PRO SPOTLIGHT.....JON BONGIOVANNI

Our spotlight series continues, this time with one of our most experienced pros, Jon Bongiovanni!! He has been a pro since 2002 and works with kids and adults ranging in ages of 3 to 83. He is our resident "guru" of quickstart tennis, the new format the USTA is implementing to get kids age 4-10 interested in tennis quickly through fun games, coordination and simple play. A graduate of P.K. Yonge High School, he currently coaches his alma mater and has captured back to back district titles with the girls team and was the 2009 Gainesville Sun's Coach of the Year on the girls side as well. He stops in after some lessons to talk with us here at the Gazette.....

Gazette: Jon, thanks for taking the time out of your busy day to talk to us!
JB: No problem, anything for my adoring fans (small chuckle)
Gazette: So, first things first... When do you start playing tennis?
JB: I started playing tennis when I was 5, but I really took it to another level trying out for the tennis team at P.K. Yonge. I tried out for the boys varsity team and built a strong bond with the high school coach there. He taught me how to really play and was a strong influence on me becoming a skillful teacher.
Gazette: That's pretty awesome! A good story to tell everyone. Who is your tennis idol and why?
JB: Roger Federer is my tennis idol. He is the definition of champion and he is a total class act. I totally enjoy his calm demeanor and I try to convey that message with my students of remaining calm during matches no matter what the situation .
Gazette: Can't argue with a guy who has 15 grand slams! So, when you get down in a match, what do you do to get yourself back on track?
JB: When I get down in a match I try to remain calm and zen-like. I usually try to bring myself from the darkest hole by thinking of a positive memory on or off the court.
Gazette: Any way you can tell us of an off the court positive memory??
JB: I could, but then I'd have to kill you. (laughs)
Gazette: We wouldn't want that! Now, back to you and your fans....What's your favorite music?
JB: I like all types of music except country music.
Gazette: No Jason Aldean or Tim McGraw?
JB: WHO?????
Gazette: Nevermind (smiling). What are you best and worst tennis experiences?
JB: Becoming P.K. Yonge's varsity coach and winning multiple district titles that I couldn't win as a player in high school. Secondly, being recognized as the best high school coach according to the Gainesville Sun last year. My worst is regretting not playing college tennis when I had some opportunities to do so.
Gazette: What makes tennis fun for you?
JB: I enjoy seeing my students succeed and work hard.
Gazette: If you weren't coaching tennis, what would you be doing??
JB: If I weren't teaching tennis I would like to succeed in the male modeling industry.
Gazette: I can see that.
JB: Of course.
Gazette: Last question but a difficult one...As a high school coach, what is the easiest and most difficult part of the job?
JB: The most difficult part of working as a high school coach is juggling what the parent and child's individual goals are and balancing it within the team concept. Tennis is more of an individual sport, so it's tough to keep the "team" concept be as important as the individual's goals. The easiest part is coaching the kids on the team. I try to treat them as adults. I want them to work hard and respect each other.
Gazette: Wow! Great philosophy to have. Thanks so much Jon for all of your answers!
JB: You are so welcome.

THANKSGIVING WEEK!!!!

Hello everyone! Everyone here at our offices are rapidly getting ready for their Turkey Day festivities with loved ones and gearing up for a great rivalry game here in Gainesville. However, there is plenty of tennis news abuzz here at Westside and we are ever vigilent to report it to you! So without futher adieu, here is the news.........


NEWS AND NOTES..............This week at Westside begins our renovation of our wall area. We will be pressure washing the area and begin lining out the floor with the dimensions of our new quickstart court area. The wall will still be intact for use, but we will be reserving the area during quickstart matches, which we hope to have begin in the spring! Our quickstart program is starting to grow and we would like to see these kids and more get into the league format sponsored by the USTA.. The new pro shop is coming along as scheduled! On Dec. 7th, the city will approve the official layout of the new building and later that month will begin the process of selecting a company who will build the facility. When the layout is approved, the Gazette will be posting the schematic in our newsletter and have pictures of construction once ground is broken. Special kudos goes out to Lindsey Cable on her recent signing to Stetson University! We would like to send congratulations to her family and ongoing success to Lindsey as she finishes her senior year at P.K.Yonge High School and transitions into college. We have so much more to tell you, but you'll have to keep reading to find out the new and improved programs we are launching... Now on to junior news!!!!

JUNIOR NEWS....... In junior news, the Junior Team Tennis fall league is wrapping up. It was a great turnout for Westside where we had 3 teams in 3 different catergories! We hope to improve on these numbers in the spring. With your help, we can make this possible. Head Pro Robert Taylor says that through the clinics that are running currently, there is a possiblilty of having 2 teams in each division... Quickstart, Under 12 beginner, Under 12 intermediate, and Under 18 intermediate. "We hope to reach each child and parent and have the kids experience some form of match play, gain confindence, learn the game, and most importantly have fun." Please contact either Jon Bongiovanni or Robert Taylor to learn more about Junior Team Tennis!! Special congrats goes out to the Under 12 Beginner team! In their first season of playing in JTT, they finished 2nd in their division. Coach Taylor tells us that he is super proud of his team and hopes all of them will return for spring with more players to add to the fun that he had coaching this team.
Our Under 12 and Under 18 Intermediate teams did extremely well also, placing 3rd in each of their respective divisions. Kudos goes out to Zachary Brandt who pulled off a thrilling victory in his last match of the season. Also congrats are in order for Garry and Bradley Cooper who went undefeated in their matches this season. Good luck in the spring season to these great kids!!!! As you know, Westside has an ongoing FRIDAY FREE PLAY DAY. However, since there is about a 6 week layoff before the spring season of Junior Team Tennis and High School Tennis, the pros at Westside have gladly offered their service of providing a list serve so that your kids will have scheduled matches during this period of time!! They will set up matches on Fridays from 3:00 til 6:30 based on your time availability and level. All of this will be FREE OF CHARGE!! All kids are encouraged to come and bring other kids that play!! We are happy to offer our service to other kids in the area! To get on the list serve, email Robert Taylor at rt4tennis@gmail.com. First matches will be scheduled Friday, December 4th. Keep checking www.gainesvilletennisacademy.com for more programs and updates on current ones. Now on to our Gainesville Ocala Womens Day League!


