Player Profiles: Liz Hayward and Jeronie Barnes

November 2, 2018

Player Profile - Liz Hayward

Hayward is currently ranked #8 in the country with Hallie Bodman and she and Bodman were finalists at the recent Lake Forest Open.

Q: Hometown:
A: Northfield, IL

Q: Occupation:
A: Full time mom

Q: Spouse/Children:
A: Bob/Trevor (16), Charlie (13), Griffin (11)

Q: Did you play college tennis?
A: Yes, I played at the College of Wooster in Ohio.

Q: How long have you played platform tennis/how were you introduced to the game?
A: I was introduced to paddle by my mother at age 24.

Q: When you started, what were the biggest adjustments you had to make as a tennis player?
A: I quickly learned that a winner in tennis doesn't translate to a winner in paddle.

Q: How do you make practicing fun?
A: Practicing is always fun with the group of women here in Chicago!

Q: Where is your favorite place to play?
A: At my home courts-Sunset Ridge Country Club.

Q: List one or more highlights of your platform tennis career OR the funniest or best thing that happened to you on a platform tennis court?
A: Ending the season #1 with Sally Cottingham, and playing with my college rival Hallie Bodman.

Q: What is your trick/mental fix to use when you feel pressure in a match?
A: I concentrate on breathing.

Q: Who do you wish was watching you at your best match?
A: My kids...they think I’m lame.

Q: List any other favorite hobbies you have:
A: Horseback riding, Cubs fan, taxi driver for my kids.

Q: What is your favorite vacation spot?
A: Boca Grande Florida, or Chautauqua, New York.

Q: Do you have a favorite sports movie?
A: Hoosiers

Q: Please finish this sentence "You'd be surprised to know that I…"
A: Compete at horse shows.

Q: What is your pre-match warmup/routine?
A: I hate to warm up!

Q: What is your favorite shot?
A: Return of serve

Q: What is your favorite part of playing doubles and the best part of competing?
A: I love playing with my awesome partner, and when I’m frustrated or mad, she knows how to get me to laugh.

Player Profile - Jeronie Barnes

Barnes recently reached the finals of the Milwaukee Men’s Open NRT/Viking PCQ with Wil Lofgren and is currently ranked #20 in the country with Mike Marino.

Q: Hometown:
A: Youngstown, Ohio

Q: Occupation:
A: Head tennis and platform tennis professional at Tennaqua Swim and Racquet Club in Deerfield, IL.

Q: Spouse/Children:
A: Kathleen Barnes/JJ (8) and Lucy (6)

Q: Did you play college tennis?
A: Yes, I played at Denison University.

Q: How long have you played platform tennis and how were you introduced to the game?
A: 12 years ago a fellow tennis player took me out to try paddle.

Q: When you started, what were the biggest adjustments you had to make as a tennis player?
A: Thinking that I could win without patience or lobbing.

Q: How do you make practicing fun?
A: By adding gambling and music.

Q: Where is your favorite place to play?
A: Chicago

Q: List one or more highlights of your platform tennis career OR the funniest or best thing that happened to you on a platform tennis court:
A: Winning President’s Cup, winning the Chicago Series 1 League five out of the last eight years and six APTA national ranking tournament wins are highlights.  Being a member of Platform Files (the paddle spoof videos Barnes creates and acts in with a group of Chicago players) is by far the funniest thing that happens to me on a paddle court.

Q: What is your trick/mental fix to use when you feel pressure in a match?
A: Breathing and trying to keep things in perspective. I think of serious things happening in our crazy world and then I can’t get too worked up over a game I’m playing for fun...

Q: Who do you wish was watching you at your best match?
A: Toss up between my mom, my wife and my kids. They’re all equally important to me and I love showing off my skills for them.

Q: List any other favorite hobbies you have:
A: Golf and playing Pokémon

Q: What is your favorite vacation spot?
A: Anywhere with my family that has warm weather, great golf, a nice pool, and a hot tub.

Q: Do you have a favorite sports movie?
A: The Program

Q: Please finish this sentence "You'd be surprised to know that I…"
A: Am a vegetarian and have never had a piece of meat in my life.

Q: What is your pre-match warmup/routine?
A: Jamz and foam rolling.

Q: What is your favorite shot?
A: I enjoy a number of dumb, low percentage shots like tweeners and behind-the-back shots.

Q: What is your favorite part of playing doubles and the best part of competing?
A: My favorite part of playing doubles is winning and the best part of competing is winning.