JTCC Marketing, Author at Junior Tennis Champions Center

Yared Alfred & Shaun Fernando Earn USTA Foundation College Scholarships

Posted on June 12, 2026 by JTCC Marketing

JTCC High Performance players Yared Alfred and Shaun Fernando have been awarded 2026 USTA Foundation College Scholarships in recognition of their achievements on the court, in the classroom, and in their communities.

The prestigious scholarships are awarded annually to student-athletes who have demonstrated success both on and off the court while preparing for higher education and future careers.

For Fernando, who has trained at JTCC since 2023, the news came during a typical training day.

“After training on court with Denis Kudla, I opened my phone and saw that I received a scholarship from the USTA,” recalled Fernando, who will attend and play tennis for Carnegie Mellon University starting in September. “I am thankful for the USTA Foundation, all of my coaches at JTCC, and the mentors throughout my life who helped me receive this amazing opportunity.”

Originally from the U.S. Virgin Islands, Alfred joined JTCC in 2024 and has represented his home country in Davis Cup competition at both the junior and professional levels while also distinguishing himself as a leader in the classroom and on the court.

“I got the opportunity for this scholarship through JTCC Junior Performance Program Manager Terence Tche,” explained Alfred, who will be attending and playing tennis for Howard University starting in September. “I knew how much it would help my parents, and I am very grateful for the support USTA and JTCC has given me. I am honored to know they have trusted me enough to invest in my goals.”

The scholarship awards also reflect JTCC’s commitment to developing student-athletes who excel both on and off the court.

JTCC Salutes Class of 2026

Posted on June 1, 2026June 3, 2026 by JTCC Marketing

Ten JTCC graduates in attendance were dressed to impress in front of the more than 100 proud parents, families, alumni, and friends who gathered at JTCC for the May 27 graduation ceremony for the Class of 2026.

This year’s class also included nine additional graduates who were unable to attend. The group joined more than 350 other successful alumni.

Special guest speaker Max Hjelm, the Executive Vice President of Strategic Deals at CoreWeaveMax and NCAA Division III All-American lacrosse player, addressed the graduates and encouraged them to “take the opportunity to bet on yourself and do the hard work to see it through.”

Sasha Koeva Brooks, who will be attending The University of Chicago, spoke on behalf of the graduating class, and following the ceremony, attendees enjoyed dinner courtesy of Paisano’s Pizza.

The new alumni received their diplomas and portraits which will be hung along the JTCC Ray & Nina Benton Walk of Fame hallway.

Yared Alfred – Howard University
Amir Carter – Gap Year
Connor Chun – Swarthmore College
Aerin Fenty – University of Miami
Shaun Fernando – Carnegie Mellon University
Sienna Gala – University of Maryland
Cody Gray – Louisiana State University
Mia Hall – Entering Workforce
Austin He – Johns Hopkins University
Jacob Hewitt – Southern Methodist University
Savannah Jackson – Temple University
Alexandra Koeva Brooks – University of Chicago
Minato Koido – Denison University
Matthew Kringer – Gap Year
Aqeela Malik – Gap Year
Ryan Newton – Gap Year
Pavlik Nikitine – Gettysburg College
Chinaza Otuya – Gap Year
Michael Spruill – Frostburg State University

Congratulations to the Class of ‘26, and good luck in your future endeavors!

Click here to see the full photo catalog from HD Photography.

Gray Brothers Lead DeMatha To WCAC Championship

Posted on May 29, 2026 by JTCC Marketing

For brothers Cody and Coy Gray, this spring was a familiar feeling of euphoria. The pair of JTCC High Performance players helped lead DeMatha Catholic High School to an historic season this spring as the Stags captured back-to-back Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) Championships in dominant fashion.

The team finished the season with a perfect 9-0 record in conference play and 11-1 overall, securing DeMatha’s 13th WCAC tennis title and third championship in the past four years.

Senior Cody Gray led the way and repeated as both the WCAC #1 Singles and Doubles Champion. Cody also etched his name into the DeMatha record books as the only player in school history to compete at both the #1 singles and doubles spot all four years of his varsity career.

“Helping DeMatha win back-to-back WCACs felt incredible, especially getting to do it with my brother and this special group of guys,” Cody said.

