The Washington Kastles played to a sold out Kastles Stadium at the Wharf Saturday night July 20th.  The breeze from the Potomac kept a sultry night bearable for the fans.

Thirty Metro Richmond Tennis Club members were on hand to flash “Refuse to Lose” cards provided by the Kastles organization and cheer for the “home team”.

The crowd helped the Kastles to emerge victorious over the New York Sportimes by the slimmest of margins-21-20.  The Kastles posted two consecutive undefeated seasons 2011 and 2012, a WTT record, and tied the 33 game winning streak record held by the LA Lakers 1971-72.

Martina Hingis, Raj Ram, Bobby Reynolds and Anastasia Rodionova played for the Kastles while Captain Murphy Jensen, a French Open doubles champion with his brother Luke, and Leander Paes, a winner of thirteen grand slam titles, watched from the side line.

MRTC kids formed a player tunnel to high five the players who sprinted into the Stadium through columns of smoke and cheers from the fans.  The kids returned from the match with Kastles T-shirts, free tennis racquets and a heart full of memories.

A few spaces are still available for the upcoming College Week Tennis Camp. These camps are for tournament players with an interest in playing college tennis and will introduce your child to college team practices with nearly 30 hours of personalized tennis instruction. They will include team practices, strategy from world-class coaches, and a daily break for lunch.

Top National Coaches to attend College Week

UVA – National Champs!  Brians Boland, Andres Pedroso and players

• #1, 4, 29, 35 ranked singles players in the nation.
• #2, 18, 30 ranked doubles teams in the nation.

Oklahoma – John Roddick.  #13 in the nation!
Notre Dame – Bob Bayliss.  #31 in the nation!
Virginia Tech – Jim Thompson.  #39 in the nation!

The camps are held at Willow Oaks Country Club and run 10:00am- 4:30pm daily.

2013 College Week Camp Brochure 2013

Congratulations to Somdev Devvarman and Jim Cain!

The winners of this year’s raffle were drawn on Sunday, July 14^th immediately following the women’s final of the McDonalds Mid Atlantic Clay Court Tournament held at Salisbury.  The overwhelming success of this year’s raffle allowed us to have two winners, both drawn by one of the ball kids at the tournament.

The proceeds of this year’s raffle will benefit junior tennis in Richmond. 

Five years ago, Wayne Motley was having a lot of trouble with high blood pressure and couldn’t last a set against his peers on the tennis court.

Fast forward to the present day, and Motley has not only gotten his blood pressure under control, but he’s able to stay on the court as long as it takes to win, and as of July 1, he’s the top-ranked player in the Mid-Atlantic in the 45s singles division.

“I tell you, I’ve stepped up,” said Motley, after winning the Davenport City Seniors 45s singles championship on Sunday, beating Tracy Jones 6-0, 6-2 in the final at Willow Oaks Country Club. “I’m playing as well now as I’ve ever played in my life.

“I feel like I’m about 30, 35 years old. I do it for the fun now. I really, really enjoy it. No temper tantrums. Whenever I do miss a shot, I think about why, the fact that I’m still out there. I just smile and go on to the next shot.”

Motley, 51, used to play No. 1 singles for Virginia Union University and could hold his own with most players in the open division of the Davenport City tournament. Now, he’s taken his game to a higher level, as Jones can attest after Sunday.

“He just overpowered me,” said Jones, 49, a former University of Richmond player. “He was on top of me the whole match. I was having to go for more than I wanted to. I was always on my heels. He’s a tough player.”

Most of Motley’s tournaments these days are in Maryland, Washington, D.C., and northern Virginia.

“Back when I started taking the medication [for high blood pressure], I was really sick,” said Motley, who owns and operates a lawn service. Luv2Work. “I would play in tournaments, but I couldn’t last half a set.

“Each year, it got better and better. My goal, when I found out how tough they were up there [NOVA and Maryland], was to become number one in the Mid-Atlantic. As the medication began to become a part of my system, I got stronger and stronger.

“I told the guys, after a while, I’m going to be sticking with you, and over a period of time, that’s what happened.”

These days, no one wants to see Motley in their half of the draw, whether it’s locally or north of Richmond.

