Quiet!

I know it has been a while since I have jotted down any words in this space. Truth is that not to much exciting action is happening around the Clark Racquet Center! I have had the pleasure of being able to assist in the Training of Coach Kris, and an University of Iowa Men's player for the first six weeks of the summer. But, they are both out on the Tournament Circuit, as they should be, because they both desperately want to improve. So it is too quiet!

In their absence my weekly mileage on the bicycle has gone way up, and I have my days full of tracking tournaments results across Iowa, the Midwest, and this week, across the entire country. As we expand the borders of Kohawk Tennis, I am being made increasingly aware of the amazing number of junior tennis players in the United States. Youth Tennis seems to be thriving, but the number of Adult tournament participants is dwindling. Not sure what that says, just an observation.

I have heard from assorted Kohawks, past and current, this Summer. Many current Kohawks are working on their tennis games. Mike Janssen currently is the leader in tournaments played as he is on his 5th one this weekend . He and his brother, Greg(10) are living in Maine where Greg works as the Assistant Tennis Coach at Bates College.. Jon(96) and Missy(97) Turbett recently put on youth clinics in their hometown of Dubuque and Jon reports they had a great turnout and a lot of fun! Kevin Buckner(92) is finally getting married and working on Wedding Plans. Congratulations to KB! Mark Murphy(98) just returned from the NCAA D3 National Committee Meetings, and is now back at Kalamazoo College helping to prepare to host the USTA Boys National Championships.

Locally I see Molly(09) and Megan(10) Fiala a couple times a week on and off the court. They are doing wonderful! Chris Paasch(06), Andrea Schupbach(10) and Natalie Bordignon(11) all are working in the Admissions Office here at Coe. Chris and Andrea recently assumed new job responsibilites. Congratulations to them! Prateek(11) and Scott Stegemann(11) are both still around too. Prateek is working on campus with the Upward Bound Program, as is Sara Ohlman(13), and Scott is fulfilling an internship in the Uptown District. Scott is also going to try and carry Joey Lankelma(09) in a doubles tournament this weekend. Good luck on that! Our resident Rocket Scientists, Victor Khristenko(12) and Daken Starkenburg(14) are both involved in Physics research this summer, both at Coe and at the University of Iowa.

The pace of the Summer will pick up again rather soon. If Coach Kris is accepted into the Evansville 10K Futures, I will accompany her there. The two weeks following are the big Iowa Tennis events, the Missouri Valley Futures in Iowa City and then the Iowa Open at month's end. All of you are invited to play in both events(if eligible!) and we will make sure and have a Kohawk gathering during the Iowa Open at the Racquet Center.

Until then, take care!