DAY LEAGUE NEWS.....Our teams are getting to the halfway point of their divisions and so far the competition has been tough, but we are doing well.. Our newly formed 3.0 team, The Pink Panthers, are beginning to form great chemistry as they head to the christmas break. They are currently jockeying for position in the middle of league as 3 or 4 teams have similar records. Their next match is at Country Club of Ocala on December 2nd. If you don't have much on your agenda, ask someone on the team for directions and check it out!! In the 3.5 level, the 10 S NUTS are in the middle of the pack, losing a very close match last week against one of the top teams in their division.. It was a 3-2 defeat that came down to a 3rd set on court 1. Good try ladies, you had 'em!! This team will be playing against the on Ft. King Matchmakers on December 3rd in Ocala. Come support the Nuts!! Finally, our wonderful 4.0 team, Friends of Joyce, are playing into form and are currently in 3rd place as we get near the Christmas break. They are on a 2 match winning streak and look to continue that trend on December 1st as they take on the Ft. King Twisted Sisters at Westside Park!!!! Come out and cheer them on as they look to add to the winning streak!! We are still looking for players!!! If you would like to play and have mornings available to play, we would love to have you! Please pass the info on to anyone you know that plays and is looking to join a league!! WESTSIDE WANTS YOU....... TO JOIN OUR DAY LEAGUE TEAMS!!!!!



ADULT NEWS.....As previously reported, the combo season for USTA is winding down. With the season ending, the Adult season will start forming teams and Westside is proud to offer its facility to teams looking for courts to practice. We are currently taking names with your preference of day(s) and time(s). Since daylight savings time will be coming during the middle of the season, Westside will as they say "keep the light on" with court space being offered as late as 8pm! Lessons are ongoing with beginner and intermediate levels being offered two nights a week and a wonderful 3 hr clinic offered on Saturday mornings headed by one of Westside's favorite pros, Abdoulaye Toure. Please call 376-8250 for more info. TEAMS ARE FORMING!!!!! If you are interested in joining a league, but do not know how to join, let us know! At Westside, we can match you up with existing captains to join a team or form a new team to join! All levels are welcome from the novice 2.5 level to the more experienced 5.0 player. Call 376-8250 and ask us about USTA LEAGUES!!!! Head Pro Robert Taylor's 4.5 USTA Team@ Daytona Regionals



Have you always wanted that Roger Federer forehand or Serena Williams backhand but never knew how to get it??? NOW YOU CAN!! Mike Oransky and Westside introduce DARTFISH, a computer software that can analyze your strokes and compare them with the top players!!! A side by side, frame by frame analysis so that you can emulate your favorite player! It can also analyze your match strategy, tendencies of errors and much more.. DON'T BELIEVE ME?? CLICK HERE AND TAKE A TOUR!
Westside thanks all of you who are participating and playing at our facility. We would like to show our appreciation. We are in the process of creating a tennis mixer for all the adults and potential new players that want to play at our facility. We would provide, food, music, and beverage in a relaxed setting on a friday or saturday evening. We would like your feed back... No better way to do that, than a poll. So here is our poll...............

If Westside were to do a tennis mixer with food and drink, would you be interested?
	HECK YES!
	Eh.... Possibly
	No Way! I got CSI to watch on TV
Free polls from Pollhost.com

We will have the results on December 7th.. Finally in adult news, there is an adult prize money tournament being held at DB Racquet Club next weekend, Dec. 5th. Please contact Don or Dave Blair to register at 377-9580.


UPCOMING TOURNAMENTS:
Adult: Dec 5th: Mens & Womens Open, DB Racquet Club, Gainesville
Jan. 15: Heritage Classic, Westside Park

Juniors: Dec. 5: Sandlando Classic, Altamonte Springs
Dec.12: Harry Gilbert Championships, Palm Coast
Dec. 12: Lake Cane Classic, Orlando
Jan. 2: DB Super Series, DB Racquet Club, Gainesville
Jan. 15: Heritage Classic, Westside Park, Gainesville

Next week in the Gazette....How to get those pounds off after Turkey Day, spotlight on Skip Deist and of course...MORE NEWS!!!! GOBBLE GOBBLE :)

LINDSEY CABLE: ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

As promised, Lindsey stopped by our offices to give us a few minutes of her time.. The 5'2" senior from P.K. Yonge high school and recently signed Stetson Hatter has taken her team to back to back district titles and plans on getting the team to the state finals are definitely in reach. As the #1 singles player for her team, the pressure falls on her to set the tone for her team, but she seems to relish in it. Here is her conversation with our on-site reporter....

Gazette: Hi Lindsey, its great to meet you and take a few minutes out of your day to meet with us. We have a barrage of questions to ask you, A to Z that we like to call our High School Blitz. Are you ready?

LC: Ready and willing!!!

