SUMMER 2009 - the Colorado Tennis Association
SUMMER 2009 - the Colorado Tennis Association
SUMMER 2009 - the Colorado Tennis Association
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pa g e 26<br />
colorado tennis <strong>SUMMER</strong> <strong>2009</strong><br />
celebrating lives well lived<br />
<strong>the</strong>re are more than a dozen memorial events in <strong>the</strong> colorado sanctioned tournament schedule.<br />
we wanted to introduce you to a few of <strong>the</strong> people whose lives are commemorated by <strong>the</strong>se<br />
annual celebrations. part 2 of a series.<br />
F<br />
or more than 30 years, <strong>the</strong> name Ted<br />
Swenson has been synonymous with<br />
tournament tennis. From its humble<br />
beginnings at Mountain Shadows in Golden<br />
in 1977, <strong>the</strong> Ted Swenson Super Senior<br />
Tournament has afforded senior tennis players<br />
<strong>the</strong> opportunity to act <strong>the</strong>ir age. The annual<br />
event is a living testament to its namesake, a<br />
man affectionately known as <strong>Colorado</strong>'s Mr.<br />
Super Senior, who passed away more than a<br />
decade ago.<br />
The Athlete<br />
Ted Swenson was a natural athlete, as<br />
straight and svelte at 80 years old as he was<br />
in his college days where he starred in tennis,<br />
basketball and track at <strong>the</strong> University of Iowa.<br />
A self-taught player, Ted placed second in both<br />
singles and doubles in <strong>the</strong> Big Ten Conference<br />
championships. For good measure, he also<br />
earned a silver medal in <strong>the</strong> 440 and a<br />
bronze in <strong>the</strong> high jump, and was a member<br />
of <strong>the</strong> Iowa basketball squad that captured Big<br />
Ten Conference titles in 1923 and 1926.<br />
Graduating from <strong>the</strong> University of Iowa<br />
with a degree in journalism and a room full<br />
of trophies, Ted spent his post-graduate career<br />
The Ultimate Test Drive!<br />
Over 350 demo racquets in stock.<br />
photograph originally appeared in High Bounce<br />
teaching, coaching and training young athletes in Iowa, first at <strong>the</strong><br />
high school level and <strong>the</strong>n back at his alma mater. In his 40s, Ted<br />
began a career with <strong>the</strong> US Navy, working with naval cadets prior to<br />
<strong>the</strong>ir flight training, ultimately retiring as a Commander and embarking<br />
on a new career in academics in Chicago.<br />
Ted moved to Denver in 1968 to be closer to his daughter, and<br />
despite having not picked up a racquet in decades, he quickly<br />
rediscovered his talents when he finally did step back on <strong>the</strong> court in<br />
1973. But despite his acumen with a racquet, Ted (who was <strong>the</strong>n in<br />
his mid-70s) struggled to win in <strong>the</strong> oldest age bracket available, <strong>the</strong><br />
Men's 45s.<br />
"We kept getting waxed because of <strong>the</strong> tremendous age differentials,"<br />
remembered Ted. "And we certainly had no chance of winning<br />
against <strong>the</strong>se faster and stronger 'kids', 25 to 30 years our juniors."<br />
The Advocate<br />
So Ted set out to remedy this situation and establish peer competition<br />
by promoting, publicizing and advocating Super Senior tennis.<br />
He wrote a monthly column in <strong>Colorado</strong> <strong>Tennis</strong> newspaper (originally<br />
named High Bounce), and worked closely with national organizations<br />
to promote tennis among <strong>the</strong> 60 and over crowd.<br />
His impact has been huge, and lasting, as <strong>the</strong> number of players<br />
60 and older has exploded since Ted began promoting Super Senior<br />
tennis back in <strong>the</strong> 1970s.<br />
"We want more of <strong>the</strong> Super Seniors to play," said Ted in a 1980<br />
interview. "I know it's good for <strong>the</strong>m – <strong>the</strong>ir health, physical and mental<br />
– look at me," smiles <strong>the</strong> slim, trim Ted. "I know I'm in better shape<br />
than most of my non-tennis contermporaries."<br />
Depsite his athletic prowess and consistent ranking as one of <strong>the</strong> top senior players in <strong>the</strong><br />
state, Ted was quick to point out that for many Super Seniors, tennis was more than wins and<br />
losses. "Most of us are not that interested in winning anymore. We enjoy <strong>the</strong> camaraderie<br />
and <strong>the</strong> ego satisfaction of still being able to be out <strong>the</strong>re – for us, it is also a big social<br />
event."<br />
The Event<br />
Despite helping to define tennis as a lifetime sport, <strong>the</strong> future of <strong>the</strong> Ted Swenson Super<br />
Senior was up in <strong>the</strong> air until just recently. For <strong>the</strong> first time since 1981, <strong>the</strong> Swenson will be<br />
hosted by a facility o<strong>the</strong>r than Rolling Hill Country Club in Golden. Just last month, Rolling<br />
Hills notified USTA <strong>Colorado</strong> that is will not be able to host this year's Swenson, but thanks<br />
to a concerted effort by former tournament director Joe Thompson and USTA <strong>Colorado</strong><br />
Tournament Director Jason Colter, a new home has been found for <strong>the</strong> 33-year-old event. This<br />
year, <strong>the</strong> Ted Swenson Super Senior will be hosted by Pinehurst Country Club in Denver, who<br />
will help carry on <strong>the</strong> legacy of both <strong>the</strong> tournament and <strong>the</strong> man whose name graced <strong>the</strong><br />
trophies. A gentleman, an athlete and a passionate advocate for <strong>the</strong> sport. 3<br />
lovers<br />
Serving tennis players X since 1993