Longboat Key Tennis Center women bid farewell to season with festive frivolity

By Dana Kampa
| 5:10 p.m. March 23, 2025

Sandra Duryea keeps her eye on the ball through shamrock sunglasses.

Longboat Key
Neighbors

Spirits and wind speeds were high as the women of Longboat Key's tennis scene partook in some holiday-inspired frivolity to celebrate the end of the season.

Split into two teams, the tennis players joined some friendly but fierce competition in several rounds of skills-based games.

Jackie Gibbins, one of the board directors of the Friends of Tennis and event orchestrators with Sandy Schonhoff, said the group typically plans its fun day at the beginning of the busy season, giving everyone time to catch up from any travel.

However, the October hurricanes delayed the get-together, which was rescheduled to March 17 and embraced a St. Patrick's Day theme.

The teams squared off for points in best costume, best skit and the various physical challenges.

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Gibbins put them through their paces. Participants had to attempt catching a tennis ball in a small cone, volleying the ball to their teammates multiple times before attempting to score, and playing in doubles pairs.

While everyone got in the competitive spirit, they agreed it was all in good fun.

Attendees said they especially enjoyed the coordinated song and dance prepared by Ellen Zimmerman.

Felice Marcus serves at the Friends of Tennis women's party at the end of the season.

Team "Ellen & The Dublin Down the Tracks" celebrates a victory.

Team Lucky in Love: Lily Johnson, Amy Heeter, MJ Waite, Betsy Tavernier, Sue Campbell and Penny Thomas; Upper center: Rhonda Snow; Lower center: Felice Marcus

Team Ellen & The Dublin Down the Tracks: Patti Pizzo, Sandra Duryea, Audra Ramsey, Linda Steen, Ellen Zimmerman, Sandy Schonhoff, Jennifer Maita, and Karen Kurgan.

Friends of Tennis board member Jackie Gibbins keeps up the tempo as the women's end-of-season party.

Lily Johnson races to get underneath an incoming tennis ball with her cone.

author

Dana Kampa

Dana Kampa is the Longboat Key neighbors reporter for the Observer. She first ventured into journalism in her home state of Wisconsin, going on to report community stories everywhere from the snowy mountains of Washington State to the sunny shores of the Caribbean. She has been a writer and photographer for more than a decade, covering what matters most to readers.