EXECUTIVEBOARD
Jo to DivisionPresident johnefrausto@gmail.com
CathyThomas RegionalVicePresident Cthomas6@cincirrcom
Ma g ton 2ndVicePresident mboughton@ymva-cv.org
AndrewCoon 3rdVicePresident andrew.coonstl@gmail.com
K i Treasurer/Secretary kgyulai@oakland-hills.com
M s PastPresident tenace4@gmail.com
Hello RSPA Midwest professionals. It’s amazing how fast the Summer went buy and we are now headed into our indoor seasons. The RSPA has been very busy, and we are looking forward to closing the 4 quarter strong! t h
We returned to Cleveland for our annual educational and awards event We are fortunate in the Midwest to have WTA and ATP events to partner with The WTA 250 Tennis in the Land tournament is a proud partner of the RSPA Midwest Division What an honor to share the successes with our Midwest award winners and 3 new Hall of Fame Inductees in beautiful Cleveland, Ohio Congratulations to Dallas Aleman and Mike Graff for being part of the 2025 Midwest RSPA Hall of Fame class of inductees I am blessed to be a part of that group as well How special it is to be a part of this distinguished group of racquet sports professionals!
It’s been a few short weeks since we returned from the big island and our World Racquet Conference (WRC25). The RSPA was looking to change things up with our WRC25 and we were not disappointed. We had a stellar line-up of presenters who included Matts Wilander, Brenda SchultzMcCarthy and Craig O’Shaunnesey. The theme of the conference was “Rebrand You.” What a powerful message. The industry and landscape are changing, facilities are no longer just hiring tennis professionals, Racquet Sports Professionals are becoming the new norm. Now, tennis is still at our core but platform, pickleball, squash and padel are emerging racquet sports and we are the force behind their implication across the United States and World. Next years WRC26 will be held in Dallas so make it a point to come and join us.
With finishing out the year, what are you doing as a professional to take yourself to the next level? As an RSPA Midwest Board, we currently have 4 members who have 3 plus racquet sports certifications. I challenge you to expand your horizons and look to add another racquets certification to your resume I’d also challenge you to reach out to your fellow instructors who were former USPTA/RSPA members or who have never been certified to start the process We have a lot of momentum and want to see every racquet sports instructor certified I feel we owe that to our clubs and members Look to Rebrand You and take your game to the next level into 2026 Let’s finish out the year strong and see you on the courts soon!
John Frausto, RSPA Midwest President
2024 RSPA Midwest Professional of the Year
2024 RSPA Midwest Illinois Pro of the Year
2024 RSPA Midwest Wisconsin Pro of the Year
2024 RSPA Midwest Indiana Pro of the Year
2024 RSPA Midwest Michigan Pro of the Year
2024 RSPA Midwest Fay Tooley Award
2024 RSPA Midwest Nancy Mickler Award
2024 RSPA Midwest Elevate Award
2024 RSPA Midwest High School Coach of the Year
2024 RSPA Midwest Individual Jr. Coach of the Year
2024 RSPA Midwest Large Facility Manager of the Year
2024 RSPA Midwest Small Facility Manager of the Year
2024 RSPA Midwest Charity of the Year (10K or less)
2024 RSPA Midwest Dan Oliver State Presidents Award
Kati Gyulai
Mike Lange
Scott Ficks
Lucas Waak
Amy Nestle
Dallas Aleman
Mary Herrick
Kyle Pipkin
Andrew Shipp
Joe Stafford
Stuart Nett
Jason Norville
Kristen Harrison
Costin Fink
ByCostinFink,RSPAWisconsinStatePresident
At the Summer Symposium in Cleveland OH, Matt Davis presented on “Tips to Play Better Platform Tennis” This presentation was primarily aimed at various tactics that the servers and receivers can do to be more effective from thosepositions Matttalkedabouthowtheserverscouldstart2backifthereturnsarebeingdrivenhardatthem He alsotalkedabouthowthenetplayercouldstartineither“I”or“Australian”formationtocreatedifferentlooksforthe t t F th t t ti M ttt lk d b th th i l bi t th iddl fth t
Themed rounds such as “80s Night,” “French Open Gala,” or “Davis Cup” can add a social layer to regular play
Combine social play with light instruction, fun challenges (targets, king-of-the-court formats), and music
Keep capacity flexible by offering short, social formats (e.g., 90-minute rounds) to fit busy member schedules.
