KSTT Winner for Life™ Valerie Wang Takes 1st Place
The kids in Valerie Wang's fourth grade class at Regnart Elementary School in Cupertino have something new to celebrate this week. A Kelly Simons Winner for Life™ player, 9 year old Valerie has been playing with the big kids and doing herself proud. In her first tournament ever, the NorCal Fremont Junior Novice Tournament on February 9-10, Valerie won decisively over 10 year olds Emily Zheng (6-1; 6-2), Nakiyah LeSure (6-0; 6-1), and Katarina Vidovic (6-2; 6-1).
"Valerie is just a natural athlete," says Coach Kelly Simons, who has been working with Valerie for the past several months to prepare for competitive play. "But, more than that, she has an incredibly positive attitude. She just loves to play, and that enjoyment and enthusiasm have made her a quick learner and have amped up her already considerable althletic talents. She's definitely one to keep an eye on as she moves through the juniors' ranks."
In the Boys 10 and Under category, Kelly Simons Winner for Life™ Jihau Yu also had an impressive showing in Fremont. After a bit of a shakey start in his first tournament, Jihau bested Erik Ratta 6-0; 6-0 in the consolation match.
"Jihau had a little bit of nerves on his first time out," says Coach Simons, "but I'm so proud that he overcame his nervousness to score a solid win at the end of the day. He's a strong player and we're looking forward to the next tournment to sharpen his competative play. I'm really excited about how well both Valerie and Jihau played this weekend."
If you'd like to learn more about the selective Kelly Simons Winner for Life™ for promising juniors, contact Kelly directly at kelly@kellysimons.com.
De Anza Men Serve Season-Opening Win
Cupertino, CA -- February 1, 2008
The De Anza College men’s tennis team came out swinging in their season-opening match on Friday with a 6-2 win over the Diablo Valley College (DVC) Vikings. Though the Dons came in second in the Coast Conference last season, they were seriously outranked against DVC in state rankings, finishing last year at number 14 to DVC’s number 6 ranking. You wouldn’t have known it from Friday’s play, highlighted by newcomer Albert Godjali, who finished off Josh Diaz in two sets, 6-2, 6-2, before joining Edwin Pham in a 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 doubles win over Shana Madina and Josh Diaz.
“Albert shows incredible promise,” says Dons head coach Kelly Simons of the 16 year old Indonesian prodigy who started as a freshman this year at De Anza. “He’s obviously got amazing gifts off the court, and we’re excited to have such a mature, motivated athlete-scholar on the team this year.”
But Godjali did not carry the win on his own. Khang Phan made short work of J. Rathsvonga, winning 6-3, 6-2 in singles and sharing his winning moves with Jason Lemi in a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Rathsvonga and B. Narasaki in doubles. Maverick Maghirang (6-3, 6-1 over M. Marasak) and Derek Lee (3-6, 6-2, 6-3) likewise rallied their way into singles wins. Maghirang’s doubles match with Arthur Yu against Murasak and Gaspard was calledat 6-3, 2-6, 1-2 because of darkness.
“It’s a little early to be making predictions,” says Coach Simons. “We have to take every match seriously, be prepared, and play hard to win. But I’m pleased that the guys showed today that they can stare down a formidable challenge like DVC. I’m excited about the what they’ll bring to the rest of the season.”
The Dons carry their win to the Modesto Junior College Tournament next Thursday and Friday before returning to their home courts in Cupertino on Friday, February 15 against American River College.
Kelly Simons Total Tennis® Named Official TennisWelcomeCenter Location
Cupertino, CA -- October 31, 2007
Kelly Simons Total Tennis® at DeAnza College Tennis Center has been named an official TennisWelcomeCenter location. Sponsored by the USTA, USPTA, WTA, and a number of other major tennis industry associations, manufacturers, media, and retailers, TennisWelcomeCenter acknowledges that a tennis programs meets requirements of instructional quality and community access that will enable people of all ages, levels of play, and walks of life to learn tennis or develop their game.
As a TennisWelcomeCenter location, Kelly Simons Total Tennis® is now part of a national network of tennis instruction programs reviewed and recommended by every major tennis association as meeting the highest standards of tennis instruction. For instance, TennisWelcomeCenter programs committ to a low 1-to-8 instructor to student ratio for group instructions. As well, programs like Kelly Simons Total Tennis® agree to participate in research programs aimed at learning more about how to make the health and recreational benefits of tennis accessible to more people.
"I've always been really committed to making high-quality tennis instruction available to everyone," says Kelly Simons, M.A., U.S.P.T.A. "Our certification as an official TennisWelcomeCenter.com location means even more people will be able to learn about the lessons, clinics and other programs we're able to offer on the beautiful DeAnza College Tennis Center Courts."
Click on the logo to the right to learn more about TennisWelcomeCenter.
Kelly Simons Total Tennis® is developing a cool new interactive tennis page for kids! Over the next month we'll be adding all kinds of games, videos, puzzles, and other features to help kids have fun learning tennis off the court and on. Visit KSTT for Kids today and get a special treat from Kelly at your next lesson. How cool is that?!?
