenridge, suffered from a pulmonary embolism. Breakenridge was only off the courts for three weeks before coming back, and today he is doing great.

In the Alabama state tournament, Pearman Casanova rolled his ankle and went down 1-9 in a match tiebreak. Casanova did not let his ankle end his match and came back to win 15-13. From then on, any clutch performance in a tiebreak is referred to as a “Pearbreaker.” The mix of determination and fun is what this team is based on.