Youth Tennis

A record number of nearly 300 students ages 5-18 participated in nine weeks of JTCC’s Community Champs (formerly Game On!) Session I learning tennis fundamentals and gaining invaluable life skills in a rewarding experience filled with rallies, laughter, and growth.

After a fun-filled session learning the game of tennis, 262 students, ages 6-12, graduated from the Spring Game On! session that wrapped up June 9.

Leaving behind her family and hometown of Yonkers, NY, Stefanie Smart-Abbey, at 13-years-old joined JTCC’s Full-Time High Performance program in late 2022 to pursue her dream to be the best player she could be. Smart-Abbey’s father, a seasoned tennis coach from Ghana, taught his 10-year-old daughter how to play tennis. She began making her mark at a young age in local tournaments by holding her own and competing in older age groups despite having only two years of tennis experience.

With more than 60 enthusiastic children and adults engaged in interactive tennis drills, the JTCC Winter Tennis Festival held on the indoor courts on February 3 was a smashing success to kicking off the first of four free festivals held throughout the year. During the two-hour free event led by JTCC coaches and assisted by volunteers from the University of Maryland Men’s Club Lacrosse team, the players also participated in team-building activities to improve balance and coordination and enjoyed complimentary snacks.

The extreme heat couldn’t stop the excitement that emanated from Pershing Square Stadium court at JTCC on Thursday, July 27 when Frances Tiafoe and the USTA Foundation (USTAF) announced the launch of the Frances Tiafoe Fund. Hundreds of JTCC supporters filled the court to applaud the creation of the Frances Tiafoe Fund whose mission is to make tennis more accessible to youth in Prince George’s County and underserved communities nationwide.