In 1903, the Manheim Tennis Club became an official organization, offering a place for people who loved the sport to come together for camaraderie and competition. After 120 years in operation, the club featured its first women's United States Tennis Association (USTA) team this year, and the team proved it was worth the wait.

The team won the Central Penn Division Championship at the Hempfield recCenter in August and competed in sectionals near Princeton, N.J., earlier this month. Although they didn't take home a trophy there, the players were happy with their first year in the competition, said Denny Keller, secretary/treasurer of the club.

"As the club was marking its 120th anniversary, one of the ladies decided to put together a USTA team for the first time," he recalled. "Getting to advance to sectionals was a really big accomplishment. The competition at that level is tough."

The Manheim team included 17 women, all age 40 and older. Thirteen players traveled to sectionals, where they competed against teams from Philadelphia and Pittsburgh as well as Delaware and New Jersey.

Club member Rene Battista initially came up with the idea to form a USTA women's team, and Nancy Hanula helped to recruit members.

"Most of the ladies didn't know each other before this, and most had never met before they started practicing together," Hanula shared. That added a bit of a challenge to the sport, especially when the women played doubles, where knowing your partner well is a plus.

Although the Manheim Tennis Club is officially 120 years old, its roots date back to 1899 when it was a men's-only club. Its current location, at 350 Memorial Drive, next to the Manheim Central football stadium, has been in use since 1923.

The club accepts members of all ages and ability levels, with discounted membership for anyone in school, including college students, and the organization is always looking for new members.

"It's a nice, small club, with good competition," said Keller of the club, which has 92 members, 22 of whom are women. "We've had a lot of men's teams over the years go to nationals." Members range in age from 16 to 95, although the oldest active member is 82, Keller commented.

The club operates almost year-round, stopping only once the winter weather prohibits playing on the courts that are made with Har-Tru, a crushed stone. "We usually start up in mid-April and run until December, but we have played as late as Jan. 2," said Keller, who also handles ground maintenance for the club. Games are held on the courts five or six days a week, and the club also hosts various tournaments.

"The great thing about this club is you can play as much as you want for one fee," Hanula remarked, adding that the women's team has a goal of competing in sectionals again next year. "It's also a nice social opportunity to meet people and to get out and stay active."

Keller encourages anyone who is interested to check out the club. "It's free to come out and see if you like it," he said. "Try out our courts and see what you think. You can still join this year, or you're welcome to wait until the spring and look to join us then."

For more information on the Manheim Tennis Club, visit http://www.manheimtennisclub.com.