SCARBOROUGH Tennis Club 2016 junior club champion Jonathan Ross was introduced to tennis as a Newborough Primary School student.
The 14-year-old Churchlands Senior High School student, who also won two singles matches in the men’s championships at Scarborough this year, received lessons from the club’s coaches when it visited his primary school.
Scarborough coaches have visited schools in the area for the past nine years but two years ago, Tennis Australia introduced the National Schools Partner Program that provides participating schools with a $1500 equipment pack and at least two visits from club coaches a year.
Scarborough coach Rick Willsmore said his team set up mini nets at the schools and tennis became part of their physical education program.
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READ NOW“Some kids want to keep playing and some just play at school,” Willsmore said.
He said Ross had joined the club about five years ago and was part of the club’s winning under-14 division two pennants team last season.
Eight schools – St John’s PS, Scarborough PS, Our Lady of Good Counsel School, St Dominics PS, Newborough PS, Karrinyup PS and St Stephen’s School – have signed up for the Tennis Australia program with Scarborough this year.