Three Parkes junior tennis players will be venturing to the other side of the world with their coach Helen Magill in five weeks time.
Ben Evans (14), Abbey Kennedy (13) and Jake Magill (15) have been putting in an enormous effort of extra training and tour- nament play over the past 18 months to be as prepared as possible for the enduring month to the USA.
They will play singles and doubles in three tournaments at Lake Tahoe in Sier- ra Nevada, Stockton in San Joaquin and Yuba City. They will also play an Australia v USA club match in Sacramento, train at the Phil Dent Academy, tour through a college to understand how the American College system work and scholarships available to Aussie tennis players post HSC. They will experience high altitude training and have a couple of days to see the sights includ- ing Disneyland, Universal Studios, Alcatraz Prison and a bike ride across the Golden Gate Bridge.
The group will experience true American lifestyle and hospitality as they are billeted with different families for the three tournaments.
When asked what each was most looking forward to they all replied with big grins “not sure, just everything”. “It’s certainly going to be quite overwhelming for them.” said Helen. “Being away from their families for the first time and dealing with different con- ditions and cultures. It is also an opportuni- ty I am very excited to be able to give these three who are all affable teenagers, a credit to their families and excellent role models for our younger players coming through in the region.”
Helen thanked the Parkes Community for their support. “It has been a good learn- ing curve for Jake, Abbey and Ben to help organise fund raising activities and under- stand the value of local support. We have a raffle which is drawn 1st June with five fabulous prizes and 1st prize kindly donat- ed by Nangar Gems.”