“It’s a lot of fun and I stay in shape,” he said. “I tell people all the time, if you’re going to stay in shape at this age, it has to be a lifestyle. It can’t be I just want to go in the gym and work out. There’s too many other priorities.

“So it has to be something you do as a lifestyle. Mine is tennis and some basketball. I love it.”

The men’s 50 singles title went to someone who doesn’t live in Richmond – it’s supposed to be limited to folks who live in metropolitan Richmond — and grew up playing against the likes of John McEnroe, Tim Mayotte and Paul Annacone.

Janey and Mark Deckwitz with his 50s singles trophy

Mark Deckwitz, who lives in Warrenton and flies corporate jets, outlasted Steve Sedlock 6-4, 6-2 in a well-played match on a hot afternoon with temperatures in the upper 80s.

“I couldn’t make a draw,” explained tournament director Jim Wood of Deckwitz’ entry in the field of four. “Well, he got in and I made the draw, then I found out he wasn’t from Richmond. I just felt like if he wants to come all this way and play, I’m going to let him play.

“You saw what we had for a draw. So in desperation, that’s why we did it.”

Deckwitz was raised in Stony Brook, on the north shore of Long Island about 15 miles from New York City. That’s where he played against Annacone, McEnroe and Mayotte, all of whom went on to have illustrious pro careers.

“I played McEnroe twice, got one game each time,” laughed Deckwitz. “I beat Mayotte in juniors when we were 16 or 17.”

Deckwitz might have tried the pro tour himself but “my knees let me down. My legs and my feet were too weak.” He received a partial scholarship to the University of Florida but had knee surgery as a freshman and wound up at Florida Atlantic.

The 54-year-old didn’t appear to have many weaknesses against Sedlock, who is a New Jersey native and remembered playing against Deckwitz once when they were juniors.

“He’s got an extremely good game, very solid,” said Sedlock, 49. “I had some opportunities there in the first set. He was able to hold me off when I had a few break chances late in the first set, and that was the difference.”

Deckwitz fought off the hot weather by using an ice pack during changeovers and dousing himself with cold water. When it was over, his wife, Janey, jokingly asked, “Want me to take you to the emergency room?”

“Basically, I thought I would fold, certainly if it went to a third set,” said Deckwitz, who used a two-handed forehand to send winners down the line and crosscourt. He also made effective use of drop shots and lobs to pull out the victory.

***********

According to Wood, there were a total of 22 entries for the 28 city senior events, the lowest number that he has seen. The only women’s event played was 45 doubles, which had two entries.

“It’s been going down every year,” said Wood. “We blame it on this and we blame it on that, but then again, we need to do more to promote the tournament. We need to get pro-active on making sure the word gets out.

“I don’t know if it will get any bigger but you can keep tweaking it and trying. If you don’t try it, you’re guilty of not doing anything and that’s dumb. We ought to do something. Find something that we can do to make it fun.”

Wood said the sponsoring Richmond Tennis Association should consider moving the tournament to September, when the temperatures are cooler and players are not on vacation or involved in USTA League playoffs.

“I think the whole tournament, including the open division, should be moved to September,” said Wood. “We wouldn’t have any conflicts or very few. The college players could play. High school players could play. All the leagues are done.

“Right now, I’m desperate for any warm body that will play in my tournament.”

         DAVENPORT CITY SENIOR RESULTS

All Finals

Men’s 45 singles – Wayne Motley d. Tracy Jones 6-0, 6-2.
Men’s 50 singles – Mark Deckwitz d. Steve Sedlock 6-4, 6-2.
Men’s 60 singles (round robin) – Winner: David Carter. Runner-up: Ron Atkinson.
Men’s 65 singles – Tom Robertson d. Ed Smith 6-2, 7-5.
Men’s 70 singles – James Robertson d. Tom Neal 6-2, 6-0.

Men’s 45 doubles (round robin) – Winners: Sedlock- Chuck Albertson. Runners-up: Richard Neisz-Kevin Ogborne.
Men’s 60 doubles (round robin) – Winners: James Dugger-Ed Thornton. Runners-up: Carter-Larry Lovings.
Men’s 65 doubles (round robin) – Winners: T. Robertson-Robert Musick. Runners-up: Smith-Ed Brooks.

Women’s 45 doubles – Martha Condyles-Julie Ogborne d. Sissy Johnson-Valerie Jones 6-1, 6-1.

