Westgate Tennis Center impresses Southwest Zone coaches

By Jon Johnson

Published: July 5, 2008

If first impressions are indeed everlasting, then Greg and Nancine Haywood of Ventura, Calif., will forever think fondly of the Westgate Tennis Center.
“Absolutely amazing,” Greg said. “First class. Very impressive.”

“In Southern California, where you have a lot of money and a lot of tennis players, you’re not going to see this,” Nancine said of the facility. “Unbelievable.”

The Haywoods — husband and wife — are coaches in Dothan this week for the United States Tennis Association boys and girls Southwest Zone Team Championships starting today and lasting through Thursday at the Westgate Tennis Center.

There are 120 total players competing as boys and girls ages 14 and under are representing teams from the Midwest, Southwest, Southern California and Northern California in team competition.

There are 10 teams represented, with six boys and six girls on each team. They will play singles and doubles competitions throughout the week, with the two teams compiling the most points squaring off in the title match on Thursday.

The Haywoods are tennis instructors at the Pierpont Racquet club, a top-notch private facility in Ventura with 12 courts.

“There are about 90,000 people on Ventura, and there’s one (public) facility with 8 or 10 courts, and then there’s Pierpont,” Greg said.

The Haywoods said the Dothan facility with 16 clay courts is as nice as they’ve ever seen, especially for a public court.

“This is just special,” Nancine said.

Nikko Madregallejo, a 13-year-old on one of the Southern Cal teams, is playing in his third zone championships, but making his first stop in Dothan.

“Every time we get to the zonals, it’s exciting,” Madregallejo said. “You get to compete and you want to do better for your team and self.
“You get to see how other people play and you learn to adjust.”

Madregallejo said he already knew the other players on his team from competing against them in tournaments throughout the year.

“This is my first time in the 14s, so I hope to get more experience by playing in this tournament,” he said.