Mar 24
0

Tryouts start next week!

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Tennis fam,

Two long years have passed since the last time we’ve gotten together and needless to say, I am really excited to begin the 2021 season! I know the captains (Luke, Luca, Henry) are excited to get started as well. A lot to cover in this message so please read it closely:

Tryouts start next Monday and will go from 2-6pm at Kenwood courts. We will split into two groups so the coaches can evaluate you closely. ON WEDNESDAY TRYOUTS WILL BE AT INNERCITY TENNIS (ICT) FROM 4-6 PM (CHECK EMAIL/TEAMSNAP FOR DETAILS).

Please be early.
Please bring water and a snack. **There will be no water at the courts
Please wear a MASK until you are on the actual tennis court (this will be monitored and strictly adhered to).
Please bring a tennis racket and wear athletic clothing. **We have extra rackets if you need one
These players will need to be there from 2-430pm on Monday
L. Little
H. Bastian
L. Cordova Stuart
O. Prentice
O. Hemer
T. Grimes
C. Graff
B. Fitzgerald
A. Graff
N. Anderson
L. Smith
B. Merims Johnson
*I chose those individuals based off my familiarity with them as players. *Upperclassmen status was considered as well.
Everyone else please arrive at 4pm and plan on staying until at least 6pm.
We will have team introductions at 4pm when we have the 30 minutes of overlapping time together. We will wear masks at that time.
Uniform shirts will be handed out on Monday. Thank you Beth Gyllstrom and Washburn Foundation for providing monies to cover these. You will get to keep these.
Once tryouts are over we will hand out varsity and junior varsity shorts as well. They will need to be worn every match.
**New this year
We have 24 kids signed up for tennis. In the past we have had double that. We will have only ONE Jv team this year and coaches Tim and Varo will be co-head coaches. If the numbers stay that low expect to have about  12 make varsity and the remaining players will be on Jv. No one will be cut!
FAQ
What if it is raining/snowing/wet on Monday?
We will still show up to the courts and check in with the coach. We will shorten the practice time and condition.
Is it too late to sign up for tennis?
No! Tell your friends! We only have a handful of new players on the team and only one seventh grader—I’m hopeful that changes.
What if I’m not feeling well for tryouts—will missing a day eliminate my chances of making varsity?
NO! Please stay home until you feel better. There will be movement throughout the year and opportunities to move up.
Will there be anything tennis related during spring break?
Yes. The coaches haven’t decided when or what because we don’t know how many will take us up on that. We will have some sort of optional hitting, match play, private lessons available for those who stay in town.
Where do we find our schedule?
TeamSnap has our complete schedule. We will be amending one match date or time (Mpls South) because it overlaps another but other than that, barring cancellations, the schedule is set.
If I’m supposed to be at practice from 4-6 Monday, should I assume that’ll be the same for me the rest of the week?
No! There will be a lot of movement after day one and I will send an email that evening detailing who needs to be where/when. Since it’s been a long time since I’ve seen you play (and some never at all) I need to evaluate you to determine if you’re ready for varsity consideration or not.
Who should I tell if I have a conflict with a practice or match?
Please tell me if it’s during tryouts and your respective head coach once teams have been decided.
Last but not least, please please please get out and play some matches/sets this week. The majority of tryouts will be a match play format so we can begin to assemble a lineup. Varsity has a tournament the Monday after spring break so I will have four days next week to figure that out. Come ready to compete!
Thanks all! Cheers to a great season.
Coach Hoag
Mar 04
0

Spring Sports Registration Night is March 15th

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Spring sports registration night is Monday, March 15th, 5:00-7:00 p.m. This is a form drop-off event in the main gym, but unfortunately it won’t be like previous years where you go to a sport-specific table and get to talk with coaches. Please check your email for further details on Spring Sports Registration Night and making sure you are eligible to play when the season starts.

Sep 26
0

Off Season Opportunities

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Hi Washburn Tennis Family,
I wanted to pass along an opportunity from a former colleague who is providing  indoor tennis matchplay and lessons at a reduced rate.  He was the former coach at St Paul Harding and did an amazing job building that program up.  The one thing that hindered his ability to compete with the Edina and Wayzata teams was lack of affordable indoor opportunities for his student athletes…so he decided to start his own.  Please review the attachment and consider signing your kid up for this awesome program!  The more match play and tournament play we can do, the better we will compete with the top teams in state!

More Information on Community Tennis Here

Also, please see attached for information about the Fridays at the Fort program.  These are free, monthly opportunities for middle school and high school players—hosted at Fred Wells.  In the past they have been drop-in, but due to COVID-19, they are asking people to sign up and have limited spots.  Please see the attached flyer for details.  Questions?  Please contact their coordinator, Ryan Berkas, at 612-252-8367, ext. 106 or ryan@fwtec.org

More Information on Fridays at the Fort

Coach
Aug 12
1

Morgan Courts Update!

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VISIT THE UPDATED MORGAN COURTS SITE HERE →

 

Exciting News – Morgan Courts

We are excited to announce that construction has begun on the Morgan tennis courts.  Construction began on Monday, August 10th and we hope to have new courts completed this fall!

The Minneapolis Park Board and Love Morgan Courts/Support the Courts joined forces for the past three years to secure funding to replace the Morgan tennis courts.  Thank you to all of you who have supported this project, either financially and/or in lending your support to petitions.  In particular, we want to thank our donors and neighborhood supporters –

  • USTA Northern Grant
  • USTA National Grant
  • Hennepin County Youth Sports Grant
  • Lynnhurst Neighborhood Association Grant
  • Washburn Foundation Grant
  • Support the Courts Foundation
  • Private donations and Give to the Max day donations

We’d also like to thank all the work the Minneapolis Park Board has contributed to this project.  We would not have been able to get this done without them!