On October 12-13, 2013, the Westwood Club in Richmond will play host to a new event presented by USTA/Virginia Tennis – the Virginia Club Challenge. This event will determine the best overall club within the state. The winner of the Anthem Club Challenge will automatically be entered into the Virginia Club Challenge. Read the full article here

Event Flyer

Congratulations to the following champions and finalists of this inaugural CCV singles event!  All champions have qualified for the Davenport and Company Richmond Rated Championships on August 24 at Byrd Park.

Championship Finals

Teams are forming now for the Fall Season of JTT in Richmond.

12U, 14U, and 18U 

• The deadline to register is August 30th.
• Matches are played on Sunday afternoons beginning September 15th.
• For more information contact Shannon Scarvey at jttrichmond@gmail.com

8U and 10U 

• The deadline to register for a team is September 20th.
• Matches will be played on Saturday afternoons beginning October 5th.
• For more information click here

The first of two College Week Tennis Camps took place at Willow Oaks Country Club June 24-28. There are still a few spaces available in the August 12-16 week. Get all the details.

Below are photos from the June College Week Tennis Camp.

Seven years ago, Cris Robinson was trying to figure out a way to get an intense week of training for one of his students.

From his college days at Clemson, Robinson recalled that schools are allowed 20 hours a week to work with athletes in most sports.

So Robinson began contacting some college coaches of his acquaintance, and thus was born the College Week Tennis Camps, which started as one week during the summer with five coaches but has grown into an outstanding site for aspiring juniors.

Two sessions are held each summer at Willow Oaks Country Club, where Robinson is the director of tennis. When Robinson started the program, he was the director of tennis at Robious Sports and Fitness (now Midlothian Athletic Club).

Among the coaches attending this year’s sessions are Brian Boland, who guided the University of Virginia men’s team to the NCAA championship in May, former Richmonder Bob Bayliss of Notre Dame and Virginia Commonwealth University’s Paul Kostin.

“Cris Robinson has done a remarkable job of providing these young, aspiring tennis players the opportunity to learn from some of the best college coaches in the country,” said Boland, whose Cavaliers are consistently among the top teams in the nation.

“He has a diverse group of coaches with a wealth of experience at every level of the game.”

The first camp was held in June and the second will be Aug. 12-16. There are still one or two spots open for that session, Robinson said.

These camps are primarily for tournament players with an interest in playing college tennis. They introduce youngsters 12-18 to what college team practices are like and include personalized instruction from the coaches. The fee is $595 per week.

“From the players and the coaches and the pros, I hear frequently that it’s as high-quality and as intense as any camp they’ve ever seen,” said Robinson.

“It’s unique in the sense that you have a lot of the best college coaches from around the country and you get to hear from them daily. You get to take part in what they’re teaching their own players and the type of practicing and drills they’re doing with their own teams.”

Between the morning and afternoon sessions each day, juniors will have nearly 30 hours of instruction during the week.

“The College Week Tennis Camp that Cris Robinson puts on at Willow Oaks is an unreal event,” said Virginia Tech coach Jim Thompson, one of the instructors.

“It gives the players in our state a chance to be exposed to different styles of coaching and gets them thinking about the process of choosing a college, and the relationship they might have with a coach. It also gives them a chance to play under pressure.

“Most of the children get nervous when they play in front of a college coach and so this is a great experience for them.”

Other college coaches on the list of instructors include ex-Richmonder Jay Bruner (College of Charleston), John Roddick (brother of Andy Roddick and coach at Oklahoma), Peter Daub (William and Mary), Brian Kalbas (North Carolina) and Mark Wesselink (Richmond).

In addition to Robinson, other area pros take part in the camp, including Eddie Parker (Raintree Swim and Racquet Club), Joe Cappellino (Dominion Club), Mark Bernstine (Hermitage CC), Scott Steinour (Salisbury CC) and Julie Ogborne (Country Club of Virginia).

These pros are members of the Association of Richmond Tennis Professionals, who support the camps, as does the Richmond Tennis Association.

“The RTA is proud to again support College Week Tennis Camps,” said Ginny Wortham, president of the RTA. “Cris Robinson and his team work hard to bring some of the very best college coaches in the country to Richmond.

