Tennis camp nearly doubles from last summer
It’s amazing what success can do to a community.
For the Tipp tennis program, they hosted their annual summer camp last week with the high school players early in the morning followed by the younger kids, grades 4-8. The numbers were almost double of what they had last year, and Tipp boys tennis coach Kaci Matthews thought it was a very successful week for the tennis program.
“I am really pleased with the numbers; last year we had 12 kids (in the later session) and this year we had 20,” Matthews said, “There is a growing trend of positivity from our high school program and people want to be a part of our culture. Hopefully that is translating down to our younger ages.”
“Tennis is an awesome sport, and it is growing in popularity because people are realizing the importance of lifetime sports. Golf and tennis are growing right now, and I think the addition of pickleball has been huge. Their parents are playing that, so they are getting their kids into tennis.”
Even in the morning camp, which brought in the current high school players and incoming freshman, Matthews was thrilled with the turnout as the defending MVL champions (both boys and girls) look to rebuild with the next wave of stars.
“We are close to 30 kids in the high school camp for both boys and girls, which is awesome,” Matthews said. “It is one of the most highly attended camps that we have had, and I think that’s because the numbers in both of our programs are big. We have a big freshman class coming in for both the boys and girls teams, and it is great to see the youth here. It allows our upperclassmen a chance to step up and be leaders.”
Matthews also explained how it doesn’t ever get old seeing so many faces interested in playing tennis here in Tipp.
“You get to know a lot of families and I like getting to know them as individuals,” she said. “I think when you connect with the athletes outside of the sport, they really buy into what type of culture we are trying to create here. They want to put forth more of an effort.”
