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© Enfield Tennis Club
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© Enfield Tennis Club
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© Enfield Tennis Club
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By Nicholas J. Walz, USTA.com
Miraculously, the town was spared.
As much of the Northeast spent the days leading up to Friday, February 26 mired beneath several feet of snow, the small suburb of Ellington, Conn. - popluation 12,000 - was spared the wrath of the weather. As New Yorkers to the south dug themselves out of their driveways and fellow New Englanders in Maine and Massachusetts dealt with coastal flooding through the weekend, Youth Registration powered on in Northern Connecticut.
"Just a dusting," said Jim Maitland, event organizer and Ellington resident. "We were pretty fortunate."
Thus, there are 30 brand-new signees for Junior Team Tennis leagues & clinics to play at the Enfield Tennis Club, one of the fastest-growing tennis facilities in New England.
Karen Fawthrop-Myers, who hosts special events such as Youth Registration and programs for Enfield, was excited to take part in the event for the second time in as many years. Capitalizing on the momentum of 2009, Enfield now offers its first QuickStart Tennis clinics.
"More and more kids want to be involved, and we couldn't be more pleased," said Fawtrhop-Myers, who helped spearhead the four-hour Saturday morning sign-up campaign with Maitland at the Town of Ellington Recreation Department center. Dozens of families stopped by for on-court instruction, drills, QuickStart hit-around sessions, and at the end, a pizza party.
"They love QuickStart - even the video we loop in the lobby, their eyes zone in on it. Kids can't stop watching," she added.
Maitland, whose Ellington programs form a partnership with Enfield, also was thankful for a second shot at Youth Registration. Last year, he had no court time to showcase the event.
"Having on-court participation and court time changed everything," said Maitland. "We only had a sign-up table and a few promotional materials to hand out a year ago, because we had to share the facility with other sport programs."
"I can understand how that hindered our walk-up appeal - people aren't totally comfortable with showing up to a quiet, strange building," he added. "This year, it was totally different, as parents this year got a visual of what our classes are like and how their kids will be instructed."
He also praised the partnership with Enfield for the increased exposure and interest of his spring and summer programs, which cater to 50 kids at a time, for four-to-six weeks of classes.
"They keep it going all year for us - they donate balls and equipment, and give our groups the court time we need to be successful," said Maitland.
Fawthrop-Myers runs the day-to-day operations at Enfield, a sparkling five-court facility complete with locker rooms, lounge areas and an expansive pro shop named for her husband, Michael, who serves as the club's Director - and with Karen, forms a dynamic husband/wife management team.
"I wish that I played as a kid; actually, around ten years ago, getting into tennis and taking lessons was how I met my husband," said Fawthrop-Myers.
When folks are driving in from other states just to check your facility, you know you're attractive.
"We're a newer club, and newness is special," said Fawthrop-Myers. "This is a very busy place at this time of year, being an indoor club in the wintertime. We pull from not only Connecticut, but many come in from Massachusetts as well to play here.
"It’s a fresh and clean atmosphere in which to play; there's an energy in this building that is so great, and we're really thankful when new folks show up. With the staff and coaches we have, there's room for much growth."