Area tennis player that impresses you the most? Jonathon Vesely. He has so much talent.

Best words of advice ever given to you? Give everyday your all, and never give up.

Colleges that you were considering before signing with Stetson University? Georgia Southern and Florida Atlantic.

Doubles in your opinion is...Fun! It's amazing to play with someone whose game clicks with yours.

ESPN's best program: uh... I don't watch ESPN, sorry :)

Favorite music, song, and artist? I like country, hip hop, rap and pop. I have so many favorite songs, but one is Big Green Tractor by Jason Aldean.

Greatest tennis achievement? Signing to Stetson!

Happiest day in your life? There are too many to just have one.

Interesting thing that most people don't know about you away from tennis? I actually sing well, and do impressions.

Juggling tennis with school is... Easy if you keep your priorities straight and set aside time for both tennis and school.

Keep balls in play or go for a winner to win a match?? Go for it

Least favorite tennis moment? Every time I lose.

Most inspirational person in your life? My parents.

Nickname? Shea, LC, lulu, donk

One or two-handed forehand? Two hands on both sides!!

Potential college major? Sports Management. I want to be a sports agent.

Quiet time activity? Listen to my iPod or read the Twilight saga.

Read or watch t.v.?? Read

Superhero you wanted to be growing up? Superheroes are for boys!! I was into Barbies

Toughest part of playing tennis? The mental aspect of the game

Unusual superstitions or habits before playing a match? Not before the match but I have a superstition of stepping on the lines.

Vacation Dream Spot? Austraila or Hawaii

Worst part of being a senior? The senior project!! I'm not looking forward to writing the 10 page essay.

Xbox, Wii, or PS3?? I don't play video games..

Year you were born? 1992!

Zoo animal you like the most?? Penguins

Gazette: Thanks for sharing so much with us! I hope our readers have a more in-depth look at who Lindsey Cable is and good luck on the upcoming season!

LC: Thanks so much!

WEEK OF 11/9-11/15

We are back everyone from a bit of a break. We had our on field reporter trying to catch a live turkey in Virginia for Thanksgiving, but we are turkey-less.. Oh well, Publix is not too far from our office!! :) We have had some new and exciting things happen in the past couple of weeks so kick back with that cup o' joe and relax, it's time to give you the news!!!!!!





News and Notes......... Plans for the new pro shop and tennis facility at Westside Park have offiically begun!! Engineers and surveyors have been out for the past two weeks marking off where the ideal spot for the building. Mike Oransky and the architects are in the final phases of deciding on which floor plan they will use for the building. Once approved, the Gazette will be sure to post the plans for everyone to take a look at and feel a part of. Once again, if it was not for everyone's help, this would not be possible.. On the Junior level, Ms. Lindsey Cable has officially signed a letter of intent to play at Stetson University.. Congratulations Lindsey!! You will get to know a little more about Ms. Cable in our interview with her tomorrow.. Junior Clinics have been phenomenal.. Thanks to all the kids and parents who want their kids to improve and to our wonderful staff using their knowledge and experience to help them excel in the sport and in life! We are creating more clinics for the kids, so parents if you know of a friend who's child plays tennis, let us know!!! The more the merrier and would like to see the junior program grow! In Adult news, The Gazette is pleased to inform you that there is a adult tennis mixer in the works! A reliable source tells me that it will be most likely on a friday night and there might be some sort of food and drink and entertainment..Stay tuned as when more information comes out, we will be there to provide it for you!! We are in the process of looking for USTA teams to practice at our facility..If you have a captain, are going to be a captain or know of a captain, looking for courts to practice, please contact us at rt4tennis@gmail.com or oranskym@bellsouth.net and we will get you going!! LADIES, LADIES, LADIES..... WE NEED YOU!!!!!!! Westside Day League Teams are looking for ladies in their league... If you like tennis and wanna pick up the racquets again or know of a friend who's looking to play, let us know... Weekly practices and matches until next spring.. YOU CAN'T GO WRONG!!!!! Now on to the week in review.......

WEEK OF 10/26-11/1

Hey everyone! This week sure went fast as most kids were out of school on friday, Florida/Georgia weekend plus Halloween!!! As for the Gazette, our work is never done and this weekend we were watching a weekend full of great tennis at Westside Park for their annual Junior Super Series Tournament. There were over 140 participants and the final matched concluded on Monday! Congrats to all participants and winners for a job well done! Now on to the news!!.........


NEWS AND NOTES>>>>> Earlier it was reported that there was a tournament at Westside Park this weekend. A superb turnout was had and there were many players from the gainesville area that participated. A special Gazette shout out goes to Ms. Lindsey Cable for winning the Girls 18's singles division. She did not drop a set as she worked her way through the bracket to the title. Congratulations Lindsey!!!
Westside Park in collaboration with the Alachua County Mamas, a well established mother's playgroup, are doing a demonstration day of quickstart tennis for our young and upcoming stars ages 3-5.. Quickstart is a innovative way to introduce tennis to younger kids by making the dimensions of tennis more kid friendly. Smaller racquets, smaller court size, bigger and softer balls make this experience fun!!!! This demonstration day will be Friday, November 6th at 9:30.. Come check it out!!!! On to Junior News.....


JUNIOR NEWS>>>>> EXTRA EXTRA!!!! READ ALL ABOUT IT!!!! Mike Oransky Tennis at Westside Park now has MORE group clinics for your kids to enjoy!!!!!
THAT'S RIGHT!!!! You heard it here first! The gazette talked to many of the instructors and we were excited to leak this information out to you! Maybe times have been a bit difficult or days have been a little hard to work out.. Westside now is providing more clinics to ensure that your child has numerous opportunities to play any day of the week... This is the unofficial leak of programs that are being run... TELL A FRIEND, PASS IT ON! DON'T PASS UP THESE GREAT PROGRAMS!!! Please check with either Mike Oransky or Robert Taylor to get more info at 376-8250...

