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Tomko: Tennis Clinic Raises $2,000 For Duke Children?s Hospital
12/9/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis, Women's Tennis
DURHAM, N.C. ? Men's tennis coach Ramsey Smith and Director of Duke Tennis Jay Lapidus spent time this offseason trying to come up with ways to better promote Duke tennis while reaching out to their local fan base.
“I just wanted to get our players to interact with some of the avid tennis players in the community,” Smith said. “A lot of these people have come out to matches and supported the program.”
The pair decided to use their relationship with Jim McDonald, the Director of the Hollow Rock Racquet and Swim Club, to put together a clinic for members of Hollow Rock's tennis club.
“Originally it was a community service event, but we ended up turning it into a fund raiser for the Duke Children's Hospital, which I think is a great cause,” Smith said.
The first annual Hospital fundraiser, put on by both the men's and women's tennis teams on Sunday Nov. 23, ended up raising $2,000 for the Duke Children's Hospital thanks to 34 members participating in the tennis clinic.
The clinic was a joy for both the student-athletes and the club members who received the chance to play some tennis with the Duke students that they passionately support.
A student-athlete was paired up with a Hollow Rock member as the pair competed in doubles matches outside at the Hollow Rock Club. The weather was perfect for November as the members got a chance to play tennis with four or five different Duke student-athletes.
For Dylan Arnould, it was the first time since he has been at Duke that he received the chance to participate in a tennis clinic as a way to give back to the community. Previously the tennis teams have participated in events such as the Million Meals Program.
“There was some pretty good competition,” Arnould said. “There were a lot of different levels. It was fun. I think everybody got a pretty good workout out from it.”
“I think it went off really well,” Arnould added. “I have done those kinds of things in the past and they all go all right but some kind of die down with energy. But out of things I have done like that I thought it was one of the better ones I have done. All the members and everybody were really happy to participate.”
The clinic was an excellent way for the Duke tennis teams to say thank you to the supporters who come to their matches as well as raise money for such a worthy cause.
“The clinic was a great way for both the Duke men's and women's tennis teams to give back to the community, which has supported us throughout our college careers,” Amanda Granson said. “Most of the people who came out to take the clinic are avid supporters of our programs so we saw many familiar faces.”
“We all realize how important the work is that the Children's Hospital does so this was a wonderful way for us to put our tennis to good use, have fun playing with the enthusiastic donors, and all the while raise money for a very deserving cause,” Granson added. “The day was a complete success and I hope that this becomes an annual thing.”
While the student-athletes competed with the Hollow Rock members, Smith and women's head coach, Jamie Ashworth, held some instructional clinics for members on a neighboring court.
To end the event, Smith and Reka Zsilinszka took on Ellah Nze and a Hollow Rock pro in an exhibition match for the club members to enjoy, with Smith and Zsilinszka sneaking out a victory to continue their dominance as a pairing from over the summer during Duke's tennis camp.
The teams plan on holding a couple more clinics. On Jan. 10 the teams are planning to do a Kids Day with the hope that around 80 Durham youths will be able to participate in the clinic and then on Jan. 11 holing another event for members of the Duke Faculty Club.
“I think it makes a bigger impact when student-athletes do something as a team, and I think it helps build relations and hopefully brings Duke students to be more a part of Durham,” Arnould said.
“I think it is a good thing for out student-athletes to do and it also builds relationships with the community as well as the ultimate goal of getting a lot more people out to matches and creating a good image for Duke tennis,” Smith said.
Players Mentioned
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