End of the Season Banquet

Dear Parents,

Regarding this Saturday's End-of-Season Banquet, the plan is to do awards first, then eat lunch, then play a little social tennis. We will start at 12 Noon and finish by 2 p.m. Players need to wear their uniforms and bring their racquets. Please have your child at the Boulevard Tennis Club no later than 11:50. The Boulevard is on the corner of 45th Street and Indian River Boulevard. We played two matches there this year, the first one that was rained out, and the make-up, the next week.

See you Saturday.

Coach Daugherty

PS I just realized I didn't post the results of our last match. We won, 5-2. Leading the way for the Stingray Tennis Team were Logan Woody and Chloe Schlitt, who each posted wins in Singles and Doubles. Also winning for the Stingrays were: Christian Corby, Shannon McLeod, Sara McKilligan, and Benjamin Baker. Congratulations to everybody. I had a great time coaching this team!

Saturday's Match, May 11, 2013

Our last match of the year is this Saturday, against Oslo Middle School. The match will be played at the Vero Beach Tennis Club and is scheduled for 12 Noon. Please have your child there no later than 11:45. I know that 4 of our players will not be there because of a chorus conflict in Orlando, so we need everyone else to show up so that we can field a team.

To get to the Vero Beach Tennis Club from 17th Street and US1, go south on US1 to Oslo Road. Turn right. Go through the light at Old Dixie and turn right at the church (look for the sign saying "Timber Ridge"). The address is 702 Timber Ridge Trail. We have played there once already this year, so if you went to that match, you may not need these directions.

If there is a threat of the match being rained out, we won't cancel the match until we know for certain that the courts will not be playable, so please be patient. Check your email one last time at 11:15 to see if there is an update from me. If you don't see one, the match is a go.

See you on Saturday!

Coach Daugherty

PS Be sure to bring LOTS to drink, as it will be hot. Sports drinks are ideal, but water is good, too.

Stingray Tennis Update, May 6, 2013

We played two matches last week, losing the first one to a very strong Gifford Middle School team, and coming back to tie Sebastian River Middle 7-7 on Friday.

This week is the last week of the season. There was a practice scheduled for Wednesday, but it is cancelled, due to the fact that I will be out of town this week with my father who is terminally ill. I will be back for our match on Saturday, against Oslo Middle School. The match will be played at the Vero Beach Tennis Club and is scheduled for 12 Noon. Please have your child there no later than 11:45. I know that 4 of our players will not be there because of a chorus conflict in Orlando, so we need everyone else to show up so that we can field a team.

To get to the Vero Beach Tennis Club, go south on US1 to Oslo Road. Turn right. Go through the light at Old Dixie and turn right at the church (look for the sign saying "Timber Ridge"). The address is 702 Timber Ridge Trail.

See you on Saturday!

Coach Daugherty

Two Matches This Week

Dear Players and Parents,

We have two matches this week and no practices.

The first match is on Wednesday, May 1st. It is against Gifford Middle School. The match will be played at Vero Beach High School. You should park in the East Parking Lot between the High School and the Performing Arts Center. The courts are behind the high school, so park in back. Make sure your child brings lots to drink. Players should arrive between 3:30 and 3:45, no later than 3:45.

The second match this week is against Sebastian River Middle School on Friday, May 3rd. The match will be played at Sebastian River High School. Please note this is a change in location. (Originally, it was going to be played at Sebastian Middle). Park by the stadium and walk to the back of the new building (freshman wing). Again, make sure your child has lots to drink. Players should arrive between 3:30 and 3:45, no later than 3:45.

See you Wednesday!

Coach Daugherty

PS Remember, in case of rain, the students will know if the matches have been cancelled before leaving school. Sometimes it will be raining in Vero Beach, but not in Sebastian, and vice versa, so plan on playing the match and if we have to cancel it, it might not be until the last minute. That's how it happens sometimes, particularly this time of year. Thank you for your understanding.

Stingray Tennis Update, April 21, 2013

The Storm Grove Middle School tennis team played Oslo Middle School yesterday at Hidden Palms. Though the official score was 4-3, Oslo winning, the unofficial score (all matches played) was Storm Grove 7, Oslo 5. We are going to consider this match a victory!

Oslo's team consisted of 7 boys and 2 girls. Our team consisted of 4 boys and 7 girls. So, in many matches, our girls competed against their boys. We lost a couple of these matches, but won most of them. I am very proud of our team's performance.

This week is an off-week. We do not have any matches or practices scheduled. However, I will have a voluntary practice on Wednesday, April 24th. Attendance at practice is not mandatory (this week only)! It is for anyone who wants to work on their game. Practice will begin at 3:00 and end at 4:30 and parents will need to pick up their children promptly at 4:30. Players will need to let me know if they are going to be there so that I may plan practice accordingly.