“The quality of this camp is just one more way we know that Richmond really is a great tennis town.”

For more information or to see about signing up, call 804-320-3244 or email  crobinson@willowoakscc.org.

“There is a place for everyone in college tennis,” said Boland, “and college week provides these young people the knowledge they need to make a successful transition.”

Summer vacation is almost over for the college crowd, and most of them will be heading back to school before August ends.

Some will be going for the first time, and that includes a couple of the area’s top prep tennis players.

Abigail Randolph, who played No. 1 singles for Mills Godwin High School her last three years, is going to Methodist University, a Division III school in Fayetteville, N.C., which is a member of the USA South Conference.

On the boys’ side, Brett Moorhead, who won back-to-back state Group AAA singles championships as Cosby High School’s No. 1 player, will be giving the James Madison University lineup in Harrisonburg a big boost.

Both said they have spent part of their summer preparing for the rigors of college tennis.

“I’ve been doing a lot of training and practicing,” said Randolph, who helped the Eagles win two state Group AAA girls titles and finish runner-up twice. One of the state crowns came in June when Godwin beat Colonial District rival Deep Run in the final.

“Weight training and sprint training, just to get ready for the competition because college is a little bit different. I’ve mostly been hitting with friends, just to get some match play and playing in a few tournaments.”

Taking part in such a successful program at Godwin helped prepare Randolph for life after high school.

“I think it got me ready mentally over the years of being there,” she said. “How to deal with winning and losing. Being able to communicate with your teammates. My freshman year I was really shy and didn’t know how to communicate with my teammates.

“Over the years, it got better. Finally, as a senior I could talk to them without any second thoughts.”

Randolph is hoping to wind up somewhere in the top six in singles for Methodist as a freshman and perhaps at No. 1 or 2 doubles.

“I’ve been told by some college girls that the only difference between high school and college girls is the points last a little bit longer,” said Randolph. “You have to set up points. I’ve been working on that this summer.”

Moorhead, who led Cosby into the state team tournament for the first time as a senior, has also been working hard to get ready for college competition. He played in two ITA college events, as well as the McDonald’s Mid-Atlantic Clay Court Championships at Salisbury CC.

“I’ve been working on my fitness a lot and practicing a lot,” said Moorhead. “There’s definitely a lot more stress on your body in college.”

With the Dukes losing six players to graduation, Moorhead has an excellent shot at playing in the top six in singles.

“It’s hard to say what number exactly but I feel like I’ll be in the top six,” he said.

Playing on a strong team at Cosby and capturing those state singles championships gives Moorhead plenty of confidence in making the transition.

“I think the team part of it really helped me,” he said. “Better preparing me for the whole team aspect in college. Cheering for people and helping them get over a loss. The tennis was good, too. Regionals and states were pretty competitive.

“High school tennis is a choice you have to make. but I think everybody should play it because it does prepare you for college tennis.”

Moorhead is looking forward to making the jump from high school to college.

“Just being with a whole new team on a whole new level is exciting,” he said. “Being able to travel and actually playing some of these schools that you watched and rooted for as a kid. Becoming close friends with a bunch of kids and staying with them for four years.”

Moorhead will be rooming with Mason Smith from Virginia Beach, Cape Henry Collegiate’s top player.

Other local players heading off to college for the first time include Mills Godwin’s Brittany Hsieh (Virginia) and Haylee Seidenberg (Radford), Cosby’s Lauren Denuel (South Carolina) and Jamie Cochran (George Mason), Grove Avenue Christian’s Kelly Stewart (Flagler) and Prince George’s Melissa Tomlin (Randolph-Macon).

Also, Deep Run’s Logan Eldridge (Christopher Newport) and Tory Brown (Fordham), Collegiate’s Connor Brewer (Villanova), Trinity’s Liam Sullivan (Samford), Douglas Freeman’s Trent Singleton (Hampden-Sydney), Armstrong’s Muhammad Gueye (Coppin State), and Varina’s Toni McDonald (Randolph-Macon).

