Tiki Tennis players are running the Keys courts these days. For the third year in a row, the team of 11 female tennis players are champions of Monroe County, following a tournament victory in the last match over Key West at Hawks Cay last November.

Winning the county means a trip to Lake Nona, in Orlando, to compete against some of the best around the state for the Tri-Level Championships. It usually takes place in the last weekend in January, but with an ongoing pandemic, it won’t be until November.

Coaches Susie Jannach and Ed Bernard set up a drill during a Monday morning practice at the tennis courts at Founders Park. JIM McCARTHY/Keys Weekly

Nonetheless, Tiki Tennis coach Susie Jannach said the team continues to practice every Monday morning while still playing tournaments. This weekend, the players will be going on a trip for a little tennis and team building.

“They love this game,” Jannach said as she watched her team during serving drills. “They practice as if they could seven days a week. Some even play twice a day.”

Tiki Tennis Inc. manages all the tennis activities for the Village of Islamorada at Founders Park. It was founded in March 2015 by the U.S. Professional Tennis Association pros in Jannach and Greg Pearson. Tiki Tennis aims to maximize the use of the Founders Park tennis courts by offering recreational and competitive tennis programs and events  for all ages and skill levels.

Shirley Wilson, pictured foreground, and Margot Hanbury prepare to serve. JIM McCARTHY/Keys Weekly

The Tiki Tennis team saw success in 2018 when they beat Monroe County opponents in Ocean Reef, Marathon and Key West en route to state championships. That momentum carried into 2019 when they repeated as champions of Monroe County. Jannach said the team’s commitment to the game and competitive spirit are key drivers behind the success.

“When we get into those tough third-set (tie-)breakers, that type of experience really comes through,” Jannach said.

As coach, Jannach said she loves the strategy and camaraderie more than anything.

“We’re teaching them how to build points and have a little game plan, and court position of where to be and what to hit and what to expect coming back,” she said. “It’s strategy and mental toughness, and never giving up and realizing they can come back from anything one point at a time.”

The Tiki Tennis team is captained by Susan Latham and Karla Gable. The rest of the team is composed of Nancy Kirk, Suzy Fryman, Margot Hanbury, Lisa Smith, Elizabeth Baxter, Shirley Wilson, Ellen Dalton, Beth Daniels and Susan Towner. Ed Bernard coaches alongside Jannach.

Jim McCarthy is one of the many Western New Yorkers who escaped the snow and frigid temperatures for warm living by the water. A former crime & court reporter and city editor for two Western New York newspapers, Jim has been honing his craft since he graduated from St. Bonaventure University in 2014. In his 4-plus years in the Keys, Jim has enjoyed connecting with the community. “One of my college professors would always preach to be curious,” he said. “Behind every person is a story that’s unique to them, and one worth telling. As writers, we are the ones who paint the pictures in the readers minds of the emotions, the struggles and the triumphs.” Jim is past president of the Key Largo Sunset Rotary Club, which is composed of energetic members who serve the community’s youth and older populations. Jim is a sports fanatic who loves to watch football, hockey, mixed martial arts and golf. He also enjoys time with family and his new baby boy, Lucas, who arrived Oct. 4, 2022.