The snow that blanketed New York City last Tuesday morning couldn’t stop nearly 50 excited youngsters from trekking to the Roosevelt Island Racquet Club for the first day of NYJTL’s Presidents’ Week Doubles tournament.
A total of 112 boys and girls, ages 9 to 18, from all across the city competed over the course of this three-day event, which was held during schools’ mid-winter break. Each morning began at 6:30am with registration periods that NYJTL Community Tennis Programs Manager, Scott Daly, called “organized chaos.” After registration kids hit the courts each playing between four and six games in a round robin format. After several hours of fun competition, the pairs who accumulated the most points in their groups were awarded winners’ medals.
For Shawn Yon, whose son – also named Shawn – competed in the 9- and 10-year-old division, his enjoyment of the game is the most important thing. “Shawn loves the NYJTL program,” he said. “The coaches are great and they push him to get better. He’s fallen in love with tennis.”
Waking up early to play tennis is nothing new for these kids. They’re up before dawn every Saturday and Sunday morning to participate in NYJTL’s 20-week Winter Program at indoor venues throughout the city.
Presidents’ Week Doubles is one of 80 special events that the Community Tennis Programs will hold in 2015.
For pictures of this event, and more, please see our Media Gallery.