Plenty of others will be returning to their respective schools in the near future:

• Hunter Koontz (Virginia Tech)
• Max Schnur (Columbia)
• Nicole Parker (Longwood)
• Emily Hahn (Princeton)
• Callie Whitlock (Rollins)
• Zack King (Hampden-Sydney)
• Bharani Sankar (Longwood)
• Ashley Milo (Coppin State)
• Tyler Carey (Mary Washington)
• Evan Charles (Mary Washington)
• Mary Taylor Tepper (Sewanee)
• Ashley Price (Mary Washington)
• Michael Holt (Washington and Lee)
• Christine Abbott (Virginia)
• Angelina Sportelli (Randolph-Macon)
• Alise Witt (Randolph-Macon)

Three months ago the May Battery Park Junior Open was visited by a monsoon-like all day rain on opening day that forced the cancellation of consolation brackets.  The August Battery Park Junior Open finished this past weekend without canceling a single division or match, but thunder and lightning approaching from the north added excitement to the on court fireworks.

Saturday matches started without delay and progressed smoothly until early afternoon.  Dark clouds threatened and a deluge was preceded by thunder and lightning.  The presence of downed trees from recent previous storms near Courts 1 and 10 served as a reminder of the potential danger of straight line winds that often accompany thunderstorms.

The courts were cleared at the first sound of thunder, and players quickly reported to the tournament desk.  The decision was made to suspend play for the day for safety’s sake and resume the matches in progress on Sunday morning.  Sunday’s matches were rescheduled with a 90 minute delay to allow completion of matches in progress.

Players, family and friends who fled the park on Saturday before the downpour returned to the courts on Sunday under a cloudy but friendly sky to complete the tournament.

The Battery Park Junior Open Series is a joint project of the Richmond Tennis Association and the City of Richmond’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities.

Congratulations to all players for good sportsmanship exhibited and great tennis.

The Lobs & Lessons Family Open is an adult-child doubles tournament that promotes families playing a healthy lifestyle sport together. The tournament will be held Saturday, September 21st at the Mary and Frances Youth Center on the campus of VCU.

The tournament uses the QuickStart Tennis (QST) format. In addition to tennis, participants will enjoy food, prizes and an awards ceremony, in this non-elimination, round robin, family centered event. Visit the event website to register.

Tournament Details

• Adult-child doubles teams
• Any adult playing with a 5-15 year old child
• Two divisions: 15 & under open and 10 & under
• Adults must be 18 and older
• Can be mixed double or same gender
• All matches played on 36’ QST courts using foam balls and 23” racquets
• All equipment will be provided
• Timed matches, with accumulated score
• Medals for top 3 teams in both divisions

Download the 2013 Family Open Brochure

Family Open participants

The Davenport & Company Richmond Rated Championship is being held on Saturday, August 24th at Byrd Park. This one day, singles only event features the Champions from many local clubs rated tournaments, but is also open to the public. Men and women will compete in divisions from 3.0 to 4.5.

Click to register online.

*Champions from club rated tournaments do not need to register.

Damian participated in the “Little Mo” regional tournament for those born in 2005.  He played Ian Pearl from Aventura, Florida in a 3 hour final in Atlanta, Georgia and won 6-7, 6-4, (10-3). With this win, Damian qualified to be a top 4 seed in the National “Little Mo” in Austin, Texas October 19-21.

Damian Sancilio with his Regional “Little Mo” Champion trophy!

Way to go ladies!

Pictured: MH Bartzen, Lori Hackney, Caroline Root, Courtney Harper, Suzanne Morris, Suzanne Spence, Alison Avery
Not pictured: Karen Williamson, Missy Mauck, Stephaine Parker

Congratulations to the 5.0 Chicago Blackhawks team from Richmond who qualified for the USTA 5.0 National Championships in Indian Wells, California on September 27-29.  The team posted a 4-0 record in the local league and was undefeated at the MAS Sectionals, winning both team matches 3-0 without dropping a set!  Good luck in California!

Left to right: Rachel Gale, Julie Ogborne (captain), Kirsten Elim, Martha Condyles, Alicia Wise and Leslie Butterworth
Not pictured: Mason Davis, Sofia Hiort, Margie Walsh and Ginny Wortham

When their kids were younger and in preschool, Melissa and Cris Robinson watched them take part in sports like soccer after school.

The tennis-teaching husband and wife were also very involved in the United States Tennis Association’s new QuickStart program. That’s where the game is taught to children 10-and-under, using shorter courts, smaller racquets and lighter balls.