Younger brother, Coy, added another title of his own, repeating as the WCAC #3 singles champion.

The boys have trained at JTCC for more than a decade and proved that when you “trust your training” excellence and championships follow.

Alumni Stiles Brockett & Stefan Regalia Crowned NCAA Champions

Posted on May 28, 2026 by JTCC Marketing

The University of Virginia are NCAA National Champions once again — and JTCC has fingerprints all over the trophy.

JTCC alumni Stiles Brockett and Stefan Regalia played key roles throughout the season in helping the Cavaliers secure their third NCAA title in the past five years on May 17 in Athens, GA. Adding to the full-circle moment, UVA Assistant Coach Treat Huey is also a JTCC alumnus who trained at the club from 2000-04.

Throughout his four years training at JTCC, Brockett developed into one of the nation’s top juniors, earning three USTA Gold Balls.

In the NCAA Championship match, Brockett “trusted his training” and delivered a straight-sets singles win to tie the team score at 2-2 and help shift momentum of the match back in UVA’s favor.

“Playing not only for yourself, but for a university, for coaches, for your brothers next to you, it just makes it all more special and you find a little bit more in yourself to fight in those moments,” Brockett said following the victory.

Regalia’s path to the national title followed a similar road through JTCC after training at the club for more than a decade before taking his game to Charlottesville., He was honored this season for his excellence in the classroom by being named the recipient of the Elite Scholar-Athlete Award for the Division I Men’s Tennis Championship. This award is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative GPA at the finals site for each of the NCAA championships.

Together, Brockett and Regalia carved their places in history and earned their pictures on the JTCC Ray & Nina Benton Walk of Fame to continue JTCC’s tradition of developing champions on and off the court.

Click here to watch a short championship day recap video.

Maryland Women’s Tennis Caps Historic Season With Return To NCAA Tournament

Posted on May 18, 2026 by JTCC Marketing

The Maryland women’s tennis team capped off a historic 2026 campaign with a run that reestablished the program among the Big Ten’s elite and returned the Lady Terps to the national stage for the first time in more than a decade.

Maryland surged to the Big Ten Tournament semifinals for the first time in program history, highlighted by a statement 4-2 upset quarterfinal victory over the No. 2 seed and 12th-ranked USC Trojans.

The win over the Trojans secured UMD an at-large bid into the NCAA Division I Women’s Tennis Championship, marking the program’s first tournament appearance since 2011.

Despite a competitive effort in the NCAA opening round, Maryland fell 4-0 to South Carolina. However, the result does not diminish the landmark season and new heights the program achieved. Maryland finished 18-8 overall, tying a school record for wins in a single season, while recording eight Big Ten victories—the most in program history.

JTCC also offered a true “home court” advantage, with the Lady Terps posting an impressive 13-1 record at the Ken Brody Tennis Center.

Champions Celebration Raises Record $630,000

Posted on April 30, 2026May 21, 2026 by JTCC Marketing

JTCC’s annual Champions Celebration presented by Life by Dallas True Pop Popcorn raised a record-breaking $630,000 on April 16 to support the organization’s mission of making tennis accessible to players of all backgrounds and abilities throughout the Washington metropolitan area.

More than 450 supporters enjoyed cocktails and hors d’oeuvres during the pre-dinner reception while reconnecting with fellow supporters and alumni and celebrating honorees Ray Benton and Denis Kudla for their lasting impact on JTCC.

In addition to inspiring remarks from the honorees, speakers included Darryl Barnes, Aisha Braveboy, Dr. Renette Dallas, host Brett Haber, Alyssa Tormala, Vesa Ponkka, Martin Blackman, Donald Dell, and Tom McMillen.

Five members of the JTCC community were recognized for outstanding achievement: Student of the Year Yared Alfred, Alumna of the Year Tyler Delaney, Larry Hilliard (Community Member of the Year), Mark Santangelo (Partner Educator Award), and Lola Looney (Keith Robert Larson Scholarship Fund recipient).

Click below to view pictures and videos from the evening.