Thank you for your support of the tennis program!

Coach Daugherty

Here are some pictures from yesterday's match.

Team Photo

I thought this was a great team photo. Only 3 of our team are not in this picture. We'll get everyone together one day and try it again, but in the meantime, I hope you like this picture as much as I do. Thank you, Mrs. Schlitt, for taking the picture and making it available for all to see.

Stingray Tennis Update, April 14, 2013

The Stingray Tennis Team fought hard but lost their first match of the season yesterday against Gifford Middle School. The official score was 6-1. Picking up the lone win for the Singrays was the team of Angela Castlegrande and Meredith Moore, who won their doubles match 6-2. Other matches were close. Logan Woody lost in a tiebreaker at #1 Boys Singles, 7-6 and the team of Ashley Beck and Shannon McLeod lost in a tiebreaker at #2 Doubles, 7-6.

Though we lost, we can take consolation in the fact that we lost to a very good team. Several of their players play tournament tennis; in fact, their top Boys player and their top Girls player did not even play in the match because they were playing in USTA tournaments elsewhere. Our team is still relatively inexperienced, but the experience they got yesterday in their match against Gifford was huge.

We have practice this Wednesday, April 17th, after school until 5 p.m. We have a match against Oslo Middle School, on Saturday, April 20th. That match will be played at Hidden Palms Tennis Club. The address for Hidden Palms is 4291 5th Place SW. To get there (from SR 60), take 43rd Ave to 5th St. SW. Turn left on 5th St. SW, take the first right, then a quick right and follow the road as it winds around to the left and you're there. Players will need to report between 11:30 and 11:45. Match play will begin at 12 Noon and we'll be done by 2 p.m.

Also, there should be water court-side  but it's not a bad idea to bring some kind of sports drink with you because it's going to be hot!

Thank you for your continued support of the tennis team.

Coach Daugherty

Stingray Tennis Update, April 11, 2013

The Storm Grove Middle School Stingrays played their make-up match against Sebastian River Middle School yesterday. Mother Nature cooperated this time and we had beautiful weather. The official score was Storm Grove 4 Sebastian 3. Congratulations to Logan Woody and Ian Orzel who won their matches at Boys #1 and #2 Singles and also to Jackie Carabia and Angela Castlegrande who won their matches at Girls #1 and #2 Singles. We ended up playing several other matches and everyone on the team got some valuable experience.

Here are some pictures from the doubles match played by the Stingray team of Ashley Beck and Shannon McLeod. Thank you to Ashley's Mom for the pictures!

We will add more pictures as they become available.

Our next match is this Saturday against Gifford Middle School at The Vero Beach Tennis Club (Timber Ridge), located on Oslo Road between Old Dixie and 20th, closer to Old Dixie. The address is 702 Timber Ridge Trail SW. Players need to report between 11:30 and 11:45, no later than 11:45. The match will begin at 12 Noon.

Stingray Tennis Update, April 9, 2013

Whew! So much going on - this is going to be a busy week for the Stingray Tennis Team!

Wednesday, April 10, we are playing a "make-up" match against Sebastian River Middle, at The Boulevard Tennis Club, located on the corner of 45th Street and Indian River Boulevard. Players need to report no later than 3:45. This  is a make-up match for the match that was started last Friday, but got rained out after one hour of play. We are going to start all over, meaning that the matches that were completed before the rain came, do not count.

All members of the team will play, either singles or doubles, in some cases both.

Saturday, April 13, we are playing against Gifford Middle School at 12 Noon. The match will be played at the Vero Beach Tennis Club, located in Timber Ridge, between Oslo Road and 20th Street. Players need to report between 11:30 and 11:45, no later than 11:45.

I am going to try to get some pictures to post on this page. Parents, if you take any pictures, please forward them to me at lcctennispro@yahoo.com.

We encourage parents to attend the matches, but please remember that it is inappropriate and unsportsmanlike to coach your children during match play. Also remember that tennis is not like football or basketball, in that you cannot shout out during a match. You can give sign language, but be careful of what you say. Opponents might not like it and opponents' parents might find it offensive. You can clap after a good shot, but you shouldn't clap after an opponent's error. So be careful.

I stopped by Hidden Palms today to see some of the GMS/Oslo tennis match. GMS is definitely loaded with talent and they are the most talented of all of the middle schools in this county. Oslo is good, too, but Gifford has several players that are tournament tough. Be forewarned, we will be big underdogs on Saturday.

That's all for now. Thank you for your continued support of the tennis program.

