Congratulations to Hertiseen Bradley for winning the 2013 Gladiator of the Year! Hertiseen won the award by her excellent performance over all 3 outdoor seasons, plus referring 8 players into the league. Here’s her tennis story:
“I started taking tennis lessons over four years ago. I was looking for an activity that would keep me active and one that I would enjoy well into my twilight years.
When I first picked up a tennis racquet it felt like the perfect fit for me. My first year of tennis was anything but graceful. I spent more time chasing balls over the fence then actually hitting them over the net. 4 years later, I can’t believe how competitive of a player I have become.
In the past I have shied away from playing singles until a friend told me about Gladiator. I thought if nothing else I could shed a few pounds in the hot sun. But the more games I played, the better and more competitive I became. Although I play more double matches then singles, I prefer singles because it is more of a mental and physical game. This past Summer I won my 1st Flossmoor Tennis Fest. I took 1st trophy in the Homewood place in the Women’s 3.0 Singles.
This league has allowed me to play more competitive tennis without having to spend a lot of money. It is an excellent way to improve your game without your losses affecting your rating in other leagues. It is also a great way to network with other players without having to join a club.
I made a commitment this year to take my game to the next level and to encourage others who wanted to improve their game by joining Gladiator. And I guess my efforts paid off, because I am honored to be Gladiator of the Year for 2013.”
Tom played table tennis for many years in the USATTA. He had reached a very high level but was unable to improve enough to contend with the elite players in the country unless he played 4 times a week. He did not have that amount of time, so he decided to take up another sport that would challenge him. His uncle, Jozef Gola played tennis and offered to help him learn the sport. For two years, Jozef patiently trained Tom until he was able to compete. Tom says, “I really feel indebted to my uncle for teaching me the game. He believed in me. It must have been boring for him at first, since I had trouble even keeping the ball in play. But he was very patient, and spent a lot of time on the court with me, even indoors in the winter. I would not be able to play and enjoy the game today if it were not for my uncle Jozef.”
Tom’s first foray into competition was with another league, but he found it frustrating because the players were difficult to schedule matches with. Jozef had been playing Gladiator Tennis and suggested he try it. So Tom joined the league in the spring of 2013, and what a great first year he had! Tom finished with the 2nd highest number of points in the 4.0 skill level, plus he referred players and received many “excellent” ratings from others on his initiative and responsiveness in scheduling matches. Adding all of that up together earned him the Gladiator of the Year Award for 2013!
Tom says, “I really enjoy Gladiator Tennis because you are guaranteed 7 matches to play each season. I also like the players I have met, and it’s a great opportunity for me to compete and improve my tennis.”
This is Zach’s 3rd time as 5.0 Champion. He also won in 2008 and 2010, and was Gladiator of the Year in 2008 and 2011. Zach is our in-house teaching pro, providing lessons to Gladiator players in the Naperville/Aurora & tri-cities areas.
“Growing up I really didn’t play much tennis, only 2 summers in the parks and recreation league when I was 11/12. I tried out for the team at Quincy University 8 years later on a chance encounter with the coach and found myself playing 4 seasons of Division II tennis. I went from a 2-12 record my freshman year to making All Conference in my senior year. After that I didn’t pick up a racket for 3 years until another chance encounter put me in front of a Gladiator flier at Potbelly in Naperville. Since then I have played 4 full years (would have been 6 but for injuries). I really love the Gladiator league for two reasons: Flexibility of scheduling and the constant growing and changing competition. There is a place for players of all skill levels.”
Bo was the Ping-Pong champion for boy's elemental school tournament of Penglai County in Shandong, China in November 1973. After coming to USA in 1990, Bo fell in love with tennis, something that was similar to Ping-Pong, but a lot more fun for him. He bought his first tennis racquet in 1995. Bo says tennis is a great way to relieve stress, it’s never boring, and it’s a great workout.
Some of the highlights of Bo’s tennis career since then include coaching his two sons to become high school tennis team players, and being a part of 2 championship team for the Wimbledon Club of Palos Heights: 2012 Illiana Indoor 3.5 and 2013 Jack Barry Indoor 3.5. Bo has been a top 4 player in summer MACRO (Mid America Chinese Recreational Organization) tennis open 3 times: 2008, 2011, and 2012.
Bo found Gladiator Tennis though his own web search in late 2011 and started playing in the Spring of 2012. Bo says “I enjoy Gladiator Tennis because it has been an opportunity to meet more players, get used to different styles of play, and make new friends. Gladiator offers reasonable price, flexible scheduling, and short driving distances for matches.”
Kevin started with us way back in our first year, 2007. It would be difficult to outdo what he accomplished this year – winner of the Family Doubles charity event, finalist in the Gladiator Doubles Event, and 4.5 Champion.
“I got interested in tennis at a young age because I had two aunts who liked to play. I hit with them for years as practice. I had no formal lessons. My first organized competition was in high school where I played #1 singles my junior and senior years. I did not play in college and for several years after that. I got excited about tennis again when I saw a flyer at the Fry Family YMCA in Naperville (where League Coordinator Steve Hess was a member)! I signed up for Gladiator Tennis almost immediately and have been playing for several seasons since then.
I enjoy playing competitive tennis again but even better than that, I've enjoyed meeting so many great people who love the game. It's not uncommon for me to hit several times with other Gladiator players during the week between matches. I love the flexibility in schedule and have always been impressed with the conduct of the players!”
