20th Anniversary Spotlight:
Jim Nichols & Crew

This week's 20th Anniversary Spotlight showcases one of our most consistent permanent court time groups. Over the past 17 years, Jim Nichols has brought a community to our courts that reaches a key part of our organization’s mission: bring people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds together to embrace the lifelong game of tennis. He recruits and assigns teams the same way a college coach does. Now 92, he and the six other players I sat down with, continue to enjoy the physical benefits of the sport of tennis in their weekly, sometimes more, group tennis. They also remind us that a competitive edge and some playful banter is necessary to keep having fun on the court. It was like sharing a morning coffee with your longtime pals that you hadn’t seen in a few years except it felt like no time had passed. Enjoy this interview with Jim Nichols & Crew- Steve McCue, Tom Glennon, Tom Colaizy, Michael Binder, Dave McNally, and John King! 

Q: Jim, can you explain how your group tennis started?  
Jim: When Lilydale closed in 2004, we came over to Fred Wells. At the time, when we finished playing tennis, there would always be someone here that we knew from Lilydale. The teams are made and scheduled by me. As we got new players, they would play as subs for a few times, so l could figure out their level. Then, we would have them play together by their skill level. At one time, we had 21 foursomes! From January 1 to Memorial Day, there are more people getting out of the winter. Right now, we have 15 foursomes. I always try to keep people playing even when they get to be 90 years old! Jackson Farley’s grandfather, Kevin, played until he was 93.  
Everyone vocalizes Jim’s impact on setting all of this up. He’s done so since 2005! Sometimes it happens organically. Like today, John was here getting his racket restrung and filled in to give them an even number. With people snow birding and being out of town, there needs to be someone to organize all of these groups, and Jim is that person.  

Q: How did you get started playing tennis?  
Tom C: I was about 25 at a summer camp, and I picked up a racket. That was the first time I played. I started playing handball down at the Y on Cedar Ave in 1967. 
Tom G: My wife had a group at church and the ladies would bring their husbands over. I started playing with the guys I met there, and we’ve played tennis for 45 years. It is addicting.  
John: I started on local courts at Baker Playground. They’re probably about 100 years old. But it was a very lively group, all ages, and we were known as the Baker Boys. 
Michael: I started very young, around 7th or 8th grade but just playing in the summer. I moved around a lot and some places would be more conducive for playing, some of the courts were not as accessible. I did get away from it for a while. When I turned 50, I said I better do something and started playing tennis again. It has paid off. I believe it has helped my health instrumentally.  
John does say Michael, “needs to work on his eye sight!” 
Jim: I was 40 years old when I first picked up a racquet. Before that, I was just playing golf. We’d leave at 10am and not get home until 8pm so it was taking too much time. We went over to Eagandale Tennis Club and were the third group to ever play there. The thought at that point was that we could play tennis, and it would only take a couple hours. This big tennis group started in my son’s backyard in Inver Grove. We would play there for years until we went to Lilydale and then here. On Monday, we would play in the afternoon, then we’d stay, eat, and watch Monday Night Football. That was 50 years ago.  
Steve: I started playing during college, and then, I played handball and racquetball.  
Dave: I have my neighbor to thank. We played badminton and that became tennis. That young kid, Rob French, became the head of racquetball at Lilydale. 

Q: What are your earliest memories from playing here?  
Tom: We were just so excited that you existed and that it was a good deal! 
Dave: I came from the 3M league. There was someone in Jim’s group that mentioned it to me that maybe there was an opening for me. He brought over a few of us.  
John: I played at SPUT but my brother played in Jim’s group. I teamed up with Dan Shannon’s dad, our first Executive Director, who I won a ProAm with. 
Michael: I decided I needed to stop slipping on ice and get inside. I’ve played with Jim for about five or six years. 

Q: Anything else you want to share about your time playing with us?  
Tom: Had I not come here, 2 of my grandkids would not have had the benefit of playing with Jackson and David. My kids definitely appreciate the good coaching here. When I had cataract surgery 5 years ago, I came back with 20/20 vision so I kid at people that I became public enemy #1.  
John: He’s right! People don’t even look down and call the ball out.  
Dave: The people behind the desk have been exceptionally good. 
Michael: One of the big things was meeting so many new people. I was not familiar with anyone here other than my wife’s family so the only people I’ve met have been through tennis and playing here. I also made a couple enemies and sore losers.  
Tom G: I yelled at all four of you today and no one turned around! Everyone had their hearing aids turned off! But anyways, Jim was the first one to have organized play like this. The matches were always filled with people. 
Steve: Everyone needs to give Jimmy a round of applause. He calls people at 9pm, and you have to have someone with that passion to do all of this.