This summer, something special happened for our Lord of the Strings mixed doubles 6.0 USTA team. After months of practicing together at the CLC YMCA and on the Lincoln Academy courts, we traveled to Simsbury, Connecticut, for the USTA New England Sectionals Championship. We played three days of hard-fought matches, supported one another through every point, and in the end, we came home as champions.

That win was the first ever sectional title for a CLC YMCA tennis team, and it means we now have the honor of representing all of New England at the USTA National Championships in Surprise, Arizona, November 7–9.

As Georgia Ahlers, CLC YMCA's Director of Racquet and Paddle Sports, said, “It’s especially exciting that a team from a YMCA, instead of a private club, won a sectional tournament and will be competing at the national level.”

This team has been playing together for the last few years; and what started off as individuals wanting to play mixed doubles as a way to get through Maine winters slowly turned into a group of friends who fell in love with tennis, the team, and built a genuine bond.

We're a group from all walks of life. We are farmers, teachers, small business owners, lawyers, bankers, marketing gurus, creatives and caregivers. We've traveled together, know each other's families, and love a good team cocktail after a match (win or lose!). We are there for each other as friends and teammates and that trust, respect and love is evident on and off the court.

Our team is built on dedication, encouragement, our love of tennis and a belief in the power of community.

As our captain, Dennis Johnstone shared, “Our bond as a team was so strong that even in defeat, we could count on the people around us to pick us back up. I’m confident that we can bring that same energy and mindset to the national tournament in Arizona.”

Why Your Support Matters

When you donate, you are not just helping a group of tennis players get to Arizona. You are showing that community teams can stand shoulder to shoulder with private clubs. You are supporting local athletes representing all of New England on a national stage. And you are fueling the growth of tennis at the CLC YMCA, where kids and adults alike see what is possible when a team comes together and works hard.

How Your Gift Helps

Your support goes further than covering the basics. It creates opportunities and lasting impact for our team and our community.

Travel and Lodging: Flights and a week of hotel stays in Arizona are a major expense. Your donation helps ensure that every teammate who earned this spot can be there to compete.

Meals and Daily Costs: With three days of matches and a week of practice in the desert heat, good nutrition and recovery matter. Donations help keep our team healthy and focused on the competition.

Tournament Entry Fees and Practice Courts: Nationals requires player entry fees and practice court costs. Your gift helps cover those so our team can arrive prepared and ready.

Representation Beyond Ourselves: We are not only representing our team and our town; we are representing all of New England.

Inspiration for Others: Every donation also fuels the growth of tennis in our community and at the CLC YMCA. When kids and adults see their community team competing at Nationals, it shows what is possible through hard work, perseverance, and teamwork.

How You Can Support

Donate here on GoFundMe. Every contribution matters.

Share our story. Help us spread the word.

Follow along. We will share updates, photos, and stories from Arizona.

We are proud of what we have accomplished- not just the results but the way we did it. Together, through teamwork and community support, we earned this opportunity.

With your help, we will carry that same spirit to Arizona and represent the CLC YMCA, Midcoast Maine and New England with pride.