Sunday, February 19, 2012

Player Spotlight: Alex Potts

Alex Potts
  • 4.0 Level
  • 23 years old
  • Geospatial Intelligence - Airforce
Gladiator Highlights
  • 17 career wins
  • 1548 career wildcard points
  • 2011 Division winner - 3.5 Near East
  • 2010 & 2011 playoff qualifier
Alex had played all four years of high school, but had lost the desire to compete by the time college started.  In his 3rd year of college, Alex found out about the league through word of mouth when the league started in it's first year, 2007.  He had been out of the game for about three years when he heard about it.  He could only play when home from college in the summer seasons but it sounded like fun.  The prospect of a league where there were no set schedules interested him, because it allowed for the flexibility of playing around his work schedule.

Alex had so much fun the first few seasons that he discovered his competitive drive once again, and with Gladiator Tennis as a motivation he lost sixty pounds over the next two years in a drive to not just play, but to compete.  As he emerged into better shape, his game improved also.  Alex finished the 2011 season by moving up from 3.5 to 4.0 in his final season, and winning a couple rounds in the playoffs. 

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Player Spotlight: Scott Risley

Scott Risley
  • 5.0 level
  • 40 years old  
  • Future medical professional
 Gladiator Highlights
  • 13 seasons played
  • 46 career wins
  • 3953 career wildcard points earned
  • Playoff qualifier every year since 2007
  • Best playoff finish - 2008 Champion for 4.5
Scott found out about Gladiator Tennis in 2007 when a friend told him that a league was being formed.  Scott started playing tennis at age 14, but only played tennis in high school and had been out of the game for about 15 years.  His initial interest was just to be happy to find some players to hit with, as very few people he knew played tennis.

After starting out at the 3.5 level in 2007, Scott's competitive juices began flowing and he was motivated to continue to improve his game.  He has improved to the point of reaching the 5.0 level this past season, 2011.  Scott must have some natural talent for tennis, because he has never actually taken a professional lesson, and is pretty much self taught.  Scott says, "No matter your age or experience level, you can get back in the game and improve it with Gladiator Tennis!"  He is living proof.