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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday October 6, 2007 - 3 Happy at home and at home on the court By Karen Alton SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER T here's a saying: "If the mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy." This story is about a mama who is happy. It's been a long, sweet summer for Amanda McKee, combining the joys of new motherhood with tennis. Her friends say she smiles a lot these days. "Never been happier," she freely admits. "Happy parents make happy kids," she points out without a hint of self recrimination. Fortunately her husband Dave is also a racquets man, so he is happy too. For McKee, a trim, 32-yearold Oakville resident, tennis has been an education, a training ground for life and a means to an end. The game has helped her achieve physical fitness and hone a keen competitive edge, plus she has met almost all the key people in her life through the game, including her husband who was introduced to her by a tennis-playing friend. Tennis is her happy place. It is not surprising then that two weeks after giving birth to a nearly 9 lb. baby girl this spring, she was smacking balls across the net with wee Emily snoozing courtside. She laughed in a recent interview, "I guess I had cabin fever pretty bad after Em was born. I love summer tennis so much." During her pregnancy she rarely had a chance to play, except briefly in her ninth month, about two weeks before her due date. It was April and the team trials were going on at Bronte. She couldn't resist going out for a little mini-tennis, just to show the pro she was eager. "It felt so good," she groaned. Emily was born May 11, but by the end of June her mom was in full flight and playing team RON KUZYK / OAKVILLE BEAVER HAPPY: Amanda McKee and her daughter Emily Madison McKee. tennis on Bronte's Division One Lakeshore League team as well as the `A' level women's Intercounty League team. Both teams finished on top of their respective divisions. She then turned attention to vying for bragging rights in the Bronte Club championships. McKee completed the triple crown at Bronte Tennis Club this fall, winning the Mixed doubles championship with her husband Dave, the Women's Doubles Championship with her partner Barrie Platt, and also the Women's Singles championship, earlier in the season -- a nifty feat. In short, she is a dynamic force on the tennis court. "I enjoy tennis and I'm serious "I enjoy tennis and I'm serious about it. " Amanda McKee, about it," she said matter-offactly. Adding, "We have been so lucky with Emily. She's been a dream baby from the start, a good sleeper and good temperament. Everybody at the tennis club has been fantastic, accommodating all our baby paraphernalia, and feeding schedule, and so on." McKee, maiden name Coady, was not an infant but a five-yearold when she first started tagging along with her dad to the Sandy Beach Tennis Club in Pickering. Her mom was a nurse who worked nights and, since there was no babysitter, the tennis club became her haunt from those early days. Soon she was playing tennis with other kids, or just hitting up against a wall if no one was around. She was hooked. By the age of 10, she was ready to play through the winters at an indoor club with a real coach and the Pickering Recreation Centre offered a program. Her parents were always supportive. "My dad encouraged and instilled a strong work ethic in me," she says. "Mom gave me her can-do attitude." A few years later, more serious about her game, she signed on at the Oshawa Racquets Club under the coaching of Ken Crosina. McKee would reach a ranking of #8 in Ontario, under18, with Crosina's guidance. At the same time she was ranked in the top-50 in Canada, in the open category. What she really had her sights on was an all-expensespaid education at an American university. She says, "Some American schools were sending scouts up to look at the local talent but you couldn't depend on that." As a teenager she organized her own direct-marketing campaign, identifying 200 of the most attractive schools from the big book of American colleges. "I sent each of them a tennis resume and an academic resume. The schools that were interested asked for a video, which I supplied." McKee was offered and accepted a full scholarship to Illinois State in Bloomington, a large, "Division One" school. Illinois State also had the benefit of being close enough that her parents could drive down and watch her play from time to time. She often competed at other universities even closer to home, like Michigan and Ohio. McKee did well at College and she takes considerable pride in this as nothing came easily. "I broke the school record for career victories in both singles and doubles, but I worked hard to achieve that record." She explained, "I am not the most gifted natural athlete. At 5 feet, 4 inches I'm not the tallest and the truth is I'm not the fastest player on the court." More importantly, to her mind, in her four years of competition she also completed her degree, a B.Sc. in Communication and Public Relations. See Mom page 4 PREPARE FOR THE ROAD AHEAD. Next course: Oct. 27, 28, Nov. 3, 4 ­ 2 weekends, 9:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Nov. 5 ­ Mon. & Wed. ­ Evenings ­ 4 weeks, 6:00 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. www.youngdrivers.com 905.845.7200 MTO APPROVED BEGINNER DRIVER EDUCATION COURSE PROVIDER