MONDAY: 3:30-4:30 Junior Beginner Clinic (ages 8-12): Some experience with tennis. Emphasis on technique, basic skills, and footwork.. Friendly play will be introduced as well..
5:30-6:30 Junior Clinic 2.0-3.0 (ages 8 and up): This group will be divided into courts where kids will be at or around the same age and ability level. The beginners will focus more on technique, strokes, and footwork with fun games included. The Advanced beginners to intermediate level will focus more on strategy and introduction of competitive play. However, technique, footwork, etc. will be coached and emphasized as well..

TUESDAY: 2:30-3:30: Junior Beginner Clinic (ages 6-11): little or no experience with tennis. The main focus will be fun, stroke mechanics and basic racquet, hand-eye coordination skills, footwork and games.
3:45-4:45: Junior Beginner Clinic (ages 8-12) : Same as Monday, but on a different day!


WEDNESDAY: 3:45-4:45: Middle School Tennis(6th-8th grade): Emphasis on all levels of play, basic skills, technique, strategy, friendly competition to get your child acclimated to a possibility of playing in high school or Junior Team Tennis.
5:30-6:30: Junior Clinic 2.0-3.0 (ages 8 and up): Same as Monday, offered 2 times a week! What a deal :)

FRIDAY: 4:00-5:00: RALLY BALL (ages 7-12): This clinic is geared to help with basic groundstroke production to introduce continuous play (rally). The instructor will also show the kids how to initiate rally play and incorporate friendly play.

*PLEASE NOTE THAT THESE AGES ARE APPROXIMATE AND DOES NOT REFLECT THE ABILITY OF YOUR CHILD. PLEASE CALL IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS AND WE WILL BE ABLE TO ACCOMODATE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

In other junior news.....There was only one junior team tennis match this weekend due to the tournament at Westside. The Under 12 beginner team played and lost a very competitive match against a solid Jonesville team coached by Magdalena Hurtig.. Each match was really tough and points were fun to watch! Overall, the kids had fun and it was very friendly and sportsmanlike! That's what you wanna see in a match. Good try kids and good luck in your next match! Their last match is Sunday November 8th at 5:00 at Westside Park... Good Luck Team!! On to Adult News and Notes....



ADULT NEWS>>>>>> The combo season for USTA is winding down and that only means one thing....Time to get your teams formed for the Adult season... If you know you're going to be a captain or know someone who would like to be a captain and would like to sign up to hold practices at Westside, let us know! We have court availability Monday-Thursday 6pm-10pm.. Let Mike Oransky know and we will set you up!!! Womens League: The 10 S Nuts had a tough loss this past week to the Golden Ocala Thoroughbreds... Chin up girls and dust your shoulders off, I'm sure you'll get back on track this week!! The 3.0 Pink Panthers scores were not available due to rain.. As always, come out and support the team!!! BREAKING NEWS>>>This reporter has heard that there may be a "happy i'm off work and want to play tennis" round robin format coming soon to westside.. More as we hear of it!

Next week at the Gazette>>> As promised, our pro spotlight will be on Jon Bongiovanni, one of the integral parts of Westside. Also, a new high school feature on P.K. Yonge Senior Lindsey Cable as she accepts her tennis scholarship to.........???? If you wanna know, you'll have to read next week! Final quote: "My greatest strength is that I have no weaknesses"- John McEnroe

SEE YA NEXT WEEK!!!!!!! :)

WEEK OF 10/19-10/25

News and Notes..... As previously mentioned in earlier posts, http://www.gainesvilletennisacademy.com/ is now fully operational. Please check out this website for info on private and group lessons, new events, adult and junior programs, and league play at our facility and our area. Special kudos goes out to the Powershots, the Under 14 Junior Team Tennis Team that headed to Alabama this week to play in the national tournament. Congrats and go win for Gainesville! A Gazette shout out goes to Benjamin Brandt, who is on that team heading to nationals. Way to go!

Ever wanted to ask questions about some of the rules of tennis? Ever needed some extra advice on certain shots? Well on the new website, you can ask these questions and more with our new ask the pro link!! Type in your question and director of tennis Mike Oransky will answer your question! Check out the website and enjoy! Now on to Junior News.....







JUNIOR NEWS>>>>>> There is a USTA sanctioned Super Series Tournament at Westside Park this Halloween Weekend.. All group and private lessons will be postponed for October 31st and most of the day November 1st. Please check with your instructors on rescheduling. If your child has not ever watched a tennis match played live, this is a great way to get them involved! Come on out and watch some great tennis from some great junior players! The cost is free and best yet, some of the area's kids will be playing in it! Come out and support our kids!

Our Junior Team Tennis kids have been doing a great job this season! Even though the Under 12 Beginner and Intermediate team suffered a loss this past week, the outlook is good said Coaches Robert Taylor and Jon Bongiovanni.. "The goal of this is to have the kids experience playing an actual match and have fun while doing it. If they win, that's just icing on the cake. We are here to ensure that this is a lifelong sport that they enjoy for themselves and with their families."- Robert Taylor While the Under 18 Intermediate and Under 12 Intermediate will enjoy off weeks this week due to the tournament, the Under 12 Beginner team will have a match this Sunday.. If you have some free time, come cheer this young but energetic team on! This writer is sure that they would love it!

