Resident Elected To Hall Of Fame

Sharon Hummers, a resident of Garden City, has been elected to the Platform Tennis Hall of Fame. The announcement was made by the Board of Directors of the American Platform Tennis Association, the sport's governing body. Also elected is her partner, Winnie Hatch, who resides in Bridgehampton, Long Island. They are the 74rd and 75th individuals earning this highest honor in the sport. Their induction ceremony will take place on Wednesday, February 11 at Summit, New Jersey during the Senior Women's National Championships tournament for ages 40+ and 60+.

A tennis player friend, Carol Konnor, who had a court erected at her home in Garden City, introduced Sharon Hummers to platform tennis in the late 1970's. She became addicted to the sport after watching an exhibition at the West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills. She began entering local tournaments and soon was a consistent winner. Then she began playing in APTA sanctioned events and qualified for the prestigious Region 1 President's Cup team. Her holding of National Seniors Women's titles began in 1991 with victory in the age 50+ tournament. She has now won 17 gold medals, two of which were Senior Mixed Championships.

She has served as Secretary on the Board of Directors of the Long Island Platform Tennis Association and was the Women's Tournament Director for the National Championships held at Huntington Country Club in 1992 and at Cherry Valley Club in 2002. Winnie Hatch served as co-chair with her in both of these events. They have also been frequent playing partners and have won seven 50+ Women's National titles and were finalists in three other years.

They are the first two women from Long Island honored by the sport. They join two men from Long Island previously honored, Charles Vasoll of East Williston in 2005 and David Kjeldsen of West Islip in 2008.