BMTA Member Spotlight: Sharon Beattie

What do you love most about playing tennis?

Tennis gives me a chance to exercise my body and my brain, with the bonus of doing it with great friends! The tennis community is awesome! It is so much fun to play tennis, catch up with people, socialize and go out for coffee after we play.

Favorite tennis memory(ies)

My favorite tennis memory is when our USTA team won sectionals in Minneapolis. We were definitely the underdog, but we had support from so many teams. Nationals is something I wish all tennis players could experience.

Describe your tennis story/background

I learned how to play tennis as a kid, but didn’t take lessons until I came to Bismarck. When my kids started taking lessons, the moms started to play together and take lessons. Lessons and leagues kept tennis fun, and I enjoy leagues and tournaments. Going to tennis camp as an adult was a great experience. I want to play as long as I can!

Favorite Hobbies/Passions

I love to run/jog. I run several races each year, mostly at Disneyland and DisneyWorld. I love half marathons and the challenges, which are different length races run on consecutive days. (Take a look at my license plates). I like reading, sewing, knitting and crocheting, and crafts. I enjoy bike riding, skiing, walking, weight training, shopping. I love workout clothes!

Favorite Food(s)

I love a good sugar cookie with frosting, Dim Sum, tres leches cake.

Travel Bucket List

We like to travel. On our bucket list is attending all of the tennis majors. We have been to Wimbledon in 2017 and sat in the front row for the women’s singles finals and both the men’s and women’s doubles finals. (You could see us on TV)

Favorite Book(s)

Books I’ve enjoyed - The Outlander Series, The Harry Potter series, books by Fredrick Backman, Remarkably Bright Creatures, The Rent Collector, The Island of Sea Women

Fun Fact

I was a ND State Bodybuilding Champion and competed at Nationals. I also performed in the Heart Butte Water Ski Shows. Here’s a photo of a race this past February. My daughter, son-in-law, and 3 of the 4 grandkids We ran the Mulan 5K.

Bonus

I’m from Seattle originally. I met my Bismarck born husband at Pacific University in Oregon, and moved to ND in 1982. I retired from Dakota Eye Institute at the beginning of 2025 after working as an optometrist for 42 1/2 years. We have two children and four grandchildren.

Thank you, Sharon, for being a valued member of our tennis community! You MAKE a difference!