Neuqua program nets results

The downside of coaching a popular and successful high school tennis program is cut-down day.

That's what Trudy Bennorth, the skipper of Neuqua Valley's successful girls and boys tennis programs finds so heartbreaking.

"We kept 45 girls this season on our teams at three levels," Bennorth said. "It's gratifying that the sport has grown to be so popular and that we have so many girls interested. But we can only keep the cream of the crop and it hurts to have to tell someone they can't play for your team. That's the toughest part of the job."

Bennorth had to cut 20 candidates from this year's tryouts.

The Wildcats won eight straight titles before being edged by St. Charles North in the conference tournament last year. And prospects are good for a return to the top of the league with a team that features some really strong returning veterans, including Ali Peters, Sarah Eid, Nisha Garg and Lauren Silva and an outstanding freshman Emily Meyers, who's moving right into the first-singles slot.

"People hear about our success," Bennorth said. "Some try out and don't come back the next day, but many stick with it. I'm proud that we have so many people come right up through our system."

Neuqua's girls tennis program is a great example of modern high school sports where a building winning program entails a lot more than putting a team out on the court.

Public high schools don't recruit, so there is a little bit of luck involved in the school getting top-flight talent.

To Neuqua's advantage is the fact that it is a large school with more than 4,500 students and it's located in an affluent area populated by many tennis families.

"Tennis is expensive," Bennorth said. "Parents have to spend exorbitant amounts for court time at local clubs and the equipment costs a lot. Just about everybody who makes it to the varsity level plays club tennis all-year around. That includes taking lessons and participating in outside local and USTA-sponsored tournaments."

To keep the Neuqua Valley pipeline flowing, Bennorth runs a three-week summer camp for teenagers and younger children at reasonable prices.

While many of Neuqua's past and current players were identified early at the camps, attendance is not necessarily limited to future Wildcats. Campers have turned up at many other high schools in the area.

Ashley Cha, a freshman who just missed making varsity this year, plays for the Neuqua JV 1 team. She first attended the summer camp when she was 12 years old.

"The camp really gives you a preview of what high school tennis is going to be like," Cha said. "You get a lot of hands-on instruction from the coaches and from the varsity players. You bond with girls who are your future teammates."

"I'm proud of our summer camp," Bennorth said. "This summer we were fully booked with a waiting list of 30 families. The money we collect goes to pay the instructors, which includes our varsity players and some of our former players who come back to help out. And about 25 percent of it goes back into the program for social events and team-spirit promotions."

Cha said she was a little disappointed that she didn't make varsity in her first year, but she's happy on the JV 1 team because she's gaining experience and confidence in a lower pressure situation.

Bennorth is quick to cite her assistant coaches Carol Bulfer and Susan Lynch for their contribution to the program's success, and she also gives plaudits to the parents of the players who help make tennis a full social experience.

"I'm really lucky to have the coaches I have who do such a great job of developing our players," Bennorth said. "We're also fortunate to have a really involved group of parents, who handle snacks, fundraising, senior nights, faxing results to the media, team pictures. One dad is even working on a Web site. They also give the team tremendous support at all our matches. We couldn't have our program without them."

One parent who is deeply involved is Drew Kayvani whose daughter Jasmine is a senior on this year's varsity.

Drew Kayvani is taking pictures to put together a DVD to be distributed to the girls at a postseason awards dinner. She is also serving as fundraising co-chairman with Dolores Jones, the mother of Jasmine's doubles partner Alex Jones.

The most popular of the fund-raisers has been a cookie dough sale which has raised about 1,500 over three years.

The money raised will pay for a ball machine which Bennorth expects to purchase at some time during this school year.

"Tennis is an individual sport, but everyone works together to make the high school tennis experience a team sport," Drew Kayvani said. "The camaraderie is very important. The pasta parties, senior nights, making the T-shirts, the bus rides, are all part of the experience."