(MLM) The MLM Tennis League will begin its fifth season this Fall. MLM is an acronym that stands for Mekles-Lerner-Michelson, three close friends who live in Tenafly. Chad Mekles, league founder who is better known for being the program director of CMEK Basketball, said, “I love the sport of basketball. While I feel like I can coach forever, I realized my playing days were behind me. Initially, I started this tennis league because I wanted to play a competitive sport with minimal risk of injury. In such a short time period, the league has developed into something way bigger than I could have ever imagined. It has become very special to me (and several others). I rekindled old friendships and made many new friends.”
David Lerner is a tennis lifer who is amongst the most notable people in all of New Jersey. Lerner won the Singles and Doubles Championships in seasons one and two. “This league has not only fostered new friendships, but solidified childhood bonds. The league is equal amounts laughter and drive. It has somehow fused together a love for tennis and camaraderie. A bond that many of us haven’t felt since childhood or our college years,” he explained.
Greg Michelson was the inspiration behind the aforementioned Mekles starting the league. He shared, “Building friendships with both new and old local friends through friendly competition creates a unique bond and sense of camaraderie. It offers opportunities to connect on a deeper level, share experiences and support each other both on and off the court.”
MLM started at Tenafly Racquet Club with 16 players four years ago. At present, approximately 100 men are part of the league with matches being played in Tenafly, Edgewater and Haworth. Players come from throughout the community and play roughly three doubles matches per month throughout the school-year. Players fill-out their availability on a Google doc each week, so there’s no pressure to play if you are not available. New pairings are made so guys get to play with and against different partners. At the end of the season there is a doubles and singles tournament. Statistics are kept on the Google doc and there is even a Whatsapp where all guys are able to communicate all in good fun.
The league has players of varying skill and experience. The key to scheduling is making fair matchups that can go either way so the tennis aspect is competitive. That said, the differentiating factor of what makes the league so unique is the social aspect. Greg Friedman, an Alpine resident whose children go to Solomon Schechter Day School, is amongst the league’s premier players. “My favorite part of the league is really the social experience. It’s so hard as a working parent of three to make new friends who aren’t necessarily the parents of another kid who’s in class with yours. Here I’ve gotten the chance to get to know lots of great people throughout the area who I’d never have otherwise met. And we get to socialize by running around and getting in a little friendly competition which is so much better than just going out to eat all the time,” he said.
This past season, Joey Kolatch and Marc Gibber were the Tournament Champions in the Gold Division. Kolatch, whose family resides in Englewood and attends East Hill Synagogue, is also widely considered to be amongst the strongest players in the league. “The best part of our league is not only the ability to compete against some of the best players in Bergen County, but also the camaraderie and the friendships that thrive away from the court,” he shared. Gibber, who also won the Silver Division Singles Tournament, and who has children in Manhattan Day School, travels from New York City to play: “I enjoyed meeting and playing with quality guys and tennis players.”
Leon Chernyavsky of Temple Emanuel and Matt Lilling of Temple Sinai won the Doubles Tournament, Silver Division. “Every time you go to the bagel store, buy groceries or go out to dinner it seems like you bump into someone from the league,” said Lilling. In singles, Jason Stone and Adam Koll of Temple Emanuel won the Gold and Bronze Tournaments, respectively. Said Stone, “The league is a great way to fuel my competitive fire that I really haven’t had on the tennis court in many years. More importantly, it has been a great way to connect with our larger community.”
MLM is currently accepting new players for season five.
