Kaitlyn Brown/USTA Southern

Elisabet Jestice, the team’s youngest member.

Sixth Time’s the Charm for Arkansas Women

With a new player and added mental toughness, this team is hoping this is their year

By Kaitlyn Brown/USTA Southern Intern

National Senior Games winner
Diane Werner.

Kaitlyn Brown/USTA Southern

The 4.5 Women of Arkansas are hoping that six is their lucky number, because this year will be the sixth time they have made it to the USTA League Southern Section Championship without advancing to Nationals.

“Each time we learn a little bit more and are a little more experienced,” stated Tamara McColey, the team’s captain. McColey explained that this year the team is working on mental toughness. Hoping to strengthen everyone’s mental game, McColey sends her team articles and quotes she finds on mental toughness.

Today, the team was reviewing a quote that Billie Jean King said to Maria Sharpova the morning of the 2008 Australia Open, “Champions adjust, and pressure is a privilege.” This team feels that physical toughness can only take you so far, and you must be mentally prepared for the game as well in order to succeed.

The newest member of this Arkansas team might be exactly what they need to make it to nationals this year. Diane Werner competed in the National Senior Games – a.k.a. the Senior Olympics – at Stanford University last year and won the first place. Not only did she do well in tennis, but she also qualified for swimming and badminton as well. Werner has been playing tennis for about 10 years. She took up the sport when she turned 40, but had to take a few years off when she had back surgery.  

Other than Werner, most of these ladies have been together for over 10 years and have grown very close. “I’ve got eleven mothers,” joked Elisabet Jestice, the team’s youngest member.

Over the years, this team has started a tradition of giving away an MVP award at the end of the season. Every year the prize is something different that has been picked up during a team member’s travels. In the past, it has come from Africa, Brazil, Argentina and Hawaii. This year, the MVP award is a painted lizard from Key West. “We usually end up giving it to the singles players, because it’s hot out there!” explained McColey.

These women are hoping the MVP prize will not be the only reward for their hard work this year, and that they will finally make it all the way to Nationals.