HighFIVE: Ginger Phillips
The following HighFIVE profile appears in the 2017 Fall/Winter issue of Colorado Tennis newspaper.
There are people you meet who live a busy life and add in a little tennis to get some exercise, keep the competitive juices flowing or add to their social lives. But for Ginger Phillips, a top–notch league player and teaching professional, tennis is a huge part of her life and she wouldn’t have it any other way.
At 50-years-old, Ginger is still competing in the highest division of league tennis (5.0). Recently winning the Intermountain Sectionals to advance to the USTA League Tennis 18 and over National championships, she said she loves the team comradery and structure that league play offers. “I love to play league knowing it’s a guaranteed once a week opportunity to play great tennis. It’s organized, and I know what the time commitment is going to be,” she said about being able to play while maintaining a busy teaching schedule.
Ginger was introduced to tennis at age 7 by her dad, Pete Cook, who was a top intermountain player and played pro tennis in the 1950s. She’s been involved in many aspects of the sport over her life including being a teaching professional, assistant coach, high school coach, sales rep, tournament director, league and event coordinator, pro shop manager and competitor. She also met her husband, Mike, through tennis.
“Mike is the BEST part of my world…tennis or not!” she explained of her husband.
Teaching tennis is a passion for Ginger who graduated from the University of Wyoming and quickly entered a career of tennis instruction. When asked about her teaching philosophy she said it was pretty basic.
“I always try to work with people’s strengths,“ she said, adding that while she wanted to challenge people to work on areas to improve, it would be their natural gifts she’d highlight. She also said she leaves all her players with words of advice.
“The person who hits the last ball in the court will win the match!”
In terms of future goals, Ginger said she want to keep enjoying the sport as a player, as a teacher, and as student. “I love being at the USPTA conventions,” Ginger said. “I’m a student of the game and truly enjoy learning about the sport as it continues to evolve.”
MidFirst Bank is one of the largest privately owned banks and this combination of size and private ownership provides our customers with a special brand of banking. We are a strong supporter of the communities we serve, investing time and money in important educational, charitable and civic organizations. Our volunteerism is powered by our employees from all of the communities in which we live and share with our customers. MidFirst Bank is a proud partner of USTA Colorado.
