USTA Eastern Metro Region: Winter 2013 Update

March 6, 2013 | By New York Tennis Magazine Staff
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USTA Eastern Recognizes Local Section Accomplishments
USTA Eastern honored more than 35 juniors, adults and organizations on Jan. 26, 2013, when the section helds its Annual Awards Luncheon and Dinner at the Renaissance Westchester Hotel in White Plains, N.Y. At the Luncheon, eight juniors were recognized for the outstanding sportsmanship they showed in USTA-sanctioned tournaments in 2012. The Section also gave out awards for parent sportsmanship, tournament director of the year, and present the Henry Benisch Award, a scholarship given to a top junior player who has exemplified good sportsmanship.

The adults and organizations at the Annual Dinner were recognized for the many ways in which they helped grow tennis in the Eastern Section, from developing and coaching teams at local schools, to organizing programs for children with special needs.

The following Metro juniors and adults were be recognized:

2012 Junior Awards
►Edith Martin Girls’ 14 Sportsmanship Award: Brianna Williams (Brooklyn, N.Y.)
►Lawrence A. Miller Boys’ 16 Sportsmanship Award: Felipe Osses-Konig (Rego Park, N.Y.)
►Lawrence A. Miller Girls’ 16 Sportsmanship Award: Sabrina Xiong (Fresh Meadows, N.Y.)

2012 Adult Awards
►Family of the Year: Spigner Family (New York, N.Y.)
►Club Service Award: USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center (Queens, N.Y.)
►Regional Volunteer of the Year (Metro Region): Greg Jackson (Brooklyn, N.Y.)
►Lifetime Achievement Award: Bob Ryland (New York, N.Y.)
►USTA League Award: Deb-Rose Andrews (Queens, N.Y.)



USTA Metro President Summerlin Among 16 USTA Multicultural Grants Recipients
The Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) and United States Tennis Association (USTA) have announced the 16 recipients of the 2012 USTA Multicultural Grants. These $1,000 grants will assist coaches in covering the cost of attendance at the ITA Coaches Convention, held at the Waldorf Astoria in Naples, Fla.

While in Naples, the group of beneficiaries will participate in a series of clinics and events to assist them in their profession, including the Multicultural Coaching Education Symposium presented by USTA Player Development. This training session will provide college coaches with insight into the teaching and coaching philosophy of USTA National Coaches, while also serving as a forum for strategies to increase the number of multicultural tennis coaches and players.

Among the 16 Multicultural Grant recipients is Carl Lynn Summerlin Sr., women’s tennis coach of the Long Island University CW Post team and 2011-2012 president of the USTA Eastern Metro Region.

The honorees are African-American, Hispanic-American and Asian-American coaches of teams competing in NCAA Division I, II and III, as well as NAIA and JUCO. First-year and veteran head coaches, in addition to one assistant coach, were selected as recipients.

In asking coaches how attending the ITA Convention, through the help of this grant program, would benefit them, some felt it would be a great networking opportunity while others looked forward to participating in clinics to grow their skills and knowledge as a coach.

"This is my second year of coaching tennis and I am still learning the nuances of Division II coaching,” said Summerlin. “Attending this convention would allow me to network with other coaches and attend helpful seminars. Participating in group settings allows a variety of information to be passed and disseminated which would allow me to enhance my program."

Appointed in 2011, Summerlin is currently the president of USTA Metro and is also an Executive Board Member of the USTA Eastern Region. From 2008-2010, Carl was the executive vice president for the USPTA Metro where he assisted the Metro president at board meetings and monitored Grant dispersals.

During a 13-year period spanning from 1997-2010, Summerlin was also a Multicultural Representative for the USTA Eastern. Prior to this appointment, USTA recognized him with the Eastern Volunteer of the Year (1996).
Summerlin began a career in law enforcement back in 1974, where he served up until June 2008 as a police officer for the NYPD. Also up to 2008, beginning in 1993 he served as on the Joint Terrorist Taskforce for the NYS Police Department and FBI. Coach Summerlin also worked on various cases as a lead investigator for incidents such as the East Africa Bombings and the second World Trade Center bombing. During his time as an investigator, Carl was awarded with the Investigator of the Year NYSP in 1998 and 2002.

In 2007, Summerlin became the CEO of SummTennis LLC, as the company provides tennis services for adults and tournament level players. He also earned in 2007 the role of president and CEO of the Queens Long Island Junior Tennis League Inc. Summerlin has also spent time as a hitting instructor, practice partner, site director and head coach for many locations a part of the New York City tennis scene. He also assisted St. Johns University’s women’s tennis squad as a volunteer assistant coach for one season in 2004-2005.


New York Tennis Magazine Staff
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