APTA/PPTA clinics and exhibition at Homestead CC, Kansas

Some days you win, some days you lose, and some days… it’s hot – at least by paddle standards. Nevertheless, over 60 players braved the 88-degree temperatures on Saturday, October 8 to participate in an APTA-sponsored clinic and exhibition on the brand new Homestead Country Club courts. Homestead Country Club is located in Prairie Village, Kansas (about 10 blocks from Kansas City), and has about 300 members, many of them active tennis players on Homestead’s 16 hard courts. This summer, with great help and support from the APTA and its grant program, Homestead recently built two new platform tennis courts and began offering an economical seasonal platform tennis membership.

To launch the inaugural season, several pros came in for a Wilson-sponsored APTA/PPTA clinic and exhibition.

The Kansas City paddle community was excited to welcome Nathan LeFevre, Mark Fischl, Sebastian Bredberg, and George Wilkinson – four great players and phenomenal instructors. The day started with some fun sets against local pros and players, including several former college tennis players who are learning the game quickly. Following the morning play, LeFevre, Fischl, Bredberg, and Wilkinson ran free clinics from 10-12 and from 2-4 covering all areas of platform tennis including volleys, overheads, drives, lobs, serves, and everyone’s favorite – screens! It seems clear that the 50 to 60 participants of all ages, many holding a paddle for the first time, will soon begin playing in clinics and leagues to help grow the game in the Kansas City area.

Between the clinics, LeFevre and Fischl played an exhibition against Bredberg and Wilkinson, which was USA/Australia versus Ireland/Sweden, (sorry I mean England/Sweden – anyone at the event will know what I am talking about!). Honors went to the USA/Australia team and, when asked for a rematch, they said wanted to wait until next year! The highlight was the first point of the exhibition with at least a 150-ball rally. The day concluded with some more play in the cooler evening, and it is safe to say that all involved had a great time.

A big thank you to the host club, Homestead, and we wish them all the best with their new platform tennis program. Also, thank you to Chace Brundige and head pro Kevin Kowalik for all their work putting the weekend together. The temperatures cooled as nighttime approached and the courts were again filled by avid clinic participants.

Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol. 13, Issue 2, December, 2011