Carrie’s first competitive tennis match was in 2009 when she started playing Gladiator Tennis as a 3.0 player. She had taken a few tennis lessons as a young child, but by the time she was 8 years old she decided she preferred soccer and wanted to devote as much time as possible learning and playing the game. She played competitive soccer throughout her childhood and played Division I soccer at Miami of Ohio. After graduating college and working for a few years, Carrie decided to pursue a law degree and decided tennis would be a great outlet from the rigors of law school. She stumbled upon a Gladiator Tennis flyer at a Jimmy Johns in Naperville and thought she would give it a try.
After her first Gladiator season, Carrie realized there was no turning back. She became hooked on tennis and started taking lessons from Leandro Martins at Wheaton Sports Center to further develop her game. She eventually moved up to the 3.5 and then 4.0 Divisions and joined a USTA team after a fellow Gladiator invited her to join a team.
After graduating law school and beginning her career as lawyer, Carrie continued to play and worked hard to improve her game. In 2013, her 4.0 USTA team won the State and Sectional Championships and advanced to the National Championships in Tucson, AZ. Carrie described the experience as “once in lifetime” and credits Gladiator Tennis to getting her involved in the game. When asked what she enjoys most about playing Gladiator Carrie said, “The people. I have met so many awesome friends through Gladiator. I am just so happy I noticed that flyer and decided to play!”
I discovered tennis in my mid-30's, in 2006, after having given up basketball because I kept getting injured. I instantly became addicted to tennis. I lived in Champaign, IL and learned how to play at the park district tennis center, where I took lessons, went to workouts, and joined leagues. I started out in the beginner's league and slowly worked my way up through the Bronze, Silver, and Gold league. After many seasons at the bottom of the Gold, I finally managed to win that league. I also made a lot of great friends through tennis.
This summer I relocated to Evanston, and although I was moving, starting a new job, getting married, and otherwise turning my life upside down, my biggest worry was whether I would be able to find a good tennis community in my new home. I googled "Chicago suburban tennis league" and Gladiator popped up. It seemed like the perfect solution. For only $35 I could be a part of a league with schedules, scores, points, standings, and playoffs! (I'm a huge numbers nerd.) This turned out to be a great way to meet other tennis players and get to know the local tennis community. Through the connections I've made in Gladiator, I've become involved with other groups. I currently play in three different leagues, but Gladiator is the only singles league I'm in, which is my favorite kind of tennis. The guys I've played in Gladiator have been really friendly and I've enjoyed lots of fun, hard-fought matches.
My goal when I joined Gladiator was not to embarrass myself. My first session (in the summer) I did okay, getting third place in my division. My goal entering the fall session was to make the playoffs. I won all 7 of my fall matches (avenging two of my summer losses) and won my division. Once I made the playoffs, I never dreamed that I would win the whole thing! This is by far the biggest tennis accomplishment of my life. I look forward to moving up to the next level and testing myself there.
Before tennis, I was a competitive swimmer for several years. Disappointed that my high school did not have a swim team, I started looking for another sport in which I could participate. Our high school tennis team was small and actively looking for additional members of any skill level. Although, I struggled for the first few years, I worked hard and continued to dedicate time to improving my tennis skills. I enjoyed the sport so much, I continued to play tennis throughout college. I participated in varsity tennis all four years and was ultimately named team captain during my senior year of college.
After college, I took a few years off from tennis. In 2010, I began looking for an opportunity to balance personal life with the intensity of medical school. Allowing me to play matches around my demanding schedule, Gladiator was a perfect fit.
I grew up playing tennis and played competitively through high school. Since that time, I rarely played until I discovered Gladiator in the fall of 2012 by way of an advertising flyer at a local pizza shop. I used the Fall 2012 season to see if I would like the format of the league and it has been an enjoyable experience based on the structure that Steve has created for Gladiator. The format of the league allows for extreme flexibility for all players to determine match times with busy personal schedules. There hasn't been a player that I've met from Gladiator that wasn't genuine and playing for the recreational nature of the sport.
Tennis has always been my passion. I didn't start playing competitively until I played in college at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. After college, and before kids, I played competitively on the indoor club circuit and various outdoor park district leagues in the city of Chicago. I had stepped away from it for several years while my kids were little, and was just too busy with their activities to find the time and money for me to play. I just got back into playing again a few years ago, and that is when I discovered Gladiator. Gladiator has been just the sort of thing what I was looking for; an affordable and fun way to get back into the game. This has been my 4th out door season with Gladiators and my first indoor season. I love it!
I have been interested in tennis for years. I started really watching and following the sport about 5 years ago. Just watching made me want to play so I decided to take lessons. I took my first lesson in August 2011. I discovered Gladiator through one of the pros at the Oak Park Tennis and Fitness Centre.
Until I joined Gladiator I had never played any real matches. My lack of experience showed because my first season in gladiator I lost my first six matches before winning my final match of that season. But then I turned a corner and went undefeated and won the summer and fall seasons, peaking at the right time as I entered the playoffs. Prior to winning the 3.0 playoffs for Gladiator, I also finished as a finalist in my very first tennis tournament in August, the Maywood Open.
I play in Gladiator because it’s a lot of fun, and convenient, and the flexibility with scheduling is great. I have met some good people while playing some competitive matches. The league is well organized and I can’t wait to play next season.