Photos I Denis Kudla honoree video I Ray Benton honoree video

Hailey Baptiste Defeats World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka

Posted on April 29, 2026May 28, 2026 by JTCC Marketing

Alumna Hailey Baptiste stunned Aryna Sabalenka at the Madrid Open on April 28, becoming the first JTCC alum to defeat a reigning World No. 1.

Having saved six match points, Baptiste sealed her first Top 5 victory in style winning 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 (8-6) on her first match point with an unreturnable forehand.

Her breakthrough not only ended Sabalenka’s 15-match win streak, but sent Baptiste into her first WTA 1000 semifinal and guaranteed her a new career-high ranking on Monday.

Click here to relive Hailey’s clutch match-point saves and dramatic tiebreak finish.

JTCC Celebrates National Adaptive Sport Day

Posted on April 28, 2026 by JTCC Marketing

Players from JTCC Junior Champs, Champs I, Champs II, and Full-Time Champs programs tried wheelchair tennis for the first time in honor of National Adaptive Sport Day on April 28.

High-level Para Standing athlete Kemit Amon-Lewis was also on court, demonstrating to the group the Para Standing discipline for athletes with physical disabilities who play standing. After representing Para Standing Tennis at the Australian Open All Abilities Day earlier this year, Amon-Lewis brought an elite presence to the day promoting inclusion for all.

National Adaptive Sport Day recognizes the anniversary of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the legacy of disability rights trailblazers Judy Heumann and Eli Wolff. Organized by Move United, it is a national call to action — nearly 1 in 5 Americans live with a disability yet remain among the most underrepresented in sport.

At JTCC, representation is a priority. Home to nationally recognized Adaptive Tennis programs, JTCC offers Wheelchair Tennis, Para Standing Tennis, Special Olympics Tennis, and Veterans Tennis — because “Tennis For Everybody” means exactly that.

Raveena Kingsley: A Comeback Fueled By Purpose

Posted on April 9, 2026 by JTCC Marketing

After three years of her father feeding her balls, Raveena Kingsley’s passion for tennis was born—but it was time to find a place to elevate her game.

Kingsley joined JTCC at age 10, and from 2009–14, JTCC became more than just a training ground—it became home.

“I have too many memories to count,” Kingsley, now 27-years-old, recalled. “JTCC was not only a great place to train, but it was fun and memorable, especially at that age. Being surrounded by coaches, teammates, and mentors taught me discipline, accountability, and how to carry myself both on and off the court.”

Beyond the joyful memories, the foundation built at JTCC continues to shape her game today.

“Competing with purpose, staying disciplined in my preparation, and trusting the process even when results aren’t immediate are skills I learned from my time at JTCC that still impact me today,” she said.

After early success on the professional tour, Kingsley reached a career-high ranking of #284 in 2016. But a series of injuries—including an ankle injury sustained on court and a knee injury from an accident—set her back.

Drawing on the values and discipline developed at a young age, she fought her way back. By 2023, her ranking had climbed near her previous career-high before she faced an even greater challenge.

“In 2024, I suffered hyperthyroidism. The amount of suffering I had to endure for eight months is something that still gives me chills,” Kingsley said.

The physical setbacks were only part of the battle. Mentally, the journey tested her in new ways.

“The same cycle of rehab, eat, sleep was depressing, because at that time, I didn’t really have a why,” she said. “After making the decision to try again, everything was uncertain except one: I knew where I wanted to be in life, and it wasn’t going to be stuck at the bottom forever.”

That renewed sense of purpose fueled her comeback. After months of rebuilding, she returned to professional competition with a new perspective.

“Now every match feels meaningful—not just the wins, but the opportunity to compete, test myself, and the process,” she said. “My goal for this comeback has been to do my best and go with the process, no matter where I end up.”

Kingsley’s journey is no longer defined by rankings or results—it’s about resilience, perspective, and the same mindset first built at JTCC: show up, do the work, and trust the process.

Alumni On The Rise

Posted on April 6, 2026May 28, 2026 by JTCC Marketing

A strong March from the JTCC alumni family.

Frances Tiafoe reached his third ATP 500 final at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel, then carried that form into the Sunshine Double with a Round of 16 finish at Indian Wells and a Quarterfinals run at the Miami Open Masters 1000. He’s climbed 14 spots since January and now sits at world No. 20.