by John Frausto, RSPA Midwest President/ RSPA Elite Professional
Racquet sports are experiencing unprecedented momentum. In the United States, over 25 illi l i i i $2 billi k d h ll generation of racquet sports leaders.
John is an RSPA Elite Professional and RSPA Pickleball Certified, and he is currently working toward his RSPA Padel and Platform certifications demonstrating his commitment to ongoing professional development in the racquet sports industry He has been recognized with several prestigious awards, including the 2012 RSPA Midwest Facility Manager of the Year and the 2006 RSPA Wisconsin Teaching Professional of the Year. As the former Head Men’s and Women’s Tennis Coach at Marian University, John led the Sabre Tennis Team to four consecutive winning seasons a first in the school’s history and was named the 2007 Northern Athletic Conference Women’s Coach of the Year
John is the founder and director of Topspin Tennis, a platform that delivers high-quality video
instruction and podcasts to tennis players worldwide He has presented at numerous tennis conventions, including the Wisconsin, Indiana, and Ohio High School Tennis Coaches Association events, and co-produced the instructional DVD “53 Drills for Better Tennis” with his mentor, Oscar Wegner.
With over 30 years of experience in the racquet sports industry, John has coached numerous state, sectional, and nationally ranked tennis players, several of whom have gone on to compete at the Division I level.
Passionate about helping others and giving back to the community, John currently serves as the RSPA Midwest Division President and has been a member of the Midwest Board for 16 years. He is also actively involved with the USTA, serving as the Junior Team Tennis (JTT) Coordinator for the Wisconsin Northeast League, the largest JTT program in the state.
John and his wife of over 25 years Julie, reside in beautiful Plymouth, WI Their daughter, Morgen, is a senior at Indiana University Indianapolis, where she was a member of their Men’s and Women’s Swim and Dive team Their son, Gianni, will be a senior at Plymouth Comprehensive High School
BIO- Mike Graff, Omaha, NE. RSPA Elite Professional
Mike began his tennis career as a high schooler in Danville, Il working for Hall of Famer Scott Simpson and his brother Tom at the Danville Tennis Club. Sweeping courts, stringing racquets, front desk, and helping with juniors It was a tremendous beginning and planted the seed for the future including the benefits of RSPA certification
During college at Oakland University in Rochester, Mi he played four years of varsity tennis and worked at Crescent Lake Racquet Club, One on One Athletic Club and the Sports Club of West Bloomfield. After college graduation and RSPA certification, Mike spent 13 more years at the Sport Club of West Bloomfield where he worked his way through many positions including Adult Tennis Director, Sports Camp Director and his last six years as Sports Director managing Btennis, gymnastics, martial arts, dance, camps and swim.
After a short stint in Massachusetts, Mike returned to the Detroit area for 20 years with Jeff Stassen and Jim Fleming at Baseline Tennis During this time, he served as Director of Birmingham Athletic Club, General Manager/Tennis Director of Farmington Tennis Club, and thirteen years as Racquets Director at Birmingham Country Club where he grew the tennis program as well as starting Platform Tennis and Pickleball programs from scratch.
During his time in Detroit Mike served on the USPTA/RSPA board in every position from Eastern Michigan Vice President, Michigan President, Executive Board and culminating with President and Past President in 2020-2023 Through the years he was honored by the RSPA Midwest as Rookie of the Year, Michigan Professional of the Year, Faye Tooley Award, and Facility Manager of the Year.
