By By EDWIN MODLIN II
edwin@wdnweb.com
Staff Writer
Playing tennis and loving it is what it’s all about for local athlete Muriel Moore, a recipient of the North Carolina Tennis Association’s Adult Sportsmanship Award (male).
The U.S. Tennis Association honored 39 award recipients at the 2010 N.C. Tennis Annual Awards ceremony held Jan. 29 at the Pinehurst Resort’s Carolina Inn.
Mary Lloyd Barbera, public relations coordinator for the NCTA, said each year the NCTA honors deserving individuals and organizations during an awards luncheon held in conjunction with the Tennis Weekend workshop.
“We have 40 annual awards we give out each year,” Barbera said. “They range everywhere from all kinds of awards for players, sportsmanship and so forth.”
She added their playing time line is not just seasonal, but one that goes all the way up to the national level.
She pointed out that Moore has been an avid lover of tennis for the past 15 or so years, and he spends many hours at the Washington Racquet Club with his tennis partner, Robert Dunn.
“He (Moore) won the Adult (male) Sportsmanship Award in honor of John T. ‘Jack’ Warmath,” Barbera said. “And those who know Muriel say that he is such a nice guy and very humble.”
Moore, who was nominated for the award by his daughter Heather Thienpot, said he was surprised at being selected for the award.
“I just love to play tennis,” he said. “I’ll go down to the Washington Racquet Club and play for a while. It’s just such a great sport that anyone can play and have fun doing.”
He said the award means a lot to him because he is trying to get more young people to take up the sport, adding that it’s a great way to keep in shape and have fun.
“I’ll see some of the older guys go to the club and play for a bit,” he said. “And I just think, ‘That’s how I want to be when I’m 80 years old. I want to be able to still play, and play like they do.’”
Moore, who turns 60 in March, said it’s hard for him to believe he’s that old. He and Dunn have been tennis partners for seven years.
“We’ll go down to the club and play against other teams,” he said.
Moore said there are usually about 10 or 12 teams there, though not all at once, providing a team to play against at nearly any given time.
Barbera said USTA North Carolina is proud to recognize supporters who have made outstanding contributions to the promotion and support of tennis in North Carolina.
“Tennis truly thrives in North Carolina because of our many dedicated players and supporters,” Barbera said. “Without the loyalty of players, officials, volunteers, friends and family, tennis would not be in the great shape it is here in North Carolina.”
According to Barbera, the NCTA is a nonprofit organization that is the USTA affiliate in North Carolina.
“It (NCTA) was founded in 1973, and since that time has focused on its singular mission, which is to promote and develop the game of tennis in North Carolina,” she said.
For more information about tennis in North Carolina or on how to become a USTA member, visit www.nctennis.com or contact Judy Parker at 252-413-9108.