CARY MAYOR & FORMER ALL-CONFERENCE PLAYER SQUARE OFF TO PROMOTE CARY’S CHAMPIONS LADDER
New Champions Ladder offers men and women the opportunity to compete in one league
CARY , NC – In the spirit of the infamous match between Bobby Riggs and Billie Jean King, the Town of Cary is presenting its own “Battle of the Sexes” on Saturday, October 10 when Cary Mayor Harold Weinbrecht takes on former All-Conference player Kristen James at the Cary Tennis Park at noon; the match is being held to promote Cary’s Champions Ladder, a new division in the Challenge Ladder program that enables men and women to compete for the “best of the best” in one league, instead of playing in separate leagues.
“Recently, some players have had difficulty finding leagues that give men and women the opportunity to play against each other, regardless of gender, said Cary Mayor Harold Weinbrecht. “Recognizing this challenge, the Town saw this as the perfect opportunity to create the Champions Ladder. I am looking forward to playing one of the top women players in the area, while helping fuel interest in the new ladder.”
Weinbrecht noted that the idea for the new ladder as well as the mayoral match was spawned by Raleigh resident Nancy Griffin, who initially approached the Town with the idea of men and women playing in a single league. While the Mayor had hoped to play Griffin in this inaugural match, she did not accept his invitation.
“I hope we can get together in the future,” Weinbrecht added.
An avid tennis fan, Mayor Weinbrecht boasted a state ranking nearly two decades prior to becoming Mayor. In addition, he served as the first men’s tennis coach at Cary Academy for three years. In 1991 and 1992, he was a United States Professional Tennis Association certified teacher. Today, the Mayor continues to hone his skills at Prestonwood Country Club, having played there since it opened. In his spare time, he also volunteers at a local school as a tennis instructor.
Born in Fairfax, VA in 1984, Kristen James attended the University of Virginia (UVA) and played varsity tennis on a full athletic scholarship. While competing at UVA, Kristen was ranked as high as No. 105 nationally in singles and No. 11 in doubles during the season. Kristen was twice named to the All-ACC Conference Team and was on the student-athlete honor roll all four years. In her spare time, Kristen enjoys hitting with junior national players at the Cary Tennis Park and is an active member of local alumni chapters.
Each year, the Cary Tennis Park Challenge Ladder offers players the opportunity to meet and compete against opponents of similar skill level. The current Champions Ladder ends December 6. Registration for the Winter Champions Ladder will begin December 7, 2009, and the ladder will run January 4 - March 7, 2010.
In case of rain, the match with the Mayor will be cancelled.
For more about the Challenge Ladder program, visit the Town’s Web site at www.townofcary.org.
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PRIMARY CONTACTS:
Sean Ferreira, Tennis Supervisor, (919) 462-2064
April Raphiou, Deputy Public Information Officer, (919) 481-5091
Susan Moran, Public Information Officer, (919) 460-4951
CARY , NC – In the spirit of the infamous match between Bobby Riggs and Billie Jean King, the Town of Cary is presenting its own “Battle of the Sexes” on Saturday, October 10 when Cary Mayor Harold Weinbrecht takes on former All-Conference player Kristen James at the Cary Tennis Park at noon; the match is being held to promote Cary’s Champions Ladder, a new division in the Challenge Ladder program that enables men and women to compete for the “best of the best” in one league, instead of playing in separate leagues.
“Recently, some players have had difficulty finding leagues that give men and women the opportunity to play against each other, regardless of gender, said Cary Mayor Harold Weinbrecht. “Recognizing this challenge, the Town saw this as the perfect opportunity to create the Champions Ladder. I am looking forward to playing one of the top women players in the area, while helping fuel interest in the new ladder.”
Weinbrecht noted that the idea for the new ladder as well as the mayoral match was spawned by Raleigh resident Nancy Griffin, who initially approached the Town with the idea of men and women playing in a single league. While the Mayor had hoped to play Griffin in this inaugural match, she did not accept his invitation.
“I hope we can get together in the future,” Weinbrecht added.
An avid tennis fan, Mayor Weinbrecht boasted a state ranking nearly two decades prior to becoming Mayor. In addition, he served as the first men’s tennis coach at Cary Academy for three years. In 1991 and 1992, he was a United States Professional Tennis Association certified teacher. Today, the Mayor continues to hone his skills at Prestonwood Country Club, having played there since it opened. In his spare time, he also volunteers at a local school as a tennis instructor.
Born in Fairfax, VA in 1984, Kristen James attended the University of Virginia (UVA) and played varsity tennis on a full athletic scholarship. While competing at UVA, Kristen was ranked as high as No. 105 nationally in singles and No. 11 in doubles during the season. Kristen was twice named to the All-ACC Conference Team and was on the student-athlete honor roll all four years. In her spare time, Kristen enjoys hitting with junior national players at the Cary Tennis Park and is an active member of local alumni chapters.
Each year, the Cary Tennis Park Challenge Ladder offers players the opportunity to meet and compete against opponents of similar skill level. The current Champions Ladder ends December 6. Registration for the Winter Champions Ladder will begin December 7, 2009, and the ladder will run January 4 - March 7, 2010.
In case of rain, the match with the Mayor will be cancelled.
For more about the Challenge Ladder program, visit the Town’s Web site at www.townofcary.org.
###
PRIMARY CONTACTS:
Sean Ferreira, Tennis Supervisor, (919) 462-2064
April Raphiou, Deputy Public Information Officer, (919) 481-5091
Susan Moran, Public Information Officer, (919) 460-4951