Kelly Simons Total Tennis® at DeAnza CollegeNew, Lighted Tennis Center Expands Instruction, Fitness Opportunities
Cupertino, CA – Fall 2007
Private Lessons Now Available • New Clinics Coming Soon
In 2006, DeAnza College completed a new Tennis Center on its Cupertino campus, opening seven lighted courts for competitive, instructional, and recreational play. Now Kelly Simons Total Tennis® clients can take advantage of this wonderful facility for lessons, clinics, fitness programs, and other tennis-related activities. This exciting move for Kelly Simons Total Tennis® opened a world of opportunity that began with private instruction on September 24. Kelly and associated pros offer private and semi-private lessons at DeAnza throughout the week, including evenings and Saturdays. New lesson packages will allow junior and adult players to sharpen their skills after school and after work throughout the year. Click here for more information on lesson packages and individual lessons.
Players interested in learning tennis or improving their game in a group setting will have expanded opportunities to participate in beginner and intermediate clinics. October clinics filled quickly, but additional clinics will be added throughout the fall and winter to address the needs of a wide range of players and to focus on key court skills and strategies. Click here for more information on upcoming clinics and to register online.
Future Plans Highlight Tennis Fitness, Assisting Pro Certification
Come Spring 2008, the Kelly Simons Total Tennis Workout ™ and Kelly Simons Ace Tennis Workout™ will be back in action, enabling players to enhance their tennis game and overall fitness through strength, flexibility, and cardio training designed specifically for the physical demands of recreational and competitive tennis. Look for more information on these programs later this year or sign up here for Coach Simons Says..., Kelly's monthly tennis and fitness newsletter.
Players who have worked with Kelly know that her approach to tennis instruction is uniquely grounded in her own competitive experience, extensive coaching experience, and advanced education. This background has enabled Kelly to develop an approach to tennis instruction and fitness focused not on "what worked for me," but on what's best for her clients. That means understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each player, their goals for match play, and their unique style as a learner and competitor. Kelly Simons Total Tennis® goes well beyond the one-size-fits-all approach beginning and developing players often encounter.
Because of this Kelly has been particularly selective in recruiting and contracting with assisting teaching professionals. However athletically talented the kid who plays number two on the local high school team might be, she isn't necessarily prepared to assess the learning needs of your nine-year-old daughter when she takes up a racket, and she might not know how to help you develop stragegies to play hard without damaging your knee. So, we're taking our time in selecting assisting pros and will be training those we do select through the fall to make sure they have appropriate experience, education, and expertise to meet the level of quality that has characerized Kelly's approach to tennis instruction and fitness training.
As a result of this careful selection process, Kelly Simons Total Tennis® is adding clinics, fitness classes, and other tennis instruction events strategically so as to maintain the low instructor-player ratio that Kelly insists upon in clinics. Come spring, we'll be fully staffed to offer a wide range of clinics for different levels of players throughout the week. We'll be sure to keep you posted on progress and on additions to the clinic schedule. But, rest assured, there will be plenty of opportunities to develop your tennis game with Kelly Simons Total Tennis® at DeAnza College in the coming months.
Welcome to our new tennis home!
De Anza Men Take #2 Spot in ConferenceSimons Named Coach of the Year
Cupertino, CA – April 16, 2007
The DeAnza College Men's Tennis Team finished the conference season with a decisive 7-2win over Mission College on Friday, April 13. The win moved the team into the #2 spot in the conference, recognizing the commitment and talents of the DeAnza Dons and the effectiveness of Coach Kelly Simon's two-year building program. This year's successful season, with a 6-2 conference record and a 8-4 overall record, is a sweet antidote to last year's disappointing finish.
"We've had some especially dedicated players this year," says Coach Simons. "Once you have a basic level of talent and experience on the court, it's the commitment to practice and support of other team members that really makes the competitive difference for the team as a whole. Over the past couple years, I've made a point of playing guys who have that kind of spirit. This year, that seems to have made the difference."
In addition to shifting selection criteria for singles and doubles play, Coach Simons has extended team practices and strengthened her assistant coaching staff. "The assistant coaches have been a true asset," Coach Simons insists. "They work with the guys on the team directly, often coordinating additional practice sessions, and helping the team to run as a well-oiled machine. I'm very proud of their contribution to the team's success this year."
For her contributions, Coach Simons has been honored by her coaching peers as Co-Coach of the Year in the conference, along with the coach of number one ranked Chabot College. Beyond its importance to her personally as a professional honor, Coach Simons sees this acknowledgement as an important milestone for women in competitive, intercollegiate sports.
"You know, I'm not one to make much of the fact that I'm the only woman coaching a men's team in the league, or that this is a pretty rare occurance in men's competitive sports at almost any level," Coach Simons muses. "But, the truth is, being the only woman on the court or the only woman in a meeting of coaches is not without its unique challenges. The respect you earn as a coach in this sort of situation, I think, is about your coaching itself because women really do start off in the minds of many of their male colleages, and often male players as well, with an assumed deficit that's linked exclusively to gender. I'm proud of DeAnza College for breaking new ground here and sticking with me as we've worked to develop the men's team. And, I'm grateful that my colleagues across the conference have recognized what we've achieved at DeAnza this year."
Coach Simons and the DeAnza Dons will begin post-season tournament play on their home courts on Tuesday, April 24 at 2:00 p.m. against Santa Rosa College.
today and get a special treat from Kelly at your next lesson. How cool is that?!?