Our Junior Clinics have been doing great thanks to parents like you and your wonderful kids as well.. We are looking to expand our clinics at Westside Park to every day.. Be sure to stay in contact with your instructor or Head Pro Robert Taylor about all the new and exciting clinics that will be available for your child to enjoy!

This Friday and Friday only, we at Westside will do a Free Play all day for kids that are doing the tournament... The normal Free Clinic will go on as scheduled, but if your child would like to get in a practice match to warm up before the tournament this weekend, let Robert Taylor know and we will try to set up matches for you! Email him at rt4tennis@gmail.com or you can call 352-376-8250.. See you next week for all the tournament results and more info or clinics!!!!!













ADULT NEWS>>>>>>>> The continuing education classes offered by the University of Florida have concluded. However, we at westside offer group lessons at the same time and the same format as the UF course.. The price is a little more at 12 dollars per clinic, but you get the same great workout and instruction and most importantly, you do not have to wait until January to sign up. You can just keep continuing where you left off. We will help you fit into the right level for you! Anyone interested can call 376-8250 or email rt4tennis@gmail.com. Not in the UF Course, but want to do group lessons! No problem! You get the same great price for the same times as well. We have the schedule of courses and times on our website at http://www.gainesvilletennisacademy.com/ It's a great way to do a fun sport and meet new people!









WOMENS DAY LEAGUE NEWS>>>>>>> Westside Park offers a day league for women who would like to join a team, but do not have time for league play in the afternoons or evenings. We have 3 different levels of teams, a 3.0, 3.5 and 4.0 team. Interested??? Email us at oranskym@bellsouth.net or call 376-8250 for more info...

Our 3.0 and 4.0 teams suffered tough losses this week but are ready to rally back and pick up a win in their next matches. 3.0 will be playing at home this Wed. and 4.0 will be playing at Ocala next Tues. Come support each team if you can!! Our 3.5 team picked up an impressive win this past week win a 5-o victory.. Special kudos goes to team captain Maria Tomasaka for great inspiring words and enthusiasm for each team's individual victory. Each one of these great teams is in the middle of the pack for their division, but working their way back to the top! Go get 'em girls! Check out the 3.5 10 S Nuts team's victory here..

Want to see more of the Nuts?? Here's a slideshow from their last match....http://s594.photobucket.com/albums/tt27/gvilletennisacademy/10%20s%20nuts/?albumview=slideshow

That's it for this week! Next week we will have results from this weekends tournament, more news and notes, and spotlight on Westside Pro Jon Bongiovanni...Take care and see you on the courts!!! :)

WEEKLY GAZETTE...10/19-10/25

Welcome back gazette followers! Due to an overhaul to our system, we were unable to have our edition reach you in time last week. We apologize for the inconvience. We have updated our system and now are ready to give you top notch news rapidly and effeciently! Now, on to the news!!! -Editor in Chief :)

PRO SPOTLIGHT.....ROY MILLER

The gazette presents our weekly pro feature. This week, the gazette focuses on Westside Pro Roy Miller.. Miller, an Ocala native, grew up playing tennis in the gainesville area and went on to play college tennis at the Savannah College of Art and Design.. Let's take a little more in-depth look at this up and coming pro....

Gazette: Thanks for letting us ask you a few questions Roy!

RM: No problem, anything to contribute!

Gazette: At what age did you start playing tennis?

RM: About 11 or 12 years old

Gazette: What made you decide that tennis was your ideal sport?

RM: I enjoyed being out on the court by myself. I loved how you have to figure out things yourself in order to win, not worrying about teammates. Tennis is sort of like boxing, mano y mano, no one can help you. That's what I liked about it.

Gazette: Man, you must be a hard player to beat! Great philosophy to have on the court. What was your most memorable match, win or lose?

RM: Actually, it was a match I lost. I was playing USTA 5.5 match in Los Angeles and the guy I was playing I felt was just top notch. Probably should be a pro. However, I stuck in there, played a great match and took him to three sets, but ended up losing. I felt really good about my game in that match.

Gazette: Awesome! Its great to learn things from a win or a loss.. I hear you are one of the new instructors at Westside. What made you decide to teach?

RM: I just feel like a have a great passion for the game and would like to share that same passion with the kids and adults that I instruct.

Gazette: Who was you tennis idol growing up?

RM: Andre Agassi, without a doubt

Gazette: On a lighter note, what's your favorite food??

RM: Favorite food, Oh my.....EVERYTHING

Gazette: Thats funny Roy! I feel the same way. Final question. Do you have any certain rituals or superstitions that you do before a match?

RM: No real superstitions. I try to hydrate really well, stretch and get a long warm-up so that I'm ready to go when the first ball is struck.

Gazette: Well thank you Roy for letting us into part of your life! We hope to see you at Westside for quite a while.

RM: Thank you!

WEEK IN REVIEW... 10/5-10/11

We are back once again to give you the week in review.. Due to some technical difficulties, we have been delayed a couple of days, but we are up and running once again! Thanks to the wonderful people at Cox whose service is superb.




TOP STORIES........As first mentioned in the earlier blog, our new website is up and operational! Mike Oransky has confirmed that the website is live and will be up to date on current events and services Westside will have. "It's very user friendly and looks great. I hope everyone enjoys the new look and we at Westside are very excited on what the future holds for our facility."- Mike Oransky

Young tennis players wanted!!!! Head Pro Robert Taylor has told us here at the gazette that there are plans in the works to have the city's first PERMANENT quickstart courts. Thats right! Any kids from age 3-10 will be able to use these courts to develop their game and have their very own league similar to their parents league! Robert says, "To have this opportunity to help kids develop thier game is very special to me and to our facility. Kid friendly courts and conviently located in gainesville, this to me will only translate to great things for kids, the game of tennis and self esteem in each child."