He was also a long time USTA volunteer serving on the Southeast Michigan Board for many years including President. Additionally, he served as the SEMTA Junior Competition Chair, District Qualifier Tournament Director, District Endorser, and Grievance Committee for many years Mike served at the Midwest USTA committee level in Adult Competition, Junior Competition and Junior Ratings and Rankings
Mike and his family are currently living in Omaha, NE where he is the Head Pro at Genesis Health Club – Westroads.
Dallas Aleman, and his wife Nancy, have owned and operated Towpath Tennis Center since 1984 Dallas is from Akron, OH where he began his tennis career learning and playing tennis in the public parks. Just last year he received his certificate for being a 50-year member of the RSPA (formerly the USPTA).
Dallas played competitive collegiate tennis at the University of Akron. After graduating with a BA in Liberal Arts, he moved to San Francisco to attend law school at Golden Gate University His plan was to work with professional athletes (in tennis) as an agent and promoter While in California, he played competitive Satellite events, coached and taught tennis. He also was active with the USPTA and was one of the founding members of the Northern California division as Secretary After completing law school, he had an offer to return to Akron and work at Towpath Racquet Club with a buy/sell agreement to take over ownership. Along with his wife, they became owners of an aged nine court bubble facility that needed a lot of work. They have grown the facility and completely changed the footprint of the club several times over the years. It is now a nationally recognized award-winning facility where tennis, pickleball, a specialty pro shop and community outreach make up the club’s DNA.
Over his career, he has touched every aspect of tennis Dallas has played competitively, taught and coached tennis, owned a club, promoted and organized programs, and designed the construction of courts, buildings, retail and more. Most of all, he has had a passion to share the sport with others.
Dallas is proud to say that he has never had another job outside of tennis. Through that time, he has been a constant seeker and learner of the game The RSPA has been a key aspect of staying on the leading edge of delivering tennis Being part of the RSPA, and the USTA on a volunteer basis, has been a way to share, learn and co-labor in the industry
Through all his years of ownership, Dallas has required that every staff pro become a (USPTA/RSPA) certified professional. Those pros through the years have gone on to become tennis directors, head professionals, college coaches, high school coaches and community organizers. He is especially proud of his Tennis Director, Katie Orlando who has been employed at the club for 32 years and has been honored as a Hall of Fame Inductee of the Midwest RSPA She is now in line to become the USTA Midwest President as well Each pro’s journey has been all about education, commitment to the game and students, volunteering, and outreach.
The proudest and most rewarding part of Dallas’ journey is to have his life partner, Nancy, be alongside him all the way. Having children, Natalie and Alex, grow up at the club and reach high levels of competitive tennis has been special Now his daughter, Natalie, is making the same commitment to the tennis world and business with a goal to take over the club Tennis has been a passion, a lifetime journey and one that he has shared upon thousands of people Dallas plans to continue the journey
The RSPA Midwest Nominating Committee has completed the slate for the RSPA Midwest Division Executive Board of Directors for 2026/ 2027and is submitting the following:
Midwest President - Cathy Thomas
Midwest Regional Vice President - Matt Boughton
Midwest First Vice President - Andrew Coon
Midwest Second Vice President - Kati Gyulai
Midwest Secretary -Treasurer - Costin Fink
Midwest Past President -John Frausto
Michigan President - Adam Ford
Michigan VP’s - Aldrin Campos, Lynn Bender, Kyle Pipkin
Indiana President - Lucas Waak
Indiana VP’s - Brock Orlowski
Wisconsin President - Aaron Kolz
Wisconsin VP’s - Jack Stuart, Monolito Kehoss
Illinois President - Sonthana Thongsitha vong
Illinois VP’s- Aaron Ruznak, Jake Wilson
Ohio President - Brian Shoman
OHIO VP- Kyra Wagner
By Lucas Waak. RSPA Indiana State President
