Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — While the 138 players at the 2007 Intermountain Senior Sec-

tional Tennis Championships provided some great matches, they may have given Tennis Center Director Jim Swiggart something even more.

The Tennis Center has hosted sectionals like the Senior Championships for 12 years.

After the feedback Swiggart got Friday and Saturday, he's thinking it might be time to step up the competition.

"Our players this week play lots of national events," Swiggart said. "After the play this weekend, they've encouraged us to host national events because the facility is so nice."

While Swiggart said he's always thought of putting a bid in to host a national event, he thinks now it might be a reality.

"We've held sectionals for 12 years now," he said. "With the new complex and with the administrations commitment, I think it's possible. I always knew if we built a facility the way we wanted it would help us to possibly attract a national event."

Swiggart said the earliest a national tournament could be expected at the Tennis Center would be in 2009.

While that's still a year and a half away, Saturday players from Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, Montana, Utah and Wyoming all praised the facility and its possibilities.

"This is a top notch facility," said Kevin Kavanah, a player from Monument. "With the renovations inside and the settings outside, tennis centers don't get much better."

Kavanah, who will play in the 50s single division championship today, said the Tennis Center's one of the top facilities he's played at.

Still, Kavanah wasn't sure if the Tennis Center would be able to hold a national tournament because it employs a slew of outdoor clay courts and hard courts inside.

Swiggart said that wouldn't be a problem because with a national tournament, they'd primarily focus the play on either the hard court or the clay court.

"The indoor courts are perfectly lit," said Peter Walters, a player from Boulder who has played at indoor courts in more than half a dozen states. "It was constructed perfectly and it has wonderful surfaces."

Although the compliments and future of the Tennis Center highlighted Saturday, the play from several locals also garnered attention.

Three doubles teams from Steamboat or with a member from Steamboat advanced to today's finals.

Locals David Lorenzen and Patrice Lorenzen advanced to the consolation finals of the mixed 45 doubles.

In 60 mixed doubles, Steam-

boat residents Kathi Skytta and Paul Hughes also advanced to the consolation finals.

Swiggart, along with partner Gale Howard from Boulder, advanced to the championship finals in the 55 doubles.

Play continues at 8 a.m. today at the Tennis Center.