Indian Wells, Calif. – When it comes to the New England women’s 3.0 senior team, one thing is for certain – they were the hit of the party.

 

The 2010 USTA League 3.0 Senior National Championships got off to a bright, colorful start as the team from Manchester, Mass. showed off their Flashy Blinky rings at the traditional evening player party.

 

Each member of the team, which plays out of the Manchester Athletic Club, wore a large ring which flashed and blinked in dazzling, brightly illuminated colors during the night as players from the various USTA sections ate dinner and danced afterwards.

 

Three years ago, Cynthia Borghesani of Gloucester, Mass. started a USTA women’s 3.0 senior team, which advanced to the 2008 Nationals in Las Vegas, but fell short of reaching the semifinals.

 

To celebrate the occasion, one of the players purchased Flashy Blinky rings for each team member. The plastic battery operated rings continuously flash in a variety of colors.

 

"We wore them to the banquet and they were such a hit," Borghesani recollected. "Everybody, even the people who worked at the hotel, were coming up to us and asking about them. Everybody knew we were from New England."

 

The following year, Borghesani put together a new team that went to Nationals in Tucson, Ariz. She decided to continue the tradition and purchased rings for everyone on the team. With the ring tradition firmly established, the 2009 team captured the National 3.0 senior title.

 

The 2009 team was split up after winning the national title and Borghesani once again put together another 3.0 senior team. Once again, they came through to reach the 2010 USTA League 3.0 Senior National Championships.

 

Borghesani also purchased rings for each member of the 2010 team and after yesterday’s captain’s meeting, she presented them to her team.

 

"We had our meeting after the captain’s meeting and I always bring them out as a surprise the night of the banquet," she said. "I bring them together and tell them what a great team they are and they we have to carry on the tradition."

 

The rings have become a popular item for the New England players, but the captain is quick to keeps things in perspective. "Now they all want to play (tennis) with the rings blinking on and I told them they couldn’t do that," Borghesani said with a laugh.