The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
GETTING EQUIPPED
College, tennis players donate equipment for Lorain-area youths
Lorain-area youths can practice the basics of tennis with new equipment donated through a partnership with Lorain County Community College and the U.S. Tennis Association.
The organizations supplied about 140 new rackets and practice balls for local students, with giveaways at Lorain’s Stevan
Dohanos Elementary School on July 29 and the LCCC Wellington Learning Center on July 30.
On the morning of July 31, the mobile tennis supplies headed to the LCCC Lorain Learning Center, 210 W. Erie Ave., where youths picked up their racquets, balls and information sheets to learn more about the sport.
The items are meant for fun and can be used when young people begin more serious tennis training.
Northeastern Ohio Tennis Association President Tammy Simone joined LCCC Heath, Physical Education and Recreation Program Director Lisa Augustine, LCCC Assistant Athletic Director Jim Powers and LCCC Lorain Learning Center Coordinator Dina Ferrer for the program.
Youths came out from the Lorain ACES youth program, or Achievement through Community Education and Support, and Steel City Boxing Academy.
LCCC has a number of tennis activities and play days through the summer — and everything was canceled this year due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, Powers said.
But LCCC pursued grants through the USTA Midwest Chapter’s Diversity Committee and the USTA Northeast Ohio’s community grant program. Research has shown the Hispanic population is under-served for tennis, Powers said.
“When I knew we weren’t going to have our normal events, we had to pivot real quick,” he said. “It’s like, what can we still do to provide something for the community?”
The money will pay for up to 140 tennis youth racquets and balls.
Other recipients will include Little Lighthouse Learning Center and Boys & Girls Clubs of Lorain County.
Depending on the need and reception, Simone said she hopes the grants will pay for more equipment in the future.
Cieria Ramon, a Lorain native now living in Elyria, came with her children, Evalesa, 12, Marilea, 9, Emileo, 7, Milana, 5, and Eilainey, 9 months.
Evalesa already is serious about her dance lessons through Avon Dance and Martial Arts, and Emileo plays flag football for the Lorain Junior Titans. So far, Marilea was the most interested in tennis, Cieria Ramon said.
She described herself as a graduated participant and longtime supporter and friend of Mike Ferrer, founder of the ACES, who told her about the tennis equipment.
It also is nice to consider how young people might resume activities while staying safe from COVID-19.
“Three months stuck in the house, especially when my kids were already so active, was enough for us,” Cieria Ramon said. “We just make sure we do the right precautions. We have our masks; we wash our hands regularly.
“Normally we stay six feet away,” she added, although the children got in closer together while trying out new racquets and chasing balls.
The organizations offered Head Speed Junior Racquets with Penn practice balls made of dense foam.
The equipment was smaller than adult-sized tennis gear. The items are meant for fun and can be used when young people begin more serious tennis training.
The lighter size of the equipment helps young players develop proper form, Simone said.
“It just tries to scale it down so kids can learn the right way to hit,” she said.
Those balls are good for learning because they are softer than game-grade tennis balls. They don’t travel too far, making them ideal for smaller courts for children, Simone said.
“I’ve played a lot of tennis in my lifetime. I’ve taken lessons with these to try to learn new spins and things,” she said. “It really is like a legit thing.
“But having said that, you can give it to them and they can hit it against the dining room wall and it’s not going to do any damage,” Simone said with a laugh.
“You can hit them back and forth easy in the driveway, you can hit them up against a building and not worry about busting a window,” Powers said.
“And tennis, you’re socially distant anyway. You’re standing over there, I’m standing over here, what could be better? You’re on the other side of the net.”