​Record numbers show up at Grain Valley tennis camp

by Michael Smith
 
The sport of tennis is growing at Grain Valley.
 
That was evident at this week’s annual tennis camp as 87 students participated in some drills and scrimmages at the high school.
 
Children who also play tennis in leagues managed by the Parks & Recreation of the City of Grain Valley came to the camp organized by veteran head coach Randy Draper.
 
The camp included girls and boys who are in youth leagues as well as those playing at the high school level.
 
“We get some players who play in the Parks and Rec League and those who play there, also send people over here, so we feed each other,” Draper said. “We’ve also been pretty successful and the kids want to be a part of that.”
 
“It’s fun to watch how tennis has exploded here.”
 
It also helps that those who participate in the camp help recruit their friends to join.
 
“Especially during track season, I talk to my friends and say, ‘Hey! You should join us for tennis camp this year,’” Grain Valley senior Brooklyn Spencer said. “And most of them think it sounds fun.”
 
Senior John Cassidy helped in that effort, as well.
 
“Coach Draper does a great job getting people to come for this,” Cassidy said. “I also talked to some of the eighth graders I know to come to the tennis camp. They were reluctant at first but now they enjoy it.”
 
Draper said he had about 35 people who are in youth leagues and the rest are on the high school teams. With so many people at the camp, Draper and the rest of his staff have to figure out ways to get everyone involved in the drills.
 
On Thursday, players rotated on and off the court and took turns striking the ball and playing in scrimmages on the eight courts that were available.
 
“You have to think about your drill work and get more kids involved so there is not as much time standing,” Draper said. “We want to give everyone a chance to get better. We want to keep them moving. We also have a lot of games that we play where you can have a lot of people on the court.”
 
On Thursday, recent graduates FInley LaForge and Emma Thiessen helped run the camp. Draper’s current players, like Spencer, also stick around to help with the youth camp.
 
“We work with them on forehands and backhands,” Spencer said of the youth camp. “Some of them are pretty good and get to play in matches.”
 
Draper said that those typically get better at the sport are at the offseason camps and play in tournaments throughout the summer. Cassidy can attest to that fact.
 
“This gives us a chance to hit against some people at our skill level over the summer,” Cassidy said.
 
Following the camp, five open hit sessions in June with the first one being on the third from 9 to 10:30 a.m. The summer schedule for tennis can be found at https://gvhs.grainvalleyschools.org/activities/summer_2024_information/summer_2024_sports_and_activities_calendars.
 

Grain Valley senior Brooklyn Spencer works on her forehand. Photo credit: Michael Smith

​Grain Valley senior John Cassidy works on his serve return during the Grain Valley tennis camp Thursday. Photo credit: Michael Smith