ROCKINGHAM — A little rain didn’t dampen the spirit of or end Richmond Senior High School’s tennis camp.
Hosting the developmental camp for the first time with Jessica Covington as the head coach, the youth tennis program completed its final day Monday.
Beginning last Monday, the first two days were split outdoors and in the school’s gymnasium. The rain from Tropical Storm Debby postponed the final day of camp.
The inaugural camp hosted over 30 boys and girls ages eight and up. Covington said she was really pleased with the turnout, including the ratio of younger players and current members of the Raider and Lady Raider teams.
Leading the instruction all three days was Tom Sweitzer, a USPTA Master Pro from Legacy Lakes. A seasoned coach with several awards, Sweitzer was named the National Tennis Pro of the Year.
“This was truly an awesome experience for it being our first camp,” Covington said. “The amount of boys and girls who participated was encouraging to see and shows that this sport has a lot of interest in our county. I really think everyone had a great time even with the postponement.
“Tom is a fantastic instructor who really knows the game,” she continued. “He was able to teach a wide range of techniques and little nuances of the game that helped players of all skill levels. His instruction made our program better and gave the younger players a great starting point. We are so thankful for him.”
Over the course of the three-day camp, players worked on a variety of fundamentals. Monday’s final day of camp had campers work on volley drills and overhead hitting, among other stations.
Members of the Raider and Lady Raider tennis team both participated in the drills and also helped with instruction. Sweitzer provided rackets and tennis balls to the camp.
The Lady Raider tennis team will open its season next Tuesday at Southern Lee High School, beginning at 4 p.m.
The Richmond Observer will publish a season preview of the girls’ tennis team later this week.
Below are photos of Monday’s final day of camp, taken by sports editor Kyle Pillar.
