Tennis

Total Champion
Quick Start Tennis
10-and-under kids get on the fast track

By Rhonda Winstead Brown

We often lose good little athletes to other sports . . . good sports, mind you.

But how many soccer or baseball players never really considered tennis because:  #1 it’s too hard to learn at an early age and, #2 because they miss out on being a part of a team.(complete story)

VIDEO GAME SPARKS A TENNIS CAREER FOR BRIAN BULLOCK

Ardrey Kell High School sophomore Brian Bullock never imagined that a game of Super Mario Tennis on the Nintendo 64 game system would be the start of a sparkling tennis career.  After playing a few games on the video system when he was nine,  Brian told his mother, Michelle how he wanted to learn to play the actual game.  Michelle purchased a racquet and found a tennis coach and the rest is history.(complete story)

Total Champion
By Rhonda Winstead Brown

Nervous Nellie
Trick the Tennis Gremlin

Before a competition, jitters can get the best of us.

A bit of nervousness is expected, of course — the adrenaline rush from the impending battle.   But hard-core jitters can paralyze us and be our worst enemy.

A case of nerves is especially common when it comes to singles, because you’re alone out there.  No one on the court to give you a pep talk, to spread the responsibility for an impending loss.(complete story)

CHRISTY CORE SIGNS WITH CENTRAL FLORIDA FOR TENNIS

One of the top tennis players in the Southeast resides right here in South Charlotte.  Christy Core, a 17 year old senior at Covenant Day School has traveled across the country playing tennis against the best of the best on the court.  Christy holds national rankings in singles and doubles and this fall completed an undefeated high school tennis career.  The daughter of Hap and Paula Core recently signed an NCAA National Letter of Intent to play tennis for the University of Central Florida Knights.(complete story)

Playing Tennis like a Total Champion

        Our unpredictability on the tennis court sometimes baffles us, doesn’t it?
This tennis court whimsy is the self-pitiable story of us all.  If you’ve played tennis for any length of time, you know the storyline well.
        At times, we catch a euphoric wave.
        We’re in the zone — we can hit no shot wrong, we can hit no shot long.  Our confidence is raging off the meter.
        We strut and we preen and we fancy ourselves dangerous. (complete story)

GRACE BAKER ON THE RISE IN TENNIS

Carmel Middle School 8th grader Grace Baker is one of the top tennis players in North Carolina.  The 14 year old daughter of Charlie and Gayle Baker is the sixth ranked 14U player in the state.  Grace has earned this top ranking with successful play in some of the top tennis tournaments in the Southeast. (complete story)

TENNIS HAS BEEN A GOOD FIT FOR ERICA LUCAS           

Most high school students have grown up playing certain sports, rarely does one pick up a sport for the first time and find success in high school.  Erica Lucas, a Junior at Ardrey Kell High School found success on the tennis court. Since the summer between 9th and 10th grade,  Erica Lucas has been playing tennis.  Erica played soccer when she was 8 years old until she was 14 when she began to loose interest in the sport.  When Erica stopped playing soccer she knew she had to find something else to do. Erica’s mother Barbara Coward, suggested tennis and she decided to give it a try.  Little did Erica know that  suggestion would lead to her playing for the Ardrey Kell Varsity tennis team in 2006.  (complete story)

TENNIS FEELS JUST RIGHT FOR BAILEY THOMAS

Ten year old Bailey Thomas tried many sports before she found the game of tennis two years ago.  Swimming, gymnastics, soccer, softball, and cheerleading were among the sports for daughter of Al and Lori Thomas.  Nothing seemed to excite her until one day, by accident, she discovered tennis. (complete story)

YOUNG ARDREY KELL TENNIS TEAM IS THRIVING

The lack of a senior class can be a tough obstacle for high school teams. Ardrey Kell High School, in its first year of existence is battling hard in every sport to overcome that obstacle.  One team in particular, ladies tennis has bulldozed their way right through the barrier and instantly become one of the top teams in the area.  Head Coach Roy Hudson led his young netters to a 9-1 start in the first half of the season.

Led by top seed Christina Calott, the Knights are playing strong tennis both at home on the new Ardrey Kell tennis courts and away.  Calott, a junior is one of the top tennis players in the region and recently won the Concord Tennis Association Junior Open 18’s Division. (complete story)