Thus was born NetPlay, an after-school program for preschool and elementary-aged children that is committed to developing a life-long love of tennis. It was developed by Cris Robinson, director of tennis at Willow Oaks Country Club.

“They [kids] were doing SoccerShots [a Richmond Kickers initiative], so we had the idea of coming up with tennis,” said Melissa, winner of the women’s singles title at the 2002 State Clay Court Championships at Salisbury Country Club.

“We take the nets, the balls and the racquets with us. We set everything up in parking lots or auditoriums at the schools. We started at St. Mary’s, where our kids were in preschool, and we’ve gotten more schools over the years.”

This will be the fifth year of NetPlay, and it shows no signs of slowing down.

“Normally, in elementary school, we do kindergarten through second or third grade. When we’re in the preschools, I take four, five and six-year-olds. Mainly four and five-year-olds. I’ve tried it with three-year-olds but it’s just glorified babysitting.”

The Robinsons also are involved with summer camps for Collegiate on the Blair Road campus.

“This is a great opportunity for parents to have an extra hour in their day, and their children are doing something productive and athletic while forming the basics for one of the great sports for a lifetime,” said Cris Robinson.

“It’s conveniently at the end of the school day, and the parents don’t have to travel anywhere different to pick them up.”

With the younger groups, Melissa Robinson uses simpler games and exercises.

“I do different things,” she said. “With the younger groups, we do koosh ball tosses. Racquets and koosh balls, and they toss it to each other. We use the orange [lighter] balls with the younger kids. Relays, footwork, ballhandling, ball tosses, jumping jacks.

“The idea is to get them interested in tennis and to make it accessible to the kids that don’t have access to it.

“A lot of it is fitness, too, because the four, five and six-year-olds aren’t going to hit the ball over the net to each other.”

Robinson pointed out that NetPlay can also be set up at day-care centers around town. Sessions typically range in duration from four to eight weeks, with each session lasting 45 minutes. NetPlay goes to all locations and provides all of the equipment that’s necessary.

“The biggest challenge is they get so excited about the program — and we have full capacity at nearly every school — and most of the kids want to do something more. They want to continue playing tennis, and I see them playing at other places.”

Robinson said NetPlay has probably reached over 1,000 children since the program started.

“I would like to expand but it’s hard to find people to help me on a part-time basis,” she said. “I can’t be at every school every day. My next goal is to try and get the parents involved at their preschools. I could do even more schools like that.”

To contact Melissa about helping or set up a program, she can be reached online at melissa@netplaykids.com or by calling 804-350-0668.

“Cris and I have always been big advocates of QuickStart tennis,” said Melissa. “Our kids were into the QuickStart [method], and we just wanted to get other kids into tennis. We’ve always been passionate about that, so this is the perfect way to get them started.”

The Richmond Tennis Association (RTA) is currently seeking an individual with excellent interpersonal and marketing skills to serve the greater Richmond community as the Jr. Team Tennis League Coordinator.  The Jr Team Tennis Coordinator would not be an employee of RTA, but would function in this role as a contractor to RTA and USTA/Mid-Atlantic.

JTT Coordinator Job Posting

Since he arrived in Richmond to become the head pro at the Country Club of Virginia, Carl Clark has been known as one of the toughest competitors on the court, winning a number of city and state singles and doubles championships.

That includes two city, two state (hard court), two state (clay court) and three State Indoor crowns. The doubles championships are too numerous to mention but no matter who his partner was, the duo nearly always took home the largest piece of silverware.

As he got older, Clark could still hold his own with the younger generation but he turned his attention to the USTA’s age groups, where he picked up more trophies, and even the ITF world circuit, finishing second in the 45s singles division last year.

But as he leaves CCV to take a job in the Midwest, Clark wants to be remembered for more than just winning titles.

“I always said when I came in here, I didn’t want people to think I was just a good player,” Clark said.

“I wanted to be known more for my teaching, so I’ve tried to pay a lot of attention to that. In my teaching, I think I bring a lot of energy, enthusiasm and fun to the courts, my clinics and my lessons.

“My goal is to help people enjoy tennis, to get better, but also along the way, hopefully be a difference-maker in their lives, as far as sharing experiences and relationships. It’s not just about hitting balls. That part has been very rewarding.

