For more than 30 years, Mesa County Tennis has been providing tennis opportunities to the Grand Junction community, but this year it felt as though players were coming out of the woodwork.
“It was our busiest summer ever,” said Ron Elliott, who formed Mesa County Tennis in 1988 and has been sharing his passion for the sport with kids and families since then.
Combined, 620 participants benefited from lessons, clinics and junior leagues over a 12-week period this summer, an increase of 20% over last year. And, at the request of the Grand Junction Parks and Recreation, Mesa County Tennis also expanded to provide tennis lessons for dozens of others at different locations.
“We get the kids started early and keep them engaged as their skills progress from one year to the next — red ball for the young kids who then move into orange, green and finally yellow ball when the time is right,” Elliott said.
Twenty-seven instructors made up the summer teaching staff. Over two-thirds of the staff first learned tennis through the program. It’s part of Elliott’s strategy to keep Mesa County Tennis flourishing year after year.
“Because most of our instructors learned good fundamentals right here on these courts, they know what we’re looking to do with the kids,” Elliott shared.
He mentors the older kids coming up through the program, transitioning some from student to teacher and coach. Many of his instructors return annually, which brings excellent continuity to the program. Elliott also involves Colorado Mesa University (CMU) tennis team players, the head coach, and others deeply rooted in Grand Junction tennis. It’s a real community effort.
Mesa County Tennis received a Colorado Youth Tennis Foundation (CYTF) program grant. The dollars helped give kids whose families have limited financial resources the ability to participate in tennis. Because Elliott knows firsthand what tennis can do for a kid, engaging families from under-resourced communities is a priority.
In the spring, he contacted counselors at key elementary schools to get more youth from higher-risk communities involved.
“We also give the kids a new racquet when they arrive so they can play on their own,” Elliott added.
In addition to help from the CYTF, Elliott asked for donations from members of the Grand Junction community. In all, an additional $4,000 came in to support the kids.
What keeps Elliott excited and passionate about Mesa County Tennis after all these years?
“It’s watching the families play and enjoy our lifelong sport together,” he said.
Not surprising, considering Ron is part of the Elliott family, a name synonymous with Grand Junction tennis, which has been instrumental in the growth and development of the sport on Colorado’s western slope since 1957.
Even though Mesa County Tennis is focused on youth, Elliott knows that the best way to keep kids playing is to get the parents hooked too. To that end, he offers free lessons for parents just down the street at Junction High while the kids are learning on the courts at the Elliott Tennis Center at CMU. During the final session, more than 20 parents were out there learning, undoubtedly leading to more families on the courts playing together.
“I drive by the courts and see families out playing tennis with one another under the lights at night and even early in the morning before our program starts,” Elliott says. That’s what it’s all about for him.
Mesa County Tennis is extending program offerings through October to keep the kids and families out on the courts enjoying tennis.