Jaws dropped as coach Greg Prudhomme shared the news about his latest recruit.
"We have a new scholarship player," he told his Grand Canyon University women's tennis team.
Yeah?
"She played at ASU for three years."
No way!
"She's Number 3 in her age group."
Gasp!
"Oh, and she's 60."
Say what?
That's right. The Antelopes' newest addition became eligible for AARP 10 years ago, was born during the Truman era and understands the Pythagorean theorem - but not text-messaging.
"We're working on that," said Stephanie Haldeman, a Grand Canyon freshman tennis player.
Sheila Johnson, Phoenix resident and a longtime high-school math teacher, might be four decades older than her opponents, but it hasn't stopped her from making an impact for Division II Grand Canyon.
The nation's oldest active collegiate tennis player is 4-2 in doubles play and 4-4 in singles, and two of those victories were over Division I opponents.
"She's damn good," said Dan McDonald, coach of Mesa State College in Grand Junction, Colo. "I told my kids not to freak out because she's an old lady. She'll beat you."
She did. Johnson's victories in singles and doubles play were the only ones posted by the Antelopes that day.
Let's raise a toast of Ensure to what appears to be a wave of college programs going old school. Last fall, Michael Flynt, 59, played linebacker for Division III Sul Ross University in Alpine, Texas.
What Johnson is doing is no novelty because the well-respected Prudhomme, a U.S. Professional Tennis Association coach and former touring pro, doesn't operate that way.
Prudhomme, 37, who played at Arizona State University and University of Arizona and spent time on the professional circuit, took over at Grand Canyon just a month before the fall semester started, with hopes of resurrecting a struggling program that had no returning players.
With only a short time to "shake the bushes" for recruits, he had to scramble, especially when one dropped out of the picture at the last minute.
Johnson, meanwhile, was taking private lessons from Prudhomme at the Paseo Racquet Center in Glendale.
When Prudhomme's mother mentioned to Johnson that her son's new job would limit his private coaching, Johnson pouted.
"Fine," she said. "I'll just get a scholarship there and get my lessons for free."
When Prudhomme heard about the glib comment, a light went off. Why not? Johnson had a storied sports background. After a standout high-school career in Iowa, she played at ASU from 1963 to '65 before leaving a year early because of a disagreement with the coach.
She later married and taught algebra at Glendale High School. Although she played tennis socially once a week, she was known to take on math students who doubted her prowess on the court . . . and left them wishing they had limited their smack talk to quadratic equations.
At 50, she longed to return to the game she loved. She became active in the USA Tennis League and worked her way up the ranks, where she now sits third in the U.S. Tennis Association's Women's 60 Doubles division.
Prudhomme knew how hard she worked. When he called and offered a scholarship, Johnson was thrilled. At first.
"At my age, I don't sleep real well," she said. "So, I'm awake at night thinking, 'This may not be the smartest thing to do.' "
It wasn't just about tennis. Johnson, who has a master's degree in secondary education, would have to take nine units of on-campus classes.
She also would have to cough up $1,200 that the scholarship didn't cover.
"I thought about it and then figured that would about equal the tennis lessons I didn't have to pay for anymore," she said.
Her husband, Mike, 61, loved the idea. Her son, Jeremy, thought she was nuts.
Johnson, too, was concerned about how the team would react.
"The first day of practice, I kind of showed up and thought she was our assistant coach," said Haldeman, now Johnson's doubles partner.
It didn't take long for Johnson to connect with the group, especially after they saw her play.
"To be honest, I like playing with her the most of anyone," Haldeman said. "She knows more strategy, she places everything perfectly. I run a lot, so we're a good combination."
Johnson is in tune with her strengths and weaknesses. She doesn't share the quickness of her young opponents, but she sports more finesse. Her drop shots and lobs catch them off-guard, and there's something to be said for decades of on-court experience.
"I like to think I'm smarter," she said, laughing, "but I'm not sure if that's necessarily true."
The generation gap proves amusing but not insurmountable. When the team was in Los Angeles recently for a tournament, Johnson and five other players stopped at a restaurant to eat. A woman who walked by their table turned to Johnson.
"Are these your grandchildren?"
Hardly, but Johnson has come to expect the attention. Her story is becoming a national one and has attracted writers from SI.com and TennisWeek.com.
Her teammates are happy to see her and the program recognized.
"That's been the best part of this whole deal, how the team has come together," Prudhomme said. "It's truly rewarding."
Opponents don't know what to think.
Haldeman recalls the reaction of a doubles team she and Johnson beat.
" 'I can't believe we just lost to a grandmother and a freshman,' " Haldeman said.
Opponents had better get used to it. Johnson is enjoying using her final year of eligibility in such a unique way.
"It's been great," she said. "I feel young, in class and on the court. I haven't shaved 40 years off my life, but I've shaved a few."
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