Sincerely,

Coach Daugherty

Stingray Tennis Update, April 5, 2013

Our first match of the season was today and I'm sorry to say that Mother Nature did not cooperate. She did for a little while, but then she decided to rain, and you can't mess with Mother Nature. So we are going to reschedule today's match to finish what we could not finish today.

I was pleased with our play today. Congratulations to Chloe Schlitt, who won her match at #1 Girls Singles, 6 - 1. But she was not our only Stingray who deserves recognition for a job well done.

Ian Orzel, a sixth grader, was forced to play #1 Boys Singles, because our best player, Woody Logan, was out of state. Ian battled Sebastian River's #1 Boys Singles throughout his match, and though he was losing in a close match that was not completed, 5-3, Ian showed that he can compete with anybody.

Angela Castlegrande was winning her match 4-2 when the rains came. She was playing very well and was well on her way to a victory.

Sierra Corby and her "little brother" Christian, lost 6-3 in a close match that was very competitive.

Sunny Lulla also lost, at #2 Boys Singles, but his match was also competitive, losing 6-3.

Shannon McLeod and Ashley Beck were neck and neck with their match that was incomplete when the rains came and Rachel Kozdra and Litzy Gonzalez had barely gotten started when they were forced to find shelter from the rain.

Like I said, we will reschedule, and we will let you know the date.

A couple notes to parents:

1) On match days, if there is a question about whether the match will take place or not, due to weather, we will do everything in our power to play the match. The matches we play are played on soft courts, which soak up a light rain easily, so we will not cancel matches until one hour before match play is to begin. If the match is on a school day, students will be notified during the afternoon announcements, which occur approximately at 2:40 p.m. Please do not email me at my home email address to check on the status of the match. I do not check my home email address while teaching school, so I won't be able to reply in a timely fashion if you email me at home. Even if you email me at school, you won't be able to get an answer from me any sooner than when your child will know, which again will be at the end of the school day, so check with them, not me, if the match is scheduled on a school day. If the match is scheduled for a Saturday, such as our next scheduled match, you can call me or text me at 772.240.6436 one hour before the match is scheduled to begin, if there is any question as to whether or not the match will be cancelled. If you don't hear back from me, the match is on!

2) It was great to see so many parents there today. We so appreciate your support. Please note that it is considered inappropriate and in bad etiquette to coach your child during a match. This is not allowed. Please show restraint.

In closing, thank you for your continued support of the Storm Grove Middle School Tennis Program. Our next scheduled practice is Weds, April 10. Our next match is scheduled for Saturday, April 13th, at the Vero Beach Tennis Club (Timber Ridge) on Oslo Road, between Old Dixie and 20th Avenue.

Please check back before then to see if there have been any updates.

Respectfully,

Coach Daugherty

Introduction

Welcome to the Storm Grove Tennis Website. The purpose of this website is to have an online means of relaying information to Stingray tennis players and their parents. I hope you find it useful.

We had our third practice today, Wednesday, April 3rd. Our team is getting excited about our first match, which is scheduled for this Friday, April 5th, at The Boulevard. We will be playing Sebastian River Middle School. Match play begins at 4 p.m. Players need to report no later than 3:45 p.m. The competition should last until 6 p.m. but there is a good chance it may go a little longer than that.

After practice today, I drove over to Hidden Palms to watch some of the Oslo/Sebastian River match. It was their first match. Both of their teams looked good. I spoke to both of the coaches and they both noted that many of the matches went longer than they expected. So, instead of playing 8 game pro-sets, they changed some of the later matches to 6 game pro-sets. As it was, their match that was supposed to take 2 hours, took 2 and 1/2 hours, maybe longer.

We may decide to change the format so that all matches are 6 game pro-sets, instead of 8 game pro-sets. Players will play one set, with no-ad scoring. First to win 6 games wins, but you have to win by 2 games. If it gets to 6-all, a 7 point tie-breaker will be used to determine the winner.

One other note, the boys for Oslo and Sebastian were both wearing their gym shorts. I would like our boys to wear their gym shorts, too. The only drawback is that the gym shorts do not have pockets where you can keep an extra tennis ball for when you are serving. If you can find some tennis shorts that are the same color (blue) as the gym shorts, that would be great! I wish the gym shorts were green, because Sebastian's colors are also blue and I would like us to look different than Sebastian, but since this is the first match of the season, blue or green shorts will work just fine. For the girls who don't have the skirt that was made available for purchase, they should also wear their gym shorts, or else some other skirt/shorts that are either blue or green.

That's it for now. Please feel free to leave a comment or to ask a question. I will check this blog daily.

Looking forward to our first match!

Coach Daugherty