“I wanted people to say ‘Hey, he’s not just a good player, he’s one of the best coaches, too.’”

Consider it done. Clark has certainly accomplished that goal — and much more — during his 16 years at the largest country club in the state and one of the best-known regionally for its junior and adult tennis programs, as well as promotion of the sport.

Clark, 46, is leaving to become the director of tennis at Hallbrook Country Club in Kansas City, Mo. Though much smaller than CCV, Hallbrook is recognized as one of the top private clubs in the Midwest, with seven tennis courts (four of which are covered by a bubble in the winter).

His boss at CCV, Tom Wallace (director of tennis) made this observation about Clark’s contributions at CCV:

“Instilling competitive excellence in others. Obvious growth of league involvement with CCV adults, and school teams populated with CCV juniors. Tournament training groups working during mid-day heat to prepare for competition. Old-school approach to discipline and etiquette.”

Clark not only taught that approach to the CCV juniors, but that’s how he conducted himself on the court at all times. He never complained about his opponent’s line calls and rarely said anything to the chair umpires.

Carl Clark was named USTA/Virginia Adult Player of the Year in 2012

“It’s been an evolution,” he said. “I started out with a chip on my shoulder. Most people told me what I couldn’t do. You can’t play college tennis. You can’t play pro tennis. Can’t do this. Can’t do that. Probably in my early 20s, on the court, I wasn’t too pleasant.

“But you mature over time, and figure out that mental toughness is a big part of [winning]. Playing every point like it’s your last point and not showing your opponent any emotion. Just taking things in stride. And you tend to perform a little better.”

Clark said he enjoyed all of the fierce competition when he first arrived on the local scene in the late 1990s.

“Over the years, when all the state tournaments were [in Richmond], at Raintree, here at CCV and over at Salisbury, and going through that run for about seven or eight years when I was  a contender in all of them,” he said. “That was a fun ride.”

Clark also recalled the rivalry with Sean Steinour, who was the director of tennis at the Westwood Club before leaving last year to take a similar position in Charlotte, N.C. Those two had some memorable matches in the city and state tournaments.

“Sean and I had a fun rivalry,” said Clark. “We kind of upped the ante on each other. Helped each other get to the next level by winning, and the other person would work [on their game] and try a little harder the next time. We kept pushing each other.”

Clark’s most memorable tournament involved a match with Steinour in the State Indoor at CCV.

“I played Sean in the semis and beat him, 7-6, 6-7, 7-6 in 31/2 hours,” he recalled. “Turned around the next afternoon and played Trevor [Spracklin]. Beat him 7-6 in the third. I just remember that as being amazing, exhausting, but fantastic, exciting tennis.

“Not being sure if you’re going to be able to walk the next day, but just coming back and beating two guys of that caliber. I’ll always remember those times. Richmond is a great tennis town. It’s a shame there aren’t as many tournaments now.”

Clark has gone on to bigger and more prestigious tournaments, however, playing for the U.S. in the past three Potter Cups, a worldwide competition for the men’s 45 division. The past two years, he helped his teammates to a runner-up finish.

A native of Alexandria, Clark traveled around the country growing up. He attended the University of Virginia, where he played No. 1 singles for the Cavaliers most of the time before graduating in 1989. Clark spent a few years playing in Europe before accepting a job at the Country Club of Fairfax.

But the past 16 years have been some of the most enjoyable for Clark and his family: wife, Lyn, and children, Kelsey, Hunter and Harper.

“It’s a great membership [at CCV],” he said. “Everybody has always been very supportive of my exploits in the tournament area. Not all clubs are like that. I’ve always appreciated the support I’ve gotten here and I cannot thank everyone enough.”

Now Clark is ready for a new challenge and a new opportunity halfway across the country.

“This has really been a spiritual journey for me and I know for sure that God has been planning and preparing me for this,” said Clark, whose last day at CCV was Aug. 22, “and I am thrilled to follow his will. He has made it very clear that this is where he wants me to be at this stage of my life.

“I have a great opportunity to be a difference-maker in the Heartland as far as growing the game is concerned. My goal and challenge is to bring my version of ‘extreme tennis’ to the masses in the Midwest and make them love the game like Richmond does.”