As the new year began, many people across Southern California anticipated a fresh start. However, they quickly realized that the challenges ahead would be greater than they could have imagined, especially for those living in Los Angeles county. In early January, news of violent winds heading toward Los Angeles spread, leaving citizens uncertain about the severity of the situation. Soon, warnings about potential fires ignited by the winds followed, and by the second week of the month, it became clear that the threat was real.

On January 7th, the first flames were reported across Los Angeles, igniting multiple fires throughout the region. These fires were far from short-lived, burning for nearly a month, finally reaching full levels of containment on February 3rd. While predominantly in the LA Metropolitan area, these fires stretched as far east as San Bernardino and as far west as Ventura, also impacting areas such as Castaic and Calabasas. Upwards of ten total fires were reported, yet none were as significant as the two in Altadena and Malibu. 

The hardest-hit of all the areas, Altadena, the Pacific Palisades, and Malibu experienced unimaginable devastation throughout the month. The Eaton Fire in Altadena and the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades and Malibu, which were among the largest of the blazes, claimed the lives of over two dozen people, destroyed more than 15,000 homes and businesses, and severely degraded air quality, affecting millions. Evacuation notices were issued for more than 200,000 residents in these areas alone. According to estimates, these two fires have already snatched the second and third positions on California’s list of the most destructive fires in history, per Climate.gov. 

Amid the devastation, recreational spaces such as country clubs, parks, and tennis centers were reduced to ashes, leaving entire communities uncertain about their next steps. One such loss was the Altadena Town & Country Club, where the destruction of the facility drew attention to the homes lost. Yet, for the community of players throughout Southern California, tennis remained a symbol of resilience and hope to rebuild and persevere. 

Altadena’s ‘Band of Brothers’

In the wake of the club’s destruction, tennis players in Altadena found themselves without a place to play. Their second home, a sanctuary that offered an escape from the demands of daily life, had vanished in the blink of an eye. While the news was a heartbreaking blow for many, and understandably so, players had to decide how to move forward, especially those involved in leagues and tournaments that had relied on the club’s courts for practice and training.

For Captain Aaron Buckwalter and his Men’s 3.5 team representing ATCC, a difficult decision loomed. With the Adult League Doubles Sectionals rapidly approaching, following a remarkable season of local play, the team had to determine their next steps. This was particularly significant, as it marked the first time in the club’s 115-year history that a Men’s team had qualified for a USTA Southern California Sectionals tournament.

A lifelong tennis player, Aaron had never been part of a team until 2019, when he joined the Men’s 3.5 squad. Since then, he has been a dedicated member and now captain of the team. Ultimately, the team would make a collective decision to push through and attend Sectionals, but not after much deliberation. 

“Within the first week, we were grappling with what was appropriate,” Aaron shared. “I think the subject line of my first email to the team was ‘Too soon?’ We polled everyone individually, and I was surprised by how quickly the team galvanized toward attending. We had finished second in our league several times, and our goal for the past two years had been explicitly to win our division and get to Sectionals. That goal resonated with all of us, and despite all the loss, it remained paramount in our minds.”

As the team prepared for Sectionals, they faced numerous challenges. Several players had recently lost their homes, been evacuated, or had loved ones who also experienced loss. Without a home court to practice on, preparation was difficult, yet they found ways to train both physically and mentally. Despite the obstacles, the team persevered, using tennis as a means to connect and find moments of joy, something that was desperately needed during these difficult times.

“With teammates who had lost their homes, 90% of the team evacuated and living in hotels, and most members without access to equipment or courts to practice on, it was a bit of a dance,” Aaron added. “I think that, with the loss from the fires, everyone was desperate for connection and community. My email chains and text threads became a way for all of us to stay connected and not feel alone. We were only able to play twice in the three weeks leading up to Sectionals, but there was constant communication among the team, all focusing on the upcoming Sectionals, and I think that was a positive ray of light.”

When January 24th rolled around, Aaron’s team was eager not only to compete, but to win, for each other and their community. The team, known as the ‘Band of Brothers,’ had originally earned its name because of the deep bond and connection between its members. However, that name took on even greater significance over the next two days. Wearing patches engraved with ‘Dena Strong,’ their motivation was stronger than ever, as they played for a cause that meant more than just victory.

“With the destruction of the fires and how we all responded and supported each other, ‘Band of Brothers’ took on an even deeper meaning of true brotherhood,” Aaron said. “The addition of the ‘Dena Strong’ patch further defined our connection, representing not just our club, but the entire community of Altadena.”

During their first set of matches on Saturday, ATCC went undefeated in pool play, defeating teams from San Diego, Beach Cities, and San Fernando Valley. As they advanced to the playoffs on Sunday, they faced a tough challenge in the form of Ventura, the eventual finalists. Although Aaron’s team lost their match, they had already made history, advancing farther than any Men’s team in the club’s history. Their success at Sectionals was about more than just wins, it was a testament to their resilience.

“We were honored to represent our club as we are a very tight knit tennis community that has deep love for the game of tennis. I think on the first day of Sectionals, we were all a little bit dazed,” Aaron stated. “But by Saturday, our hearts came together, and I was so proud of how hard our team battled. The most cathartic moment came when we won our second match on Saturday and advanced to Championship Sunday. There was such an outpouring of emotion in that moment, as we realized we had truly overcome something. We felt so connected and joyous. The fires had only started two weeks earlier, but it felt as though we had been grieving forever. Experiencing joy at that point was a great feeling, and to share it with each other was deeply meaningful. When we lost on Sunday, we met as a team, spoke to each other, and the heartfelt gratitude we shared was palpable. It showed that our connection wasn’t just about winning, but about being there for each other in community. The experience reminded us that despite the challenges ahead, we are a community,  life will go on and we will recover from this devastation. Playing tennis together again as a team, so soon after the destruction, reminded us that life could also be normal.”

