Tennis Program a Hit for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students

“We are getting students energized about tennis,” Laycob said. “We’re introducing them to people in the community who have benefited from this incredible sport like myself, like WashU’s players, like their coaches. And letting them see what tennis has to offer regardless of what level of competition you seek. Introducing it as a terrific sport that takes time to learn but can bring so much joy as you learn and develop skills.”

In addition to WashU’s coaches and student-athletes, CID administration, staff and board members — plus members of the community — dedicate their time to the tennis program. USTA Missouri Valley recently awarded CID’s tennis program a grant, and USTA St. Louis Executive Director Megan Kovacs and Tennis Service Representative Alywn Mushonga attended a fall session.

Kovacs and Mushonga visited during “a highlight of the season,” Laycob said, as students walked to the recently refurbished tennis courts in Hudlin Park. The park — which is less than a half-mile from CID — provided the after-school program its first opportunity to play outside on full-sized tennis courts since Laycob began volunteering.

“It takes all of us to come together to make this program possible and teach the next generation of younger players,” Laycob said. “Especially students who haven’t been exposed to the sport — give them a chance to start and learn. None of this likely would be possible without USTA. That’s how I learned. That’s how players at WashU when they were younger learned.

“We all have those skills and character-building that came along with it that we can pass down. You see it in this gymnasium at CID when you see young students trying to learn the sport. You see the WashU players and coaches teaching and feeding balls. You see someone like myself and volunteers who play USTA recreationally. How it all comes together in a way that is doing a lot of good in the community.”

Tennis runs in Laycob’s blood, as both his parents played in addition to his grandpa. Laycob started taking lessons as a 5-year-old at Shaw Park and later Frontenac Racquet Club. He began playing in USTA Missouri Valley tournaments at 12 and traveled to compete in USTA National tourneys until graduating from high school.

Laycob was a standout at John Burroughs School before his four-year tennis career at Cornell University in New York, an Ivy League school. He co-captained Cornell his senior year and called it “phenomenal” and “very challenging” to compete at the NCAA Division-I level.

“It opened my eyes to how many incredible tennis players there are,” Laycob said. “What I also began to learn at that time was tennis was such a terrific way to make friends. Some of my closest friends today were my teammates at Cornell University. Those prior to college tennis I competed against in junior tennis have become friends. We smile and laugh at tight matches we competed against each other in.

“As I get older and reflect on my own tennis career, it was all about making friends, learning a sport, continuing to refine your craft as best you can and enjoying the process that never ends. It’s one that teaches great character-building through the journey.”

Laycob’s children — 12-year-old Ethan and 9-year-old Oliver — are in the early stages of their tennis journey as USTA St. Louis juniors. Ethan has been a regular volunteer at CID’s tennis program, using his skills to help others. He also separately teaches tennis clinics to raise money for a playground being built for St. Louis children with disabilities. Ethan has collected about $2,000 so far for the project.

“Being able to help others through the sport is what’s best about it, all while building character for yourself and others at the same time,” Laycob said. “The way I look at it today is it’s not really about what I have done. It’s about what I have been given — the gifts I have received through the sport of tennis. I had coaches who gave me so much of their time to help me develop my character.

“I so enjoy sharing all that’s been shared with me with others. After you’ve played long enough and become a good tennis player, you now have something to teach others. That’s what it’s all about. You use the sport of tennis to help others learn. In doing so, it does so much for you and everyone around you.”