Dan Schimmelpfennig
Donna Gillen
Soft spoken and humble: our third model of strong leaders in our tennis club is Dan Schimmelpfennig. The first time you meet Dan you see the calming gentleness of his demeanor. He is a man who leads by example and is unafraid to show his faith.
Dan started playing tennis in his 20s. Initially, Dan was a football player from Evansville, Ind. He was in fact a very accomplished football player and was inducted into his high school’s Hall of Fame this past winter for his exemplary skills as a right tackle.
Dan is the current facilitator for the “Skills and Drills” program that is provided for members. This is not an easy task. He creates the program and enlists other instructors to aid in the process. He then works with members of different levels to bring out the best in their skills and help them to achieve a new sense of abilities on the courts, as well as to instill the importance of playing for pure enjoyment.
Currently, Dan is a member of the Hot Shots Men’s 4.0 Team, and recently they won the West Valley Championship. His road to this team started several years ago, when he and his wife, Jeanne, visited some friends here in PebbleCreek (PC). Dan said, “I had played USTA tennis for many years in Indianapolis; singles, doubles, and mixed doubles.” He met Jeanne in 2005. At the time Jeanne didn’t play tennis frequently, but her “luv” for tennis grew and they began to play frequently together. Jeanne had friends in PC who they visited and per Dan: “On our first visit here, I saw Dave Kersey and Bill Erwin, whom I knew from Indianapolis, on a golf cart while I was riding in another golf cart with Jeanne’s friend.” This ensued with Jeanne and Dan visiting PC yearly until they bought in 2011.
The couple quite quickly got actively involved in the PC Tennis Club with Dan becoming the vice president, and he served for two years. Dan started playing drop-in tennis and with the Thursday night mixed doubles group. He then met Charlie Reinert, and Dan started to play with the group now known as the “Amigos,” but Dan likes to call them “Charlie’s Angels.” Slowly he moved up to the PC 3.5 team, and then on to the 4.0 team. Dan commented that since being part of these competitive teams in the west valley, he has seen his share of championships.
Dan, as a very skilled player, is also a nurturer on the courts and enjoys just playing the game. He and Jeanne rarely miss the monthly “Date Night” tennis. He often enjoys a match or two with other couples on a weekend afternoon or evening. As mentioned earlier, he also teaches by example. His playing style is a treat to watch, as you can learn so much from his moves.
Dan is another special gem in the Tennis Club. We are so fortunate to have his talents and spirit on our courts, as well as in our community.