New Englanders Earn RSI Champions of Tennis Awards

WESTBOROUGH, MA - Three New Englanders earned Racquet Sports Industry (RSI) Magazine’s Champions of Tennis Awards, honoring people, businesses and organizations dedicated to improving the sport and business of tennis and racquet sports.

This is the 23rd edition of Champions of Tennis, honoring 28 of the best in tennis in 2023.   

Connecticut’s Rob Oppenheim won the Junior Tennis Champions of the Year for his dedication to First Serve Bridgeport.

Maine’s Bill Shardlow earned the High School Coach of the Year. He led his Yarmouth High boys to four straight state titles before retiring in the spring. 

New Hampshire’s ‘Advantage Kids’ was the recipient of the NJTL of the Year. The organization serves 1,000 kids per year through free tennis and yoga programs. 

The winners are highlighted in the January edition of RSI Magazine. You can find the writeups in the digital version here. 

Read more about the recipients: 

Junior Tennis Champions of the Year - Rob Oppenheim (First Serve Bridgeport)

First Serve Bridgeport is a staple in the Southern Connecticut community. A haven for underserved youth, this NJTL chapter offers nearly 100 students a unique blend of tennis, education, personal development and a much-needed sense of community. 

A largely self-funded organization, First Serve is led by just three full-time sta , seasonal sta and an army of dedicated volunteers. Tennis Director Rob Oppenheim oversees all tennis activities, including free lessons, summer programs and Junior Team Tennis teams. 

“Rob is one of the kindest, hardworking, selfless men and coaches. He truly cares about every student-athlete and is the heart and soul of the program,” says Ellen Simmonds, First Serve Bridgeport’s director of administration. “Athletes and parents trust Rob, knowing he will do whatever he can for those children to succeed.” 

First Serve is deeply integrated in Bridgeport Central High School. After budget cuts nearly eliminated boys’ and girls’ varsity tennis a few years ago, the organization stepped in to provide necessary funding to save the teams and allow them to travel. They now serve as the chief benefactor for the program. First Serve also offers a successful college advisory program, assisting juniors and seniors in navigating the college process. 

-Writeup can be found on page 13 of RSI Magazine

High School Coach of the Year - Bill Shardlow (Maine)

Maine’s Bill Shardlow is a generational leader. A middle school math teacher and certified tennis coach for nearly 50 years, Shardlow officially retired last year from the classroom and from the Yarmouth High tennis courts, where he led the boys’ team for the past seven seasons. 

During his final four seasons, his teams went a combined 62-2 with four state championships. Even more impressive, he did not cut a single one of his 30 varsity and JV players. 

“I’ve always tried to create pathways and opportunities for kids to play tennis at whatever level they’re at,” Shardlow says. “My intent has never been to develop D1 or pro athletes, just well-balanced humans first, who are playing tennis to the best of their ability.” 

While he’s still coaching during retirement, Shardlow has turned much of his attention now to coach education, creating workshops to generate and develop more high school and middle school coaches in Maine and throughout New England.

-Writeup can be found on page 19 of RSI Magazine

NJTL of the Year - Advantage Kids (New Hampshire)

Advantage Kids has witnessed firsthand the enormous opportunity disparities that underserved youth face in rural New Hampshire, and it strives to bridge that gap. As New Hampshire’s only National Junior Tennis & Learning chapter, the organization introduces kids to the benefits of tennis and yoga, developing them in both body and mind. 

Advantage Kids forms strategic partnerships with schools and tennis facilities throughout the Granite State to ensure that its nearly 1,000 players receive free programming from committed coaches. 

“Our core belief is that every child deserves a chance. The tennis court is where every child, irrespective of their background, can dream, believe and thrive,” says Dawn Dragon, executive director of Advantage Kids, which is RSI's 2023 NJTL of the Year. 

In 2023, Advantage Kids partnered both with the youth-based organization Rally for Tennis and with the Bryan Brothers to raise money to enhance programming and financially assist student-athletes pursuing their tennis dreams. For its commitment and impact to the local community, the organization also earned USTA New England’s 2023 NJTL Chapter of the Year award.

-Writeup can be found on page 20 of RSI Magazine

About Racquet Sports Industry

Racquet Sports Industry (formerly Tennis Industry), the largest racquet sports trade magazine in the world, has been covering the tennis business and the sport for 52 years. It is published 10 times a year by Tennis Channel Inc. Available in both print and digital editions, RSI is the official publication of the Tennis Industry Association, U.S. Racquet Stringers Association and American Sports Builders Association. Visit www.tennisindustrymag.com.