Age No Limit for Women's Tennis Guidice and Pleva
This is a story about two women’s tennis players who played on Mercer’s team while in their 50’s. One of these players is current player Gwen Guidice and one is current Assistant Coach Barb Pleva. Both had different paths to Mercer at their age, but ultimately ended up playing for the Vikings.
Guidice had been a tennis player most of her life and played for Mercer in the spring of 2021 at age 57. Guidice earned All-State honors while at Westfield High in the late 70s and served as Director of the Princeton Tennis Program for 24 years before retiring in 2020. Pleva didn’t take up tennis until she was in her 30s. “My husband said to me, our kids are very athletic and that didn’t come from me. You’re more athletic than you give yourself credit for. He signed me up for beginner tennis lessons and I never stopped playing.”
Pleva ended up taking classes at Mercer when she realized she would be the only one in her house without a college degree. “I didn’t want my kids to ask me ‘Where did you go to college?’ and not have an answer for them.” So Pleva enrolled in classes at MCCC at age 50 and decided to go out for the tennis team. Pleva was an All-American in 1999 and member of the first women’s team at Mercer to win a National Championship.
Guidice decided to go back to take classes to pursue a dream of hers. “I had heard about other adults in their 50’s playing on Mercer’s team. I had always been curious about it. I was about to retire and thinking about my next step. I was friends with Coach Marc and asked him about playing and eligibility. The next thing I knew I was enrolled in classes, playing on the team, and having the time of my life!”
Both players cited their experience as their biggest advantage. Guidice discussed how her approach at her age helps her “My experience gives me perspective. While it is great to have goals for the season, it is more important to enjoy the journey. I feel so fortunate to have this opportunity.” Pleva was playing many USTA Tournaments prior to enrolling in classes at Mercer and that experience alone gave her an advantage players coming out of high school didn’t have. Pleva also cited a tactical advantage she had being older. “My style of play, which was older, like Chris Evert and players from the 80s was something the younger players were not familiar with. I used slice over top spin and a serve and volley approach. I still remember match point at Nationals my sophomore year. I served and my opponent just stood there and never had the chance to return it.”
One disadvantage Guidice noted about her age is,”I am old with body aches and pains, and I’m not as fast as I used to be.” Pleva felt she was in great shape at 50 and because tennis is a lifelong sport (a sport you can continue playing throughout your life) she didn’t feel at much of a disadvantage in this sport.
When asked how it was adjusting to being on a team with much younger teammates, neither Guidice nor Pleva thought much of the age difference. Guidice enjoys being able to help her younger teammates “I love this environment of having younger teammates. Although I am a player on the team, I feel like I can help them by reinforcing what the coaches are telling them with their attitudes and even some on-court adjustments.” Pleva said she felt a part of the team, the moment she stepped on the court with them. “The girls were so welcoming that I didn’t feel older than them. I’ve always been like the team mom, I help keep things together. And I still do that now when I coach.”
Both Guidice and Pleva had different experiences with returning to classes many years later. Guidice has had online classes which is something Pleva did not have to deal with when she was at Mercer in the late 90s. Guidice discussed the challenge of learning online. “When I did this two years ago, we were in a Covid hybrid situation. I took a coaching class, photography, photoshop and Excel. I loved everything about those classes and learned a lot too. Although it wasn’t in person, the classes each had a particular Zoom meeting time and was taught in the traditional manner with a professor. Because I am now living in Florida most of the year and there were no hybrid classes offered, I needed to take all 12 credits online. These classes are interesting, but not as enjoyable. While the information in the classes is not particularly hard, the online piece is extremely challenging. I must teach myself the material and budget my time accordingly. Each online class is structured a bit differently, so I typically waste about 15 minutes per class trying to find the book and remembering the process for that class.”
With in person classes, Pleva had an easier time navigating her courses. “I was able to focus more. I maintained a 4.0 while I took classes here. I had great professors. They wanted us to succeed. Tennis just added to the experience.”
When asked how it is having Pleva as a coach, Guidice said “Barb is great. She makes everyone feel special about their place on the team.” That is just one thing Pleva does as she enter her 23 rd season as a Volunteer Assistant Coach at Mercer. When asked why she returns year after year, Pleva said “it’s the chance to connect to the players. In all my years coaching, I can honestly only think of two players I just couldn’t connect with. I love the opportunity to influence them. I’ve been asked about paid coaching positions, but it wouldn’t be the same experience as I have here. You can affect these kids’ lives.”
Both Guidice and Pleva are proving that “age is just a number.” They are also proving that it’s never too late to go back to college and never too late to play a collegiate sport at a community college. Pleva and Guicide are serving up success both on and off the court.
