Remaining Schedule for Storm Grove Tennis Beginning Monday, April 23, 2018

Parents,

Here is the remaining schedule for the rest of the tennis season. The two Fridays in May have not yet been officially confirmed, but as soon as they are I will let you know.

Please take note that there is no practice this Wednesday, April 25, due to that day being an "Early Release Day".

Also, this Friday the match is at Riverside Park against St. Ed's. Players should report no later than 3:45. Both teams are playing and I ask you to confirm by replying to my email.

Here is a picture from last Friday's match at Timber Ridge.

Hope you enjoy what's left of the weekend and I will see you soon!

Coach Mike

Tennis Update: Week of April 16, 2018

Dear Parents,

Thank you for coming to the match last Friday at the Vero Beach Tennis Club at Hidden Palms. I was disappointed that they didn’t field a team of beginners. There were a lot of them there, but their coach told me it was their first practice of the season and they weren’t ready for match play. I urged him to have them play, that our team has a lot of beginners too, but it didn’t happen. So our team played a lot of practice matches. They had a roster of 9 kids, all who were experienced. We had a few players at their level, but many of our players were over-matched and I don’t like that. Anyway…

This week is a little confusing. We have three matches this week. Friday is a rematch against Oslo/St. Helen’s/Imagine. Same team we played last Friday. Same location, Timber Ridge. We will be done by 5:30. Kids should report at 3:45. Hopefully, they will have their beginners playing against our beginners this time.

Kids who normally practice on Tuesday (the Manta Rays) have a match this week instead of practice. The match is at Grand Harbor. The kids will be playing against a squad of players who go to Masters or are home-schooled.

Kids who normally practice on Weds (the Electric Rays) have a match this week instead of practice. The match is at Grand Harbor. The kids will be playing against a squad of players who go to Gifford Middle School.

To get to Grand Harbor from Storm Grove, turn right on 58th Ave, turn left on 53rd St, cross US1, and turn right on Indian River Boulevard. The Grand Harbor entrance will be 1/2 mile down Indian River Boulevard on the left. It is a gated community. At the gate you will need to tell them your child's name and whoever else is in your car. Tell them you are there for the Middle School tennis match. They will have a list of all of the players on the team. They will give you a permit to enter and give you directions to the tennis facility.

Practice will be as usual on Monday and Thursday.

Finally, I have another opportunity for the kids. It is to be a “ball kid” at the upcoming Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Professional Tennis Tournament later this month at Grand Harbor. I am helping the MFCF organize a team of kids who will serve as ball kids on three different days: Monday, April 23, from 5-7 p.m. and Finals Weekend, Sat and Sun, April 28 & 29, from 12 Noon – 3. Kids get to see a professional tournament with players from all over the world, up close, court-side, which is AWESOME, but they need to learn their duties as ball kids. As I said, I will train them this week on Monday and Thursday. If your child is a ball kid, parents get to attend and watch the matches at no charge. Tickets are $10 normally. Please let me know if you and your child are interested and if so, what dates you are available. Have a great rest of the weekend!

Coach Mike

Tennis Update: Week of April 9, 2018

Parents,

It was good to see so many of you at our first match last Friday at Hidden Palms. I was proud of the way our teams competed and happy with their respectful behavior. Hidden Palms management told me that they were impressed with the way our kids behaved. That is always good to hear.

There is no practice tomorrow, Monday, April 9th. The rest of the week will go as usual. Practice on Tues and Thurs for the Manta Ray team, Practice on Weds for the Electric Rays team, then a match on Friday for both teams, at the Vero Beach Tennis Club, located at Timber Ridge, on Oslo Road in South Vero Beach. The Manta Rays will be playing against Oslo MS and the Electric Rays will be playing against St. Helen's. Those teams are not as big as our teams, so we may end up playing some practice matches against each other again or against both of the other teams, so that we get more match experience.

To get to the VBTC at Timber Ridge (from SGMS), head south on 58th, all the way to Oslo Road (9th St. SW). Turn left on Oslo Road, then head east about 5 miles. Drive past the traffic lights at 43rd, 27th, 20th and then look for the church on the left, about a mile east of 20th. It is called Morning Star Church. There will be a sign saying Timber Ridge. Turn left there and follow the road slowly until you reach the Vero Beach Tennis Club on the right.

OK, one last item. The Mardy Fish Children's Foundation, which sponsors our tennis program, has a professional tournament this month. It is called the Mardy Fish Children’s Foundation Tennis Championships. They need "Ball Kids" to work some of the matches. It is a great way to watch professional tennis up close and in person! If your child is interested in being a "ball kid" they may sign up at this link: https://campscui.active.com/orgs/MardyFishChildrensFoundation. I encourage our players to be a "ball kid" but they would have to sign up quickly (like today) because training is tomorrow night, April 9th, at Grand Harbor Tennis Club from 5pm to 6pm.

As always, thank you for your support!

Coach Mike

Storm Grove Middle School Tennis Team