MONROE - This weekend will be a farewell of sorts for Monroe's Kevin Monahan. He has played in 40 Monroe City Singles tournaments and today will be his final singles tournament.
Monahan, 63, has won the men's Class A men's city singles tournament five times in his four decades of playing tennis. The last time he won the championship was in 2005 when he defeated Al Schroeder. Now, after battling a torn meniscus and one week before he turns 64, he will walk away from playing in singles tennis tournaments after this weekend.
The 46th annual city singles tennis tournament starts today at Recreation Park.
"I think the time has come," Monahan said. "I still love the game and I will probably still play with my son. Playing competitively, (my knee) hurts. I used to rely on my quickness. I'm almost 64 and with my meniscus, it's not good for a singles player."
Both Kevin Monahan and his son Matt Monahan will play in the class A men's city singles tournament today.
"It's really a shame," said Brad Saugstad, the tournament director. "He's one of those players who have played a lot. He's been in a lot of tournaments and I bet some of the first few. It's sad he won't be in any more singles tournaments. I'm sure he will still be around watching. He's still a really good player. I hope he still plays doubles."
The class A men's city singles tournament features seven players highlighted by Schroeder, who has won the championship three straight years and 11 times total. Joe Soddy, last year's runner-up, also is back vying to win the championship.
Monahan recalls decades ago when former Monroe boys tennis coach Jim Bartholf launched the city tennis tournament that drew 20 or 25 players in some classes and included a 35-and-older division. Bartholf started the city singles tennis tournament 46 years ago as a way to get more children playing tennis.
"It was really loaded," Monahan said. "It was always full of people. Bart was really good about always getting people to play."
Monahan said there were times when Bartholf had to turn some players away because the tournament was so full of players.
Now, the city singles tennis tournament sets a minimum of 16 players per flight. Many of the flights have dwindled in numbers over the past two decades.
Saugstad, the Monroe High School girls tennis coach, said the participation numbers in the tennis tournaments have declined due to the emergence of other sports and opportunities in the summer in Monroe.
"There are more sports now," Saugstad said. "Thirty-plus years ago soccer wasn't here and wasn't as big as it is now. The numbers for our high school boys tennis team have been down the last couple of years. Their numbers have been down and our numbers have been down."
After all these years, Monahan said, he still loves playing tennis.
"It's good exercise," Monahan said. "A tournament like this brings out the best in you. When you are competitive you dig a little deeper."
Monahan, 63, has won the men's Class A men's city singles tournament five times in his four decades of playing tennis. The last time he won the championship was in 2005 when he defeated Al Schroeder. Now, after battling a torn meniscus and one week before he turns 64, he will walk away from playing in singles tennis tournaments after this weekend.
The 46th annual city singles tennis tournament starts today at Recreation Park.
"I think the time has come," Monahan said. "I still love the game and I will probably still play with my son. Playing competitively, (my knee) hurts. I used to rely on my quickness. I'm almost 64 and with my meniscus, it's not good for a singles player."
Both Kevin Monahan and his son Matt Monahan will play in the class A men's city singles tournament today.
"It's really a shame," said Brad Saugstad, the tournament director. "He's one of those players who have played a lot. He's been in a lot of tournaments and I bet some of the first few. It's sad he won't be in any more singles tournaments. I'm sure he will still be around watching. He's still a really good player. I hope he still plays doubles."
The class A men's city singles tournament features seven players highlighted by Schroeder, who has won the championship three straight years and 11 times total. Joe Soddy, last year's runner-up, also is back vying to win the championship.
Monahan recalls decades ago when former Monroe boys tennis coach Jim Bartholf launched the city tennis tournament that drew 20 or 25 players in some classes and included a 35-and-older division. Bartholf started the city singles tennis tournament 46 years ago as a way to get more children playing tennis.
"It was really loaded," Monahan said. "It was always full of people. Bart was really good about always getting people to play."
Monahan said there were times when Bartholf had to turn some players away because the tournament was so full of players.
Now, the city singles tennis tournament sets a minimum of 16 players per flight. Many of the flights have dwindled in numbers over the past two decades.
Saugstad, the Monroe High School girls tennis coach, said the participation numbers in the tennis tournaments have declined due to the emergence of other sports and opportunities in the summer in Monroe.
"There are more sports now," Saugstad said. "Thirty-plus years ago soccer wasn't here and wasn't as big as it is now. The numbers for our high school boys tennis team have been down the last couple of years. Their numbers have been down and our numbers have been down."
After all these years, Monahan said, he still loves playing tennis.
"It's good exercise," Monahan said. "A tournament like this brings out the best in you. When you are competitive you dig a little deeper."
