COMMUNITY: A lifetime game for all

Editor's note: Randy Krejci of Cedar Rapids is a retired school administrator who remains active in the local sports scene, working for the Mississippi Valley Conference as well as the Iowa Open Tennis Tournament each year.

By Randy Krejci, community contributor

Looking for a new sport, something you can enjoy for the rest of your life?

If so, it's time to get out the rackets and start playing tennis.

Though a handful of youngsters get involved with tennis, it also is a sport you can start later in elementary school, middle school or even get introduced in high school and beyond.

Even if tennis is not your “bag” in terms of sports competition and participation, it can be very useful in developing tools for other sports like soccer, basketball, softball/baseball and even football.

If a child is interested in tennis, look into some clinics or even private lessons.

Rusty Graff, an accomplished tennis player in high school and college and now director of tennis for Westfield Tennis Club in Cedar Rapids, said “a good way to start is to take part in a City Parks and Recreation program like one that is found in Cedar Rapids and is housed at Veterans Memorial Tennis Center. Many kids get introduced to the sport at ages 4 to 14 and this is a great time to begin and through clinics or group lessons, it lessens the cost of beginning the sport of tennis for most young people.”

About four decades ago, while working for the Cedar Rapids Recreation Department, I taught at middle schools and high schools around the city and introduced many elementary, middle school and, in some cases high school, student-athletes to the game. We developed early skills in strokes, serving, volleying, scorekeeping and other tools that helped in school competition and eventually tournaments locally and around the state.

“It's great to get involved in activities where you are around other people,” said recent Marion graduate Brandon Hornback.

Hornback was a late starter and didn't participate formal middle school programs, but finished second in the state this past season in Class 1A doubles with Michael Anderson.

Tennis's benefits include learning good sportsmanship, fitness, teamwork, building friendships and school-related activities.

All you need are rackets, wristbands/headbands, tennis balls, shoes and sock and, of course, a place to play.

You don't have to be young to take up the game, either.

Kevin Nebergall didn't get the bug until his mid-20s and has become very active in tennis programs around the state. He recently went undefeated in a 65-and-over singles bracket and won the Waterloo Open with Ron Capps, a former tennis coach at Jefferson and Washington high schools.

Whether you are 4 or 40, in school or retired, it is time to get out and start “swinging the stick” and have some fun on the tennis courts.

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