What are Vermont tennis kids up to?
For all of us, 2020 and 2021 have begun to feel like lost years, especially where youth athletics are concerned. Statewide competition for high schoolers was curtailed in 2020, and when high school sports resumed in 2021, there was a shared sense that athletes were making up for lost time.
This issue highlights collegiate and high school tennis in our area. It also showcases 2021 summer opportunities for training and competition, culminating in the Vermont Grand Prix Tennis Tournament in July and August and a trip to New England JTT sectionals in Springfield, MA, for a team from The Edge in Essex, Vermont.
Please continue to celebrate the enthusiasm, joy, and competitive spirit that our young players express around the game of tennis: they are the future of our sport.
We encourage Vermonters to participate in the “I Am a Tennis Player” USTA New England photo campaign. It’s easy to do: simply submit photos of your life off and on the court, including career interests, family life, and hobbies such as skiing, skydiving, cooking, and gardening. Every Vermont tennis player has a unique tennis story to tell through this medium and can help put our Vermont uniqueness on the New England tennis map.
To date, while all of New England is well represented, there have been no entries in this months-long campaign from the Green Mountain State.
Whether you are a learn-to-play enthusiast, 3rd grader, nationally ranked competitor, or octogenarian, please consider putting a shoot together at the link found below or by contacting Joanna Beall directly at ustavtassoc@gmail.com. You are invited to share this email with your teammates, students, and friends. Let’s get Vermont tennis out there!
Joanna Beall
President, USTA Vermont
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Spring 2021 Local High School and College News
From the Desk of USTA PTA Pro and Tournament Director Damon Fitch
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After the 2020 Vermont high school tennis season was a complete wash due to the COVID 19 pandemic, the nets were back up for the 2021 campaign – and the final results are in.The State Individual Boy’s and Girl’s High School Championships took place at Leddy Park - for the boys - and Burlington Tennis Club (BTC) -for the girls- in late May. |
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In 3 of the 4 finals contested, the matchups were between players from Stowe and Burlington.
Only the Boy’s Singles broke the pattern with defending champ (2019) Mate Koszo of St. Johnsbury becoming the 7th multiple champion of the boy’s singles event as he took out Aidan Jensen of Essex in the finals 7-5, 6-3. In the Girl’s Singles final, after twice losing to her during the regular season, Skylar Graves of Stowe exacted revenge over Ruby Wool of Burlington with a 6-4, 6-4 victory.
Also winning for Stowe in the Girl’s Doubles final were Gabby Doehla and Kate Tilgner, who beat Burlington’s Anna Jenemann and Libby Westbrook. But it would be a team from Burlington that would get the Boy’s Doubles title as Tito Schulman and Sam Silberman held on for the title with a 6-1, 1-6, 10-7 victory over Bo Graves (Skylar Grave’s brother) and Woody Reichelt of Stowe in the finals.
Over the first two weeks of June, the girls competed for the Team trophy. Stowe took center stage again as they completed an undefeated season by closing out the championship in Division I with a 5-2 victory over South Burlington in the finals. Stowe has now won a total of 14 State team titles overall, including 3 in Division I and 11 in Division II. They last won a Division I title back in 1978.
As for the Division II title this year, that went to the girls from Montpelier, who edged Middlebury 4-3 for Montpelier’s 8th Division II State Title.
An all Division 1 team challenge for the boys resulted in CVU upending previously undefeated Burlington in the final 4-3; the title came down to a matchbreaker in the deciding match. The championship was the first for CVU since 2000 – and the fifth in CVU history
It was great to see all the student athletes back on the court and competing at such a high level!
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NAC East College Champs - NVU! |
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Local pro and Northern Vermont University Coach of the Year Laura Laramee brought the NVU Hornets to their first-ever NAC East Men’s Tennis title for 2020-21. Laramee also led her squad to their first wins in program history over in-state rival Castleton University. For the first time in over ten years, the Hornets also defeated pre-season favorite Thomas College 8-1 and came out of the NAC East Championship match victorious again.
Look out for the Hornets and Laura Laramee who is well known throughout the Northern Vermont region as a college and high school head coach, USTA team captain and player, and USPTA and USPTR certified teaching professional.
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Tennis in the Parks
From the Karen C. Didricksen, USTA TSR, Vermont
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For three years, Tennis in the Parks (TIP) has offered beginner tennis clinics to both youth and adults throughout New England. In the Northeast region, there were approximately 35 spring and summer TIP programs with Vermont hosting in 5 towns. New England introduced tennis to 1500 new players with juniors comprising 85% of the population, leaving 15% adults. In Vermont we attracted 24 adults and 61 juniors, rounded up to 77 once we added in Lebanon, NH. In total, we brought 101 new players to the game!
The program design is simple: USTA New England recruits, hires, insures, trains (including Safe Play certification), and compensates the coaching staff. Sessions last six (6) weeks and each student receives an age and size appropriate racquet and t-shirt. Coaches are provided training and a proven curriculum to better lead their programs. Each coach then has the latitude to adapt their clinics to their own teaching style or student needs.