Hailey Baptiste delivered one of the standout performances of her career at the Miami Open, reaching her first WTA 1000 Quarterfinal. She defeated three seeded players along the way, including former Roland Garros champion Jelena Ostapenko and world No. 8 Elina Svitolina for her first Top 10 win. The run pushed her to a career-high ranking of No. 33.

Andrew Fenty reached back-to-back finals at M15 and M25 ITF World Tennis Tour events across North America, continuing to build momentum at the professional level.

Ayana Akli made her WTA 500 main draw debut in doubles at the Credit One Charleston Open on March 30, partnering with fellow American Ivana Corley.

Robin Montgomery returned to pro action after rehabbing from injury. She cracked the Top 100 in the WTA rankings last spring and is working her way back.

At JTCC, we measure success not just on our courts but on courts around the world.

UMD Makes History with Top 25 Win as Fans ‘Back the Lady Terps’

Posted on April 3, 2026April 6, 2026 by JTCC Marketing

JTCC is home to the University of Maryland (UMD) women’s varsity tennis team, and it was buzzing with more than 175 spectators wearing black to “Back the Lady Terps” on March 21 as #47 Maryland hosted #22 Wisconsin.

Fans were treated to high-level National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I tennis, witnessing a competitive battle between two teams ranked inside the top 50 by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA).

After a nearly four-hour showdown, Maryland prevailed with a dramatic 4-3 win that came down to the final match—marking the program’s first Top 25 victory since 2013. With the win, the Terps jumped to No. 35 in the ITA rankings, their highest since 2023.

“The environment and fan support for the Wisconsin match at our annual JTCC event was fantastic—and it absolutely helped us pull out the win,” said UMD Head Coach Katie Dougherty. “We’re incredibly appreciative of John Niswander and Kyle Mangum for making it such a great event, and to longtime supporter and friend of the program, John Dominguez, for providing the food.”

Off the court, four fans won raffle prizes including a UMD book bag with Terps gear, a UMD jacket, a JTCC drawstring bag featuring a signed Frances Tiafoe photo, and two US Open tickets. All attendees received a black JTCC bag.

Ten JTCC junior players assisted on court as ball kids, while Maryland Athletic Director Jim Smith and Testudo, the official mascot of UMD, also made special appearances.

The electric atmosphere once again reinforced JTCC’s reputation as a true “home court” advantage—where the Terps remain undefeated. Maryland returns to action Friday at 2:00 pm, hosting Purdue.

Shristi Selvan Captures Two Gold Balls At Easter Bowl

Posted on April 1, 2026 by JTCC Marketing

For Shristi Selvan, the feeling was familiar—but this time, it was even bigger.

After opening 2026 with her first Gold Ball at the USTA Winter Nationals, Selvan returned to the national stage at the Easter Bowl in Indian Wells, CA with the confidence of a champion and the hunger for more.

The 15-year-old didn’t just recreate that sense of déjà vu—she elevated it, returning to the winner’s circle on March 29 and taking it a step further by capturing both Girls’ 16s singles and doubles titles.

“I want to thank my friends and family for supporting me when I was down and helping me find more joy putting in the work,” said Selvan. “I want to shout-out my mentor Coach Paula, who has put a lot of time and energy into my game, and Coach Oliver, who has been traveling with me this past year. I am excited for what the future holds.”

A product of the JTCC pathway since joining the Future Champs Red Ball program at age five and a recipient of the Keith Robert Larson Scholarship Fund, Selvan dropped just three sets across 11 matches en route to an unforgettable two-championship week.

Selvan’s doubles partner, Emery June Martin, is committed to join the JTCC High Performance program in the near future and was thrilled to fulfill a dream winning a Gold Ball close to home.

“Shristi and I came back from 5–2 down in the final set of our semifinal match, and I am proud of how we fought,” said Martin, a Los Angeles, CA native. “After trying out several academies, there was no doubt JTCC had the best training environment for me. The coaches are amazing, and the professional, friendly atmosphere of the program and players is unmatched. I feel very blessed to call it my ‘home’ away from home.”

JTCC also had four players earn Top 10 finishes at the Easter Bowl.

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