A Message From USTA Eastern Metro Region President Jackie Clark
It has been a busy spring for the USTA Eastern Metro Region! Our Metro Board and volunteers have been very busy growing tennis participation across New York City. Between coordinating and running the Metro Junior Team Tennis League, volunteering at many community events, reviewing Metro grant applications to help start new programs or enhance existing programs, our sleeves are rolled up and we are having a great time. I feel very lucky to be surrounded by very kind, passionate, smart and talented "rock stars" who love tennis as much as I do.
Our Metro Jr. Team Tennis Committee has spent a countless hours planning, organizing, coordinating and attending all of the matches every Saturday evening, as well as our regional playoffs. A giant thank you to our JTT Coordinator Joani Akpan for the incredible job she has done to help make Metro JTT such a success. Joani is one in a million! A special thanks to our Metro JTT Committee, including Roselyn Chew, Jonathan Williams, Mel Swanson and Quacey Balleste for all of their hard work. I am so proud to have been a part of the Metro JTT Committee, as well and it was truly wonderful getting to know all of our players, coaches and captains. Thank you to all of our volunteer coaches and captains! Without you, we could not have had such a successful year.
Some highlights for the Eastern Metro Region include:
►Metro JTT Leagues in every borough of New York City
►More than 35 coaches/captains volunteered their time, along with 10 USTA Eastern Metro Board members who volunteered as league coordinators, site coordinators or captains
►More than 300 kids played JTT in the Metro region
►Three Metro JTT teams advanced to the USTA Junior Team Tennis Nationals
Aside from JTT, we have also spent a lot of time at community events and getting to know our community tennis association providers who work so hard on a daily basis to grow tennis participation. We are also continuing to award Metro grants to organizations that need assistance growing the game. I am truly looking forward to the summer as we have many exciting events and programs coming up and leading up to the U.S. Open!
Jackie Clark, President ♦ USTA Eastern Metro Region
The 10 & Under Red Ball USTA Eastern Section Champions, the Harlem Future Stars
Columbia, the 14 & Under Metro Region Champions
The gang from the Harlem Munchkins pause for a photo
The 12 & Under Advanced USTA Eastern Section Champions, the Staten Island Spinners
The Richmond Racquets, the USTA Eastern 18 & Under Advanced Division Champions
Congratulations to the Sportsmanship Award winners, Abhijeet M. Joshi of the Richmond Racquets and Gibson Thomas of the JAMF Dropshots
Sportsmanship Award winner Wesley Zhang smiles for a photo
Metro JTT Kids, parents and coaches getting a tour of Arthur Ashe Stadium during the Metro JTT Regional Playoffs
Reps from the USTA Eastern Metro Region at the USPTA/USTA Metro Kings County Tennis Fest
Members of the USTA Eastern Metro Region at the Second Annual New York Tennis Expo with the U.S. Open trophy
USTA Eastern Metro Region President Jackie Clark works with some juniors at the Second Annual New York Tennis Expo
Grant recipients, the Kings County Tennis League, at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the newly renovated tennis courts at Marcy Playground
The USTA Eastern Metro Region’s Jackie Clark, Jonathan Williams and Michael McCasland at the newly-renovated Marcy Playground renovated courts
USTA Metro at the Battle of the Boroughs with the team from Queens
The Metro JTT 18 & Under Intermediate Champions: Team Akpan
The Metro JTT 18 & Under Intermediate Runners-Up: Harlem Tree'ers