JUNIOR SUPER SERIES TOURNAMENT..... The clock is winding down for all you juniors looking to get some tournament play in. Two weeks until the super series here at Westside begins! Please sign up online at http://www.usatennisflorida.com/. Looking to get some match play in before the super series? Come out to our Friday Free Play and play some challenge matches. It's an easy way to get prepared and get some last minute tips before the tournament. Any questions? Contact Robert Taylor at 376-8250 or email him at rt4tennis@gmail.com.

WEEK IN REVIEW...... It was a very interesting week at Westside on all levels of play. In Junior Team Tennis Play, Team Brandt, the Under 12 Intermediate team, played mightily against the team from Jonesville, but was handed a defeat. Coach Bongiovanni said that they definitely are playing hard and playing close matches, but just couldnt get enough points to pull off the match. Tough one guys! Keep praticing and everyone here at the Gazette thinks you will win the next one.. Next match for Brandt Ballers will be Sat. October 24th at 1pm at Westside... Come Support the team and make it a family occasion!!!! The Under 18 Intermediate team suffered its first loss of the season as well, falling to a very veteran 300 club team.. In singles, Kyle Koski played his high school teammate Dean Foster in an epic match. However, when the dust was settled, Dean played a great match and handed Kyle an 8-7 defeat. Great playing by both players. In doubles, the team of Bradley and Garry Cooper played their first match for the season and capped it with an 8-2 win.. Great playing by both players and their attention to moving with the ball won the match for the team said Coach Robert Taylor. Even in defeat, we were able to learn something and I hope it carries over into our next match Taylor added. Next match for this team is Sun October 25th at 6pm at Jonesville Tennis Center. It's a drive, but Coach Taylor hopes to see all the parents and friends of the players come out and watch.. Finally, the young under 12 beginner team led by Coach Taylor is off to a great start!! They won their second match in a row!!! MVP of this match goes to Ivan Esguerra for winning both his singles and doubles matches!!! Kudos goes to Skip Deist and Eric Esguerra for subbing in for Coach Taylor. Next match for this team is Sun. October 18th at 5pm at Westside Park. Come out to see if they can make it 3 in a row!! Also many thanks go to each of the parents who showed up to watch thier kids play in all of Westside's matches this weekend! Keep up the good work parents! It's great to see you involved. It makes the instructor bond with the child so much better if the parents are there and are on the same path with the instructor on how to develop the child in tennis and in life. Check out our slideshow to see these kids in action..http://s594.photobucket.com/albums/tt27/gvilletennisacademy/jtt%20tennis/?albumview=slideshow

Adult News and Notes: Still looking for those 3.0-3.5 women players who are interested in playing some day league tennis... Please call 376-8250 to get more info on getting onto the team!!! The 3.5 team played a very competitive match this past thursday but lost to a tough Haile Plantation team.. The team looked very good and had great shots, we just couldnt come up with the big points in the end said coach Diest. The team is now 2-2 on the year and looking to rebound with a win this thursday... Come support the team!! The 4.0 team suffered its first loss of the year to the DB team last tuesday.. Coach Oransky said, "Congrats goes out to their team. They played really well and did not miss when they had the opportunity to win the point." Chin up high girls!!! You can get em next time! Next match for this team is October 19th in Ocala against the Fort King Scramblers.. Good luck girls!!!

Our group lessons are coming to a close for their 6 week sessions.. We are looking forward to continuing the process through the rest of the year and need you to come out! At only 12 dollars a session, you can't go wrong! Coach Taylor says that he has seen great improvement in both the beginner and intermediate levels. This is a great opportunity for everyone to get into play and potentially into USTA Leagues..

That's it for now!!! Check out the Pro Spotlight on Roy Miller and we will see you next week!!!

WEEKLY GAZETTE... WEEK OF 10/5-10/11

Breaking News.... www.gainesvilletennisacademy.com is now operational!!!! Use this website for information pertaining to lessons, rates, and services for Westside Park. Our goal is not only to bring you quality instruction, but courteous service and new opportunities to expand your tennis horizon! Now on to the news.....

WEEKLY GAZETTE... WEEK OF 9/28-10/4

It's Monday and you know what that means..... OUR WEEKLY GAZETTE!! What a week we had! Junior Team Tennis began this week with all of our teams playing. Our Ladies Day League had matches as well and Combo Leagues were playing on Saturday and Sunday. Westside can't thank you all enough for showing your support and coming out to our wonderful facility to play! The more you play, the happier we are! Keep up the great work. Special thanks to our wonderful staff for getting the information to our patrons and servicing their needs with a smile and the courtesy they deserve... Now, ON TO THE NEWS!!!

JUNIOR NEWS: Junior Team Tennis started off with a big bang this weekend with our Under 12 beginner and intermediate teams playing, as well as our Under 18 intermediate team. The Under 12 intermediate team, coached by our own assistant pro Jon Bongiovanni, faced a strong DB team and lost a very close match on Saturday. You'll get 'em next time team! Next match is this Saturday at 1pm at Jonesville Tennis Center so come and check this young stars out!

