Tennis
Dear Club Members
Welcome to the 2011 Tennis Season. This summer will see some exciting changes in our tennis program. Management and staffing of the program will be implemented through B.E.S.T. Tennis (L.L.C.). This local tennis management company is owned by Jerry Howard and operated through his indoor club, Beechmont Racquet & Fitness. The program has produced city, state and national champions.
B.E.S.T. Tennis offers a teaching model and well defined curriculum that provides an academic structure to athletic training. It has been transferred from its host indoor facility and applied successfully to a number of well respected summer clubs. Instructors are certified by the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA). B.E.S.T. Tennis has been particularly successful in the growth and development of outstanding junior programs; as well as providing recreational and competitive play for adult students.
Mr. Howard is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley and has more than 30 years of teaching experience. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Greater Cincinnati Tennis Association (GCTA). He was formerly the Executive Director of the National Junior Tennis League - San Francisco.
Staff teaching professionals include:
Joe Leytze - The most recent inductee into the Cincinnati Tennis Hall of Fame. Joe was the number one singles player and an all-conference selection at the University of Kentucky. He is also a former city singles champion winning the Cincinnati Metropolitan (Met) Tournament.
Geoff Crawford - He is the men's and women's Varsity Tennis Coach at Northern Kentucky University. Geoff is a past president of the Greater Cincinnati Tennis Association and was Tennis Director at Eastern Hills Indoor for twelve years.
Marie Matraka - She will be returning from last year's staff. Marie is a three-time city singles champion in the Cincinnati Met Tournament. Marie is a graduate student in the University of Cincinnati Medical School, where she is studying to be a cancer specialist.
Brent Johnson - He graduated Cum Laude at Xavier University. He has twenty-five years of experience coaching and officiating youth sports. He is a former president of the Board of Directors for the Middleton Estates skilled care facility for mentally and physically disadvantaged.
Assistant Teaching Professionals include:
Bobby Slater - In 2010, Bobby was class valedictorian at Turpin High School. He played four years as a member of the schools Varsity Tennis Team. Bobby is enrolled at the University of Michigan where he is studying Psychology and Neuroscience.
Kevin Rogers - He is enrolled in the University of Cincinnati Police Academy. Kevin is a former number one singles player at Milford High School.