As the team looks to the future, uncertainty looms, but the players remain optimistic due to the overwhelming support they’ve received both in their personal lives and from the tennis community.

“The thought that we won’t play as a team going forward still seems unfathomable,” mentioned Aaron. “To that end, even though we don’t have courts to practice on, we are playing out our Winter USTA season on our opponent’s courts, and that really is an attempt to maintain connection and give us something fun to focus on. I know that this Winter will be our last USTA season for several years, but we are all committed to rebuilding our club and returning to play at a high level. In all of this, the community connection has been so wonderful, between lots of email chains with support, resources, and humor, all reminding us that our community is more than just a physical location.”

Malibu’s ‘Loosely Strung’

Similar to the wreckage faced by the people of Altadena, those in Malibu and the Pacific Palisades were grappling with the aftermath of the Palisades Fire throughout January. Among the many locals affected were the ladies of the 3.0 Women’s team, ‘Loosely Strung.’ Consisting of players from both Malibu and Pacific Palisades, the team experienced tremendous heartbreak as many of its members, along with those close to them, lost their homes or were displaced.

Like the ‘Band of Brothers,’ ‘Loosely Strung’ had to make a difficult decision on whether or not to attend Sectionals as they also qualified following their successes in local league play. Led by co-captains Andrea Thompson and Shelly Crema, the team approached this decision with deep consideration. Both Andrea, a Pacific Palisades resident, and Shelly, who lives in Malibu, were personally affected by the fires and their devastation, both in their own lives and within their team. Even though not all their players could compete, the team discussed the situation and ultimately decided to attend Sectionals, motivated by a sense of responsibility to their communities.

“It was a very hard decision,” Andrea stated. “We debated, as four members of our team were unable to join us, and we really weren’t sure it was the right decision to attend because we were going to be left with a very limited squad of only six players. We couldn’t practice in January because of the different fires and because so many members of our team were displaced. We knew we weren’t in it mentally. Even with all of this, we took an anonymous vote, and the majority of us believed we needed to be there at Sectionals.”

The decision wasn’t just about playing tennis, but it was about bringing hope to one another and to their communities. Representing something greater than themselves, ‘Loosely Strung’ sought to embody resilience and offer a symbol of strength in difficult times.

“It meant everything to us to represent Malibu and our sister community, Pacific Palisades,” Shelly shared. “To show strength, commitment, courage, and perseverance during some very dark days for our community. The feeling of defeat surrounded us. We wanted to encourage our communities to keep putting one foot in front of the other.”

As they traveled to the desert to compete at Sectionals, their focus was not only on performance, but on spending time together, using tennis as a way to ease their minds and enjoy each other’s company. Being short-handed, ‘Loosely Strung’ couldn’t advance past pool play on Saturday, but the experience and camaraderie of being together meant more than anticipated.

“Participating in Sectionals was helpful in letting us work together in both our joy and our grief, strengthening our support of each other and our community. The bond between us all post-fires is immeasurable. The weekend at the tournament solidified it even more,” Shelly explained.

“Sectionals gave us an opportunity to step away from the sorrow for a few hours and play some great tennis, laugh, and dance together. I think we all grew closer and realized, as much as we love tennis, there is so much more to our community and so much more to be grateful for. Sure, it’s nice to win, but we felt like winners when we left Sectionals, as we showed up,” Andrea added.

When asked what advice they would give to others who have experienced similar loss and trauma, both Andrea and Shelly emphasized the importance of taking things one day at a time and supporting one another through the journey.

“I have no magic advice. We are all taking it one day at a time. Together, we are stronger,” Andrea said.

“This is a hard question,” Shelly admitted. “It truly is one day at a time, one moment at a time, one foot in front of the other, one problem to solve at a time when there are so many to deal with. It overwhelms the heart and mind. We were and still are a community grieving. It is important to stay focused on caring for each other and holding each other up, as we need each other as a collective group and are all in it together.”

Coming Together As A Community

As the fires tore through SoCal, many people and organizations stepped up to offer support. Prominent figures donated large sums, restaurants provided free meals for those affected, and locals organized crowdfunding campaigns and donated vital supplies to those in need. One of the many athletes who gave back was Rancho Santa Fe’s own, Taylor Fritz, who pledged his entire first-round prize money from the 2025 Australian Open. The sum of $82,000 went directly in support to aid victims and relief efforts.

Now, you have the opportunity to make a difference. Just days ago, USTA Southern California launched the Natural Disaster Relief Fund to directly support those affected by the fires. With a goal to raise $500,000 in the next 52 days, funds raised will help with rebuilding infrastructure, covering entry fees, replacing wind screens, equipment, and clothing, and restoring tennis in the impacted areas. You can contribute through direct donations as well as live auctions featuring priceless memorabilia and unique experiences. Together, we can rebuild and help the tennis communities of Altadena and Malibu thrive again.

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Here are quick links to the USTA Southern California Natural Disaster Relief Fund:

• Auctions
• Donations
• Resources