2021 saw USTA New England support the following Vermont towns and coaches:
Winooski (spring session only) with Joe Michno coaching both youth and adult programs
Randolph (in its 3rd season) with Tyler Cain coaching-youth classes only
Barre City (2nd year) with Tyler Cain coaching-youth classes only
Castleton (1st year) with Frank Johnson coaching- both youth and adult classes
In nearby Lebanon, NH, Sandy Bryant coached both New Hampshire and Vermont youth.
Coaches are folks who want to help grow tennis and who love working with kids and beginners to introduce them to this great game. College students, adult league players, retirees, and current educators represent the bulk of this year’s coaching staff.
Click here to learn more on Tennis in the Parks and links to sign up to become a Tennis in the Parks coach.
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Bennington Aces visit Tennis Hall of Fame
From Sandy Foster
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On August 8, 2021, a group of nine Bennington Aces NJTL (National Junior Tennis and Learning foundation) participants realized a plan three years in the making. Along with Marguerite Marano of TeamFame in Rhode Island, Executive Director Sandy Foster first planned a trip to Newport’s International Hall of Fame museum and grounds in 2018. A trip in 2020 was canceled due to interstate travel restrictions; this year’s excursion was almost called off due to the surge in Delta variant cases. But they made it!
9 of the NJTL’s most dedicated students were chosen to attend: those who hadn’t missed a session of programming in 2020, and those who emerged as leaders in this year’s summer program. The one-day trip took place on August 18, and it was an amazing experience for all. Students embraced the interactive exhibits in the International Hall of Fame museum and were dazzled by the very well-manicured grass courts. They also learned how hard it is to play on grass!
The Bennington Aces have extended an invitation to Marguerite and her TeamFame NJTL participants to visit Vermont next summer and enjoy our Green Mountains—and hard courts.
To learn more about the Bennington Aces, Click here
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Vermont Junior Tennis - Summer 2021
From the desk of Tammy Azur
The EDGE Tennis Director and USPTA Certified Elite Professional
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There was something for everyone this summer at the Edge. Junior Tennis was busy with our many junior programs, camps, tournaments, and town recreation programs. Camps brought players of all ages to practice and compete together throughout the summer. From kids playing their very first match ever to our u18 team competing at the New England Sectionals, they all worked hard, played hard, and had fun this summer. |
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Summer Recreation Tennis Camps |
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Along with our in-house camps, Edge Tennis staff was also busy directing and teaching many local town recreation tennis programs. Burlington camps at Leddy and Calahan parks were filled weekdays and evenings; the busy Itty Bitty and Adult programs saw record growth in the new player division. Essex High School was the popular outdoor home of Essex junior camps and also hosted a Wednesday evening Parent/Child Program consistently at its maximum capacity of 32 participants. Williston Central School was also booming with players, so an afternoon camp was added to meet the demand. It was a great summer outdoors at all the park locations.
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Kids ages 6-14 could attend half-day summer camps during selected weeks in 2021. It was a great way to learn new skills, meet new friends and for some, to try tennis for the first time. The Edge offered Orange Ball (ages 6-8), Green Ball (ages 8-10) and Yellow Ball (ages 10-14) at both the Essex and Eastwood locations. Camps were packed with players of all ages and abilities as many camps filled to capacity. |
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Our junior team tennis program gave players ages 10-18 the chance to train and play weekly matches. Our u14 (14 and under) players competed in home and away matches vs. Quechee Tennis Club, Kids on The Ball, and Burlington Tennis Club (BTC). Our u18 players challenged one another in-house and competed in doubles and singles matches against Stowe Tennis Club. Our co-ed u18 team qualified for the NE Sectionals held on August 12-13 in Springfield, MA to compete against players from Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. Up against stiff competition from all teams, there were many thrilling wins in the singles, doubles, and mixed doubles categories. Players included Bea Molson, Hannah Knickerbocker, Sam Molson, David Knickerbocker, Eric Bhave, and Sage Bennett. |
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The Edge in Essex hosted two singles tournaments for boys and girls with u14 and u18 division play. We also ran a Team Tennis Tournament with 4 co-ed teams consisting of 4-6 players. The round-robin tournament was a huge success. |
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Team Tennis Tournament
July 22-23, 2021
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1st Place
Super Team
(87 games won)
Eric Bhave, Hugo Crainich, Ruby Wool, Kennedy Desautels, Elizabeth Garritty
2nd place
Derin’s Gang
(81 games won)
Derin Suren, David Knickerbocker, Aidan Greer, Bea Molson, Grace, Destina Suren
3rd Place
Friends
(58 games won)
Will Downey, Sam Molson, Anna Dauerman, Sage Bennett
4th Place
SB & Friends
(37 games won)
Sriram Sethuraman, James Bialas, Chris Bialas, Ranjani Sethuraman Tselha Tenzin, Sage Kehr
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Singles Tournament
August 5-7 2021
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Girls U18 Finals
Bea Molson def. Sage Bennett 4-1, 4-0
Boys U18 Finals
Sriram Sethuraman def. Will Downey 4-1, 4-2 (3rd place Dylan Torrizo)
Girls U14 Finals
Bea Molson def. Hannah Knickerbocker 4-1, 4-0
Boys U14 Finals
Jamie Mills def. Christopher Guyette 4-1, 4-1 (3rd place James Bialas)
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