Our newly formed Under 12 beginner team and Under 18 intermediate teams began their inaugural seasons in the JTT league with huge wins! The under 12 team played a young but scrappy DB team, but when the dust settled, the kids from westside pulled out the win! Good Job by everyone.. Kudos to Robert Taylor and Skip Deist for coaching this young team! Next match is this Sunday at 4pm at Westside Park. Come and support these young players and cheer them on to victory!

Finally, the under 18 intermediate team played against a very evenly matched DB team.. The doubles courts split with David Liu and Reid Wilson winning a close match 8-5 and the team of Paula Fraisse and Laura Lee Pack playing their hearts out, but falling 8-4 to a solid team. It came down to the singles courts, where Zach Dowd and Kyle Koski played and won both matches. Great win to get the season on the right foot! Coach Robert Taylor believes that this team will learn from each other and grow not only as a team, but their court awareness and strategy will improve as the season progresses... Next match for this team is this Sunday at 5pm at the 300 Club. Come support our teams!

YOUR CHILD NOT IN JUNIOR TEAM TENNIS???? Contact Robert Taylor or Jon Bongiovanni at 376-8250 for more info. Clinics are available monday thru friday in the afternoons. Beginner levels: Mon & Wed at 5:30...Intermediate levels: Tues & Thurs at 5. Don't know your child's level? Call us and schedule an evaluation!

TOURNAMENT NEWS........Westside will be having a Super Series Junior Tournament on OCT.31. Please register your child on the usta florida website at http://www.usatennisflorida.com/ and follow the options screens to register. Our goal is to have every division have a child from gainesville in the tournament. Help us reach our goal! Our Friday Free Play is a great way to get your child some practice matches in to get ready for the tournament. If interested, call 376-8250 and let us know that you would like us to set up a practice match for your child!

ADULT NEWS & NOTES..... Our Ladies' Day League 3.0 & 3.5 teams had matches this week. Each team played hard and hit some amazing shots. The 3.5 team pulled out a great win this week against a very formidable Gainesville Country Club team and our 3.0 had a tough loss against a very wily and experienced 300 Club team. Each team is looking for a win this week as well as our 4.0 team which will play DB this week.. Good luck to all the teams! Clinics and group lessons are offered Monday thru Thursday evenings and on Saturday mornings! Come on out and get back into the game....

NEED A WORKOUT WITHOUT THE TECHNIQUE?? TRY CARDIO TENNIS! It's the new way to get a good workout without the gym memberships or worry about hitting a tennis ball ten feet out.....Set to popular music, this one hour lesson will definitely get you moving and playing in no time. Wednesdays at 6:30 pm or Saturday mornings at 9:45 am. Its definitely worth it!!

Next week: Pro spotlight on Jon Vesely, launch date for the new website www.gainesvilletennisacademy.com, news and notes from the week in review!

Final thoughts: "Tennis: a racquet sport in which two people compete to see who has the shortest temper, the worst memory, the poorest eyesight, and the slowest watch"- Author Unknown

See Ya Next Week :)

Weekly Gazette...The week of 9/21-9/27

Hi everyone and welcome again to our weekly newsletter! Things are starting to pick up at Westside with more junior programs, USTA Combo League practices, and Adult clinics. Thank each and every one of you for playing at our facility and don't forget to tell people to come and enjoy a game of tennis with you, or even just look at our newsletter blog! The new website http://www.gainesvilletennisacademy.com/ will be up within the next week!! Keep referring to http://www.motennis.com/ for more info, but check back when will have the official start date of the new website! In other news.....



UPDATE ON JUNIOR TEAM TENNIS!!! Junior Team Tennis has officially begun! If your son or daughter has signed up for it, be on the lookout for the match schedule... U12 beginner has their first match on Saturday at 3pm at Westside.. U12 Intermediate will be at DB on Saturday at 3pm and the U18 Intermediate team will have their match on Saturday at 5pm at Westside.. Make sure you talk to Robert Taylor, Jon Bongiovanni, or your child's parent/coach captain about if you can play or not... There will be a Junior Team Tennis practice/free play on Friday 10/2, starting at 3pm so that Robert and Jon can see each kid play and determine lineups for the weekend..If you can play this weekend, PLEASE COME FRIDAY, thank you ;).


WE NEED LADIES!!!! If you play tennis and would like to get on a team, but don't have time because of family, then try the women's day league at Westside! Its two mornings a week, with one being a practice, the other match play. Its fun and a great way to get more tennis in without sacrificing too much time.. Call us at 376-8250 for more details!


Don't like the gym but want a good workout??? TRY CARDIO TENNIS!!! This is a fast paced way to burn some calories while listening to popular music and playing tennis... Its what everyone wants all in one hour! Fitness, music, and sports, you can't go wrong... with classes on Wednesday evening and Saturday mornings, it's the way to go! Call us to sign up! 376-8250


UPCOMING EVENTS: Oct. 31- Westside Park: Junior Super Series Tournament (talk to your instructors about signing your child up!)
Adult mixer- Westside Park ( A way to meet new people that play tennis in the community)- TBD, but coming soon

JUNIOR CLINIC ATHLETES OF THE WEEK

Each week, the pros at Westside Park will be looking for athletes of the week. There will be two every week. An athlete of the week will be possessing the drive to want to excel at tennis, follow directions, show leadership and have intangible attributes that make them stand out. Every month, we will have an athlete of the month, where that person will get a gift card to a local retail establishment in the area. A little way from the pros of saying THANK YOU for playing tennis and trying to become not only a better tennis player, but a better citizen. This week's recipients are JUAN ANHALZER (bottom) and KYLE KOSKI (top). Juan and Kyle are both sophomores, Juan going to Eastside High School and Kyle going to P.K. Yonge High School. Juan is currently working on perfecting his game and pursuing possibly playing on either the Junior Varsity or Varsity team. Kyle is also working on his overall game and trying to work his way higher on his varsity team where he was the #4 singles player. Both of them are playing Junior Team Tennis to get more match play to be ready for the upcoming season. Congrats to both Juan and Kyle!!