“In August, Carmel High School honored alumni and former Carmel Greyhound tennis player Rajeev Ram by naming the featured court after his name Rajeev Ram, who is coached by RPSA Pro Bryan Smith, was a 2-time IHSAA State Champion and a part of the 2023 NCAA National Champion Illinois Fighting Illini He then went on to win 6 Grand Slam Titles to go along with 2 Olympic Silver Medals
At this year ’ s RSPA World Conference Brock Orlowski was honored with the RSPA Top Education Credit Earner for the past year. He accumulated 498.25 credits showing his dedication and commitment to continued education in the racquet sports industry Brock is the Director of Racquet Sports at the Fort Wayne Country Club as well as the RSPA Indiana State Vice President
We would like to acknowledge the passing of RSPA Midwest Hall of Fame member Will Cleveland. He was a former owner of Wildwood Racquet Club. Will was a former Indiana Pro of the Year as well as the first winner of the Midwest Facility Manager of Year Will was inducted into the Midwest Hall of Fame in 2012 Will’s dedication to the industry will continue to affect many for years to come ” Will Cleveland November 5, 1954-September 5, 2025
By Costin Fink, Wisconsin State President
I’d like to start by recognizing and congratulating three of our Wisconsin Clubs run by RSPA Pros who were recognized by the USTA at the US Open this year as Outstanding Facilities Those three clubs are:
Wisconsin Athletic Club (WAC)- Lake CountryHartland
John & Fay Menard YMCA Tennis Center- Eau Claire Sports Core- Kohler
I’d also like to congratulate Scott Ficks on being awarded Wisconsin Pro of the Year during our Summer Symposium in Cleveland!
Speaking of Scott! He’ll be hosting pickleball certifications in Wisconsin on 11/8 at the WAC in Hartland, and on 11/23 at Sports Core in Kohler!
Congratulations are also in order to John Frausto on being inducted into the Midwest Division Hall of Fame during our Summer Symposium in Cleveland! In addition, two of John’s private clients won their second consecutive state championship in doubles this fall The duo went 2 seasons without losing a single match! Great job John!
By Sonthana Thongsithavong, RSPA Illinois State President
Mark your calendar for the Illinois HS Coaches Clinic at the 5 Star Tennis Club, Plainfield on February 6-7 Congratulations to Mike Lange, RSPA Illinois Pro of the Year. Mike continues to give back to the RSPA as one of our Midwest Coach Developers.Mike is the Director of Racquet Sports at the Stonebridge Country Club in Geneva, Il
Certification opportunities for Tennis, Pickleball, Platform, Padel or Squash can be organized and brought directly to your club. Reach out to Greg Aten, RSPA Midwest Executive Director, for details.
Michael Mahoney, Senior Vice President & General Manager of the Midtown Athletic Clubs was one of the featured speakers at the RSPA World Conference in Kona in September. Thanks Michael, for your efforts and for giving back to your fellow peers.
Please reach out if you would like to host a mini conference or have news to share from the great state of Illinois, email me Sonthana thongsithavong@gmail com
By Brian Shoman, RSPA Ohio President
On Saturday, November 22 we will be hosting a mini conference in Columbus, Ohio from 1:30-4:30 PM The event will take place at Pickle and Chill, and we will let you know what speakers will be presenting We will also be offering a Pickleball certification during this event as well from 9:00-1:00 pm November 22 you can register at RSPA.net. So, please register for this event, bring professionals from your staff and join us for the day of continuing education & networking
n d ,
We will also have a pickleball certification in the morning starting at 9 AM
Also, we would like to congratulate Dallas Aleman, Cuyahoga Falls, OH, for his induction into the RSPA Midwest Hall of Fame. Along with that, we would like to congratulate Towpath Tennis Center, where Dallas is the owner, for becoming a platinum member for the RSPA Midwest They have everyone on their pro staff certified by the RSPA
The Girls High School State Championships were October 16-17 at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason,
We would like to congratulate the RSPA professionals that coached players or teams to the tournament: Brian Schubert, Susan Storrer, Shaun Stamps, Jeff Harst, Tim Morgan, Greg Aten & Lori Shulman.
