Missouri Valley / St. Louis

Cimarolli Impacts JTT in Southern Illinois

Jamie Hansen | August 28, 2020


Emily Cimarolli is a gymnastics school dropout.

 

It could not have worked out better for her – and for tennis in Southern Illinois.

 

For her significant impact on Junior Team Tennis (JTT) and more in Southern Illinois, she is selected as a USTA Missouri Valley Gold Star Award winner. The award recognizes those who support and grow the game.

 

“I couldn’t do a cartwheel in gymnastics, and still cannot,” Cimarolli said. “When my sister, who is two years younger than me, passed me up ability-wise in gymnastics, I knew it was time to switch sports. Myparents encouraged me to play an individual sport.”

 

So Cimarolli moved onto tennis. What did she like most about tennis?

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The team aspect. She was a huge fan of JTT growing up in Althoff, Ill. – as well as the team chemistry part of high school tennis.

 

The assistant tennis coach at Edwardsville High School, along with fellow assistant Kirk Schlueter have fond memories of playing JTT in their youth. They realized it was a missing piece of the youth tennis fabric in the area and brought it back to Edwardsville after a decade-long hiatus.

 

“JTT is a great stepping stone for competitive play,” Cimarolli said. “A lot of our 10s, 12s and 14s players had never played competitively. This was an excellent opportunity to introduce them to match play in a low-pressure environment. Kirk and I love being on the court to coach players throughout their matches. They can use JTT to help build confidence and independence on their way to playing weekend tournaments and high school tennis.”

 

In most cases, tennis is indeed an individual sport. The beauty of JTT is even if you are slated to play singles, your team is counting on you. Cimarolli and Schlueter are all about bringing the fun of the game, along with what it means to be part of a team.

 

“The team aspect is our favorite part of JTT,” Cimarolli said. “As high school coaches, we are constantly in the team mindset, supporting one another. Participating in JTT allows players to have fun and be social with their friends, build each other up and cheer for each other. It also allows players to develop relationships with other players, coaches, and parents. We stress that every game counts for the team.”

 

For Cimarolli, tennis is all about being social. That is what so great about tennis – not only is it a sport that one can start early – it’s a sport one can play for a lifetime. She loves giving kids a stepping-stone to an activity they can enjoy for years to come.

In addition to coaching tennis, Cimarolli is an elementary school teacher in Edwardsville. She finds that teaching and coaching are avenues to giving back to those who have given her so much.

 

“I feel that I am giving back to the sport that has been such a big part of my life since I was young. I am also an elementary teacher. In both, I am able to honor previous coaches and teachers that shaped my future and love for tennis and school, while providing that same love for the next generation. I also love building a player’s confidence so that they can grow to be independent and happy on the court.”

 

The game has come full circle for Cimarolli. As a junior player, she had the honor of training at coaching legend David Lipe’s year-round tennis academy. Now she is an assistant coach alongside Lipe at Edwardsville.

 

As a high school and JTT coach, she is still able to experience that team aspect of tennis she enjoyed as a kid. And she wouldn’t trade it for anything - except for maybe her pink Prince tennis bag from high school. She still uses it! Tennis has some excellent gear.

 

“I still get excited picking out strings, rackets, clothes and shoes,” she said.

 

Cimarolli also gets excited when the kids she is coaching “get it”. She said when players find success, she too deems herself successful.

 

Additionally, she believes young players will grow their game the sooner they immerse themselves in match play.

 

“Match play allows players to test their skills and see what their strengths and weaknesses are. Match play tests players physically, mentally and emotionally. So much of high school and college play is matches and the more experience players have on the court, the more comfortable they will be in those pressure situations.”

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