PRO SPOTLIGHT OF THE WEEK: ABDOULAYE TOURE

The gazette presents a weekly spotlight on each of our pros so that you get to know a little bit about each and every one of us.. This week is Assistant Pro Abdoulaye Toure!

Gazette: Thanks Abdoulaye for taking a few min to talk to us!

AT: Not a problem.

Gazette: How long have you been a teaching pro at Westside Park

AT: I have been teaching at Westside for about 7 years now.

Gazette: I heard you were on the tour for a little while. What was your highest ranking on tour?

AT: Yes I was on tour and my highest ranking was #872 in the world.

Gazette: Did you play any other sports when you were younger?

AT: I played table tennis and ran track when I was a kid.

Gazette: So, what made you want to play tennis?

AT: I travelled internationally for table tennis and was in Mauritania where there was not alot of table tennis. Tennis was a sport that more people played and I decided to take up the sport.

Gazette: How old were you when you started playing tennis?

AT: I was about fourteen years old.

Gazette: So what does tennis bring to you personally?

AT: Tennis has opened alot of doors for me and let me be able to meet new people from different areas of the world. It is one of the few sports that can bring so many different cultures and people from all over together in one common interest.

Gazette: Abdoulaye, Thank you for your time!

AT: Thank you.

PREMIERE EDITION OF THE GAZETTE!!!

BREAKING NEWS!!!!~ Westside Tennis will NOW have a pro shop with restroom facilities in the near future. On Thursday, the city voted and approved the allocation of funds to build a new facility for everyone to enjoy. Special kudos goes out to director Mike Oransky for speaking on the behalf of all of the wonderful patrons that come and visit our facility. Keep looking for updates on the progress of construction! Westside Tennis will have a new website for everyone to check out programs, times and other news and notes.. The new website is www.gainesvilletennisacademy.com and will be up and operational within a week or so.. Keep checking the gazette to find out its launch date!


JUNIOR PROGRAMS: Our Junior programs are now up and running with numerous clinics that are currently accepting new players. Please call 376-8250 or check our websites that are on the left of the page for more information. Questions??? Email rt4tennis@gmail.com or oranskym@bellsouth.net and we will answer your questions promptly.
Junior Team Tennis is beginning!!! This is a great way for your young tennis star to get some match play experience while getting to meet other kids. Currently we have 12&under beginner, 12&under intermediate, 18&under intermediate, and Quickstart (10&under) divisions for your children to join. Call 376-8250 and ask for Robert or Jon for more information.
Friday Free Play: EVERY FRIDAY we will have a Friday free play for kids playing junior team tennis or who would like to play challenge matches! It will run from 3-6:30 and we will have one of our trained instructors supervising and coaching to help improve everyone's game.

PEE WEE PROGRAM: Quickstart is the new program for all young juniors under the age of 10. Bigger balls, smaller courts, and kid friendly racquets help your son or daughter feel that she is playing just like mom or dad. By using this style of instruction, it helps promote excellent technique and habits for your child to excel in tennis! We have several times and openings for your child, so call now and sign them up!

ADULT PROGRAMS: Westside Tennis has several programs for every type of adult and level. Clinics, League play for men and women, Cardio Tennis are just a few... Come and check us out!
CLINCS: We have clinics on evenings Monday-Thursday and also on Saturday mornings. Whether you are just picking up a racquet, dusting off one and coming back to the sport, or a former college player, we have the clinic for you! Call or check out or website for more info!!
WOMEN'S DAY LEAGUE: ATTENTION LADIES! Love Tennis??? Are you free a couple of mornings out of the week??? Then this is for you! We are currently looking for 3.0-3.5 level women who love to play tennis and have a couple hours in the morning to play! Don't know your level, but wanna play? Come out to Westside and have our certified instructors determine your level! Call 376-8250 for more info
LEAGUE PLAY: We currently have a doubles league ongoing through the USTA for men and women. Looking to play more, let us know!
CARDIO TENNIS: This is a great way to get out and hit some balls and get in shape at the same time! This fun way to play tennis doesn't focus on the technique, but rather that you like the game and wanna get a sweat in as well.. Set to popular music, this is a fun way to play tennis, get some cardiovascular exercise in, and meet new people. Every wednesday evening and saturday morning. Call us to sign up!

UPCOMING EVENTS/TOURNAMENTS:
OCT.3: Ormond Beach Local Jr. Tourney
OCT. 24: Palm Coast Local Tourney
OCT.31: Gainesville Super Series ( here at westside park)

SEE YOU NEXT WEEK!!! :)

Here are a few pics of some of our juniors and adults on a typical sunday morning

http://s594.photobucket.com/albums/tt27/gvilletennisacademy/sunday%20tennis/?albumview=slideshow

WELCOME TO THE GAZETTE!

Hello Everyone! This is the first installment of our weekly gazette newsletter blog! I am super excited and thrilled to be keeping all of you up to date with the most current information pertaining to adults, juniors, pee wees, league play, day league and other events happening at Westside Tennis. Thank you for your patience as we are transitioning to a new and improved tennis facility and community. Our goal is to make everyone feel like family while continuing to give you excellent service and advice on how to improve every facet of your tennis game and life! :) -Robert Taylor, USPTA Head Pro