If you have any news or events going on in Ohio that you would like to share, please email me bshoman@paramounttennisclub com
By Adam Ford, Michigan State President
Celebrating Excellence: Honoring Michigan - RSPA Midwest Award Winners
As the RSPA Michigan State President, I would like to recognize a group of extraordinary individuals whose dedication, leadership, and compassion continue to make a powerful difference in the lives of others in the State of Michigan We celebrate the accomplishments of our RSPA Midwest Award winners who go above and beyond, embodying the very spirit of service and community impact that defines our organization.
Each award recipient represents the best of what RSPA stands for: commitment to others, a drive to uplift our communities, and the courage to lead with purpose and integrity Whether through innovative community programs, selfless volunteerism, or passionate advocacy, these honorees have not only met challenges head-on, they have inspired all of us to do more and be better
Their work is more than admirable, it’s transformative. On behalf of the entire RSPA family, I extend our heartfelt congratulations to each of our award recipients. Your impact is deeply felt, and your legacy of service continues to elevate the standard for what we can achieve together
Your RSPA Midwest Award Winners from Michigan:
- Elevate Award- Kyle Pipkin - Holland, MI
- Charity of the Year (10K or less) – Kristen Harrison - Berkley, MI
- Small Facility Manager Award – Jason Norville - Southfield, MI
- High School Coach of the Year – Andrew Shipp - Clakston, MI
- Individual Jr Coach of the Year – Joe Stafford - Livonia, MI
- Michigan Pro of the Year- Amy Nestle - Big Rapids, MI
- Midwest Pro of the Year- Kati Gyulai - Bloomfield Hills, MI
- Hall of Fame Inductee - Mike Graff - Birmingham, MI
Platform Certification coming to Bloomfield Hills Country Club, November 8 , register at rspa.net t h
WINTER FORUM EDUCATION EVENT: Michigan High School Coaches Clinic will be at Hope College in Holland, MI on January 30-31 and the RSPA Midwest Division will be joining them this year What that means is you will receive 1.5 continuing education credits for every presentation you attend. Mark your Calendars and we will see you there!
By: Brock Orlowski, MBA, CDORS, RSPA Elite, PPR, RPO, LSA, SETS, DCA
The Midwest is known for being cold, snowy and icy, and having unpredictable weather. While Florida and the Southeast may boast temperatures in the 80s ear ro nd the Mid est brings a high
A great example of this is the RSPA Midwest Summer Symposium that took place this past August. Not only does the RSPA Midwest claim to be all in on racq ets b t the also sho it!
No matter which way you look at it, the Midwest is all in on racquets.
Let’s keep learning together. Let’s keep growing together. Let’s keep moving the industry forward… together.
#MidBEST
Brock Orlowski, RSPA
Fort Wayne Country Club is thrilled to be considered a Platinum Club member with the RSPA Midwest! It is a great honor that ref lects the Club’s commitment to continuing education of its staff and the staff’s commitment to bettering themselves for the membership.
Gaining RSPA certification is a huge achievement, but at our Club we also view it as a responsibility. It is a responsibility to our members to constantly seek ways to be better pros, instructors, and ambassadors of racquet sports. We owe it to our members to be at our best, because that is what they deserve. When professionals invest in themselves, they can come back and provide a better experience for our members and add more value to our Club.
We require all our staff professionals to seek RSPA certification, not just to add letters to their email signatures, but because it ensures a high level of education that will allow our programs and Club offerings to be run smoothly. Our racquets department brand signature is, “Creating Unforgettable Memories in Racquets,” and there will always be a connection to continuing education in reaching this standard.
