For JTCC High Performance players Kase and Erik Schinnerer, their dominance on the court shouldn’t be a surprise.
Born into a family of athletes, with their mother Lessia, a former professional tennis player, and their father Dan, a four-year letter winner at Yale University, the Schinnerer brothers have quickly forged an identity of their own at JTCC.
Fueled by their close bond and “lifelong rivalry,” the brothers’ dedication on the court has paid off. The pair own the distinction of holding the No. 1 ranking in the Middle States Section for their respective age groups and, most impressively, with Kase ranked #18 in Boys’ 18s USTA national rankings (as a 17-year-old), and Erik ranked 14th in the nation in Boys’ 14s USTA rankings.
Kase and Erik arrived at JTCC in January 2023 after previously training at the Gomez Tennis Academy in Florida for two years. Impressed by positive reviews from fellow players and coaches during tournaments, the duo are now members of JTCC’s Full-Time program.
In August, Kase achieved success when he competed in a J300 International Tennis Federation (ITF) Junior tournament held at JTCC. Initially winning a wild card to gain entry into the tournament that featured 26 of the Top 50 Juniors in the world, Kase advanced to the quarterfinals in doubles and the third round in singles.
“It was a big opportunity,” stated Kase, acknowledging what it was like competing in the tournament. “After winning a brutally long first match, the next round was the best win of my life, as the guy was #12 in the world!
Not to be outdone, Erik claimed his third USTA Ball in August, capturing the Silver Ball in the USTA Boys’ 14 singles championship. This achievement came on the heels of the USTA Clay Court Nationals Boys’ 14s Championship in July when he was a two-time champion earning a Bronze Ball in singles and Silver Ball in Doubles.
With the future bright for both ascending tennis stars, who would the brothers like to play against in a dream doubles matchup? “The Bryan Brothers,” Kase and Erik say in unison. “Just give us a few years to improve first.”