We are proud to represent the RSPA Midwest with the Platinum Club designation. We have over a dozen fulltime coaches and another 6 part-timers that help us serve our membership here at the Wisconsin Athletic Club. We require all new hires to be certified with the RSPA or they must start the process immediately upon joining the team.Thanks to the support of our club owners and general manager we have been able to place a high priority on education, professionalism and improving our club management knowledge.
We also have six pickleball certified coaches who have completed those requirements and are now able to lead and grow our pickleball programming. One of our goals here at the WAC is to create racquet sports industry leaders and the resources provided by the RSPA have allowed us to constantly improve our coaching staff. The certification requirement is a no-brainer for our organization and helps to set us apart from other facilities. If your club management doesn’t require coaches to get certification, I encourage you to make it a priority. There aren’t any good reasons that all clubs shouldn’t be Platinum!
Value of RSPA Certified Pros at your club Non-negotiable
by Dallas Aleman, RSPA Elite Professional
The game of tennis is one of the most difficult games to learn and excel at. For anyone to learn it is a challenge to find the find the” right way ” ., As the owner of Towpath Tennis, I have emphasized and required that all our Pros take the pathway to certification as an elite RSPA professional. I want them to be able to present the “right pathway for each client.
The benefits are many. First it says that any person getting into teaching treats this work as a real profession that requires lifelong learning. As a 50 year plus member myself of the US PTA (RSPA) I value the knowledge, experience and community of professionals that are members of the association. I am proud to be a professional and be recognized by the RSPA for what I have done.
To be a member, it says to clients at our club that we care about having access and learning about the latest teaching techniques and using them To my pros it says that it is important that each of them be associated with other likeminded true professionals that are constantly learning and sharing
To the RSPA, it says that we fully support the mission of being a certifying organization that provides a full range of benefits to elevate my pros and elevate the profession of being a tennis professional Teaching tennis is a real job that only the elite can truly be successful at The RSPA helps everyone reach their highest level of potential if they get involved and if they make the effort to become the best that they can be These are the reasons that I require that my pros get into the pathway of certification and beyond Its non-negotiable
By Jack Stuart, RSPA Wisconsin State Vice President
In the heart of Wisconsin are Sand Valley’s 16 grass tennis courts. The courts are surrounded by towering prehistoric sand dunes in a tennis setting like no other. The courts have drawn in players from around the country to experience what it is like to play on the original surface of tennis. There was a time that 3 of the 4 majors were played on grass. Today, Wimbledon remains the only major to keep this tradition. In the US, grass courts make up far less than even one percent of all the courts in the country.
2018 is when the resort first launched its tennis program where there were 15 grass courts. In 2022, construction on a new golf course began and the tennis courts were stripped out to make way for the new course. At the same time, the resort planned a new layout for the tennis program. 2024 is when the courts were reintroduced to the resort and are now tied in with the Sedge Valley golf course, a new Italian restaurant named The Gallery, and a court for the original game of tennis which is played indoors with walls, wood racquets, and hand-made balls.
The 2025 season saw the opening of the new and improved tennis pro shop. The pro shop is in the building next to the tennis courts, attached to the restaurant and court/real tennis court. The shop is stocked up with a variety of merch options all with the new tennis logo. Guests will also find rental racquets, tennis balls, and racquet stringing services there.
Tennis players of all backgrounds are welcome to book court time throughout the season. The tennis season at the resort typically runs from Memorial Day weekend through the second or third week of October (weather dependent). Beyond court time, players are welcome to book a lesson or drill with a pro.
In the two seasons since the relaunch of the tennis program, the resort has hosted numerous events and groups. Some of these include USTA team practices, pros from outside clubs bringing their members for drills, junior and adult tournaments, high school and college matches/practices, and the prized Wimbledunes event. The 2025 Wimbledunes event saw 93 participants for a full day of grass court tennis and good times.
In 2026, anyone looking to book grass court tennis is encouraged to reach out to the resort or can contact Jack Stuart directly at jackstuart@sandvalley.com. The 2025 season saw reservations nearly double from the year prior and will continue to see growth as more word spreads. The resort is eager to collaborate with any groups or tennis pros for fun new ideas and events for many seasons to come.
by Scott Ficks, RSPA Elite Professional
team!"
Jeff Modrow-RSPA Professional
Rick Vetter, RSPA Master Professional Mequon, Wisconsin
Here are some of my personal reflections, experiences and career insights to becoming a successful RSPA career professional Good luck on your journey
1. Create a Vision/Mission Statement: What does my future look like? Who do I want to be?
2. Set Personal goals: Where do I want to be? What suits me best? What do I want to be famous for? Become a master at it whether it be a Staff Professional, Racquets Director, Club Leader or Owner.
3. Follow your Passion: Be proud of what you are doing.
4. Strive for Self-Improvement: Be a lifelong learner
5. Invest in yourself: attend professional development courses and conferences, seek out mentors.
6. Become the Best On-Court Professional: Meet the needs and desires of your clientele. Know what your students are looking for. Be a good communicator and listener. Be enthusiastic, create excitement and make it fun.
7. Be an Ambassador and Role Model for the Racquet Sports Industry: Educate, promote and market your sports to everyone you meet.
8. Always Act Professional: Be a person of moral character, be on time and stay late, dress professionally, call members by name, return phone calls/emails immediately, prepare lesson plans & adapt to your students needs, keep a clipboard or notebook for record keeping, help students pick up while getting to know them, educating them and complimenting them, always be positive and write gratitude notes or emails.
9. Know or learn a little bit from Every Department the Club/Facility offers: Look for more responsibilities to create growth.
10.Be Prepared and be Hands on: Do the little things, do the things others won't. Go the extra mile and it will always come back to you.
11.Be a Resource Center for your members and staff.
12.Take Care of Your Backyard: First invest in your membership then your community through the schools PE teachers and HS coaches, Recreation Department and any other influential local organizations to help grow the game(s). Get involved in local racket sports events and charities.
13.Make sure you have some Work-Life Balance.
14.Exercise everyday and be a Role Model of Health and Fitness for your clients and members. Promote Racquet Sports as the healthiest sports for longevity.
15.Treat everyone you touch with respect, dignity and empathy. Love your life and have an Attitude of Gratitude.
16.Find a Way to Give Back to the game(s) that have given you so much. The more you give back the more you get. Get involved with the RSPA and USTA.
17.Remember it is not about how much you know, it is about how much you care.
18.Club Philosophy: Cater to the Needs and Desires of your members.
19.Teaching Philosophy: Teach and Inspire. Teach/Coach the Person First, character and life lessons then the Activity/Sport Second.
20.Coaching Philosophy: 100% Effort, a Positive Attitude in a First Class Manner.
"If you can conceive it and believe it you can achieve it"
By Denny Schackter, RSPA Elite Professional
In early July, the Milwaukee Chapter of the ITA Alumni coupled with the Milwaukee Tennis & Education Foundation (MTEF) for a tennis clinic at Dineen Park in Milwaukee, home of MTEF’s summer program. The 19 students present were taught by college tennis alums Dusan Medan of Marquette, Denny Schackter of Wisconsin and Noah White of Iowa and one current college player, Emerson White, of St. Louis University. The purpose was to expose our young tennis players to the culture of college tennis by participating in a variety of drills. All the students at the event’s conclusion asked when they could have another clinic. In September, at the Milwaukee Tennis Classic, the longest running college tournament in the country, other than the NCAA’s, at 49 years, hosted ITA Alums for the tournament finals. There were over 30 former players in attendance. A short meeting with the alums conveyed the need for their involvement in tennis, not only as players, but ambassadors for the game, attending high school and college matches, and offering their talents to youngsters looking to play college tennis.
Denny Schackter, the old guy, and Noah White, the new guy, coordinated both events. Both are pleased with the response and hope to continue programming with other tennis entities in the future.
Greg Aten
Executive Director
386 Kings Court Copley, OH. 44321