The project is expected to move quickly with grading, installation of fence posts and paving to be completed by the last week of August.  Once that is completed, fencing will be installed and the asphalt needs to cure for 30 days before we are able to color coat. We plan to color coat in early October, however we need warm weather for several days in order to complete the work. If the weather does not cooperate, we will color coat in the Spring of 2021.

For more information and updates on this project check out “Love Morgan Courts” on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/lovemorgancourts) or join our mailing list on our Love Morgan Courts website at  https://www.supportthecourts.net/love-morgan-courts.html.

Support the Courts – Love Morgan Courts
Beth Gyllstrom, Tracy Robinson, Ann Prentice, Anne Miller & Ellen Doll

Jan 31
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Kowalskis Fundraiser – February 1st

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Please alert your family, friends, neighbors, teachers….really anyone who might go be doing some grocery shopping this weekend and encourage them to do their shopping at Kowalski’s (54th and Lyndale location).  Kowalski’s pays us for our time—and all tips come directly to the team. We will be there Feb. 1st,  10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.

Go Millers!!!!!!

Oct 28
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Fort First Fridays at Fred Wells – November 1st

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Hi Washburn Tennis Family,

Please see below for a reminder about a great opportunity offered through Fred Wells.  Please contact Ryan Berkas (info below), with any questions.

—

We will be hosting our second FFF of the year on Friday, 11/1. FFF is a FREE drop-in tennis event for MS and HS players of all ability levels. Pizza is included at the end of the night as well! The event starts @ 6:30 pm and goes until 9 pm.

 

Ryan Berkas

Curriculumand Evaluation Coordinator

612-252-8367 ext. 106

 

Jul 15
0

2019 Girls Season is Here!

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Hello Washburn Girls Tennis Families!

Tennis season is fast approaching. Welcome to all new families and players. And welcome back returning players and families. It’s going to be a great Miller girls tennis season and we are so glad you will be part of it. Here are some key dates and information for upcoming team events.

  • August 1st: Fall Sports Registration Night – 6-8 PM at Washburn, https://washburn.mpls.k12.mn.us/athletic_forms
  • August 5, 6, 7, 8, 9: Captains Practices – KENWOOD courts, 8-10 AM for ALL PLAYERS
  • August 12 & 13: Try Outs – At KENWOOD courts, 3-6 PM for ALL PLAYERS
  • August 14, 15, 16: Practices – 3-6 PM or 4-6 PM, locations TBD by squad at (Kenwood & Lynnhurst)
  • August 19 onwards for Season: Practice Times & Locations, Monday to Friday:
    • Varsity- KENWOOD 4-6 PM
    • JV Orange- LYNNHURST 5-6:45 PM
    • JV Blue- LYNNHURST 3:30-5:15 PM
  • Monday, August 19 – ALL PARENT MEETING – 7-8 PM at Washburn in the Cafeteria

Feel free to get to know a bit about your amazing coaches in the Girls Tennis section of this website for Varsity and JV. Stay tuned for more team information.

-Go Millers!

Mar 18
0

Tryout Info & Ping Pong

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Happy Saturday Washburn tennis family.  We are NINE short days away from the season starting and two weeks from our first varsity tournament and I am so excited to get started.  While I’m hopeful we will be able to be outside for some of tryouts, I have reserved indoor court time for the first week.  All the times can be found on TeamSnap and also at the bottom of this email.  Also at the bottom is where (and when) your child needs to be on the first day.  Plan on adhering to that schedule unless the snow suddenly goes away and we are able to save the money and get outside.

 
*There are a few individuals that need to get the rest of their paperwork/payment/physicals in.  Please do so before the first day of practice (March 25th) so you are able to participate on day one.
Next Sunday, March 24th we have our annual Ping-Pong fund raiser for the team and friends.  We would love to have EVERY kid participate.  This is a fun event that determines the ping-pong champion as well as an opportunity to take me on (I was 33-1 last year…and I’ve been practicing).  As an added bonus, if you are able to beat me, you will be gifted 3 points to be able to use at any start of a tournament game!  Oh and coach Dan Leslie is playing too but I’m not sure I’m going to allow the bonus 3 points until I scout his game….
It really is a great event and I’m grateful for the Bastian and Graff familes for taking the lead on this.  Please sign up!
Tickets can be purchased here:
Bring a friend or 3!  What a great opportunity to build some momentum heading into the first day as well as some team bonding.  Hope to see everyone there!
Uniform tops will be handed out the first day of tryouts.  Everyone gets an orange uniform top.  Please wear royal blue shorts for matches if possible.
Varsity players will pick up their team issued blue shorts and sweat suits on Wednesday, March 27th after school in the equipment room (next to the Black box theater).
 
Below are the lists of the two tryout groups.  Please understand that this is only the first day and it will change based on challenge matches and coach evaluations.  Just because you are in one group Monday does not mean you will stay in that group the rest of the week.  The entire week is an evaluation so we can put your child in the best situation for them to have success.  The teams are fluid and there is quite a bit of juggling players throughout the season.
 
VARSITY GROUP: Monday, March 25th, 6:30-8:30pm Baseline Tennis Center (Show up by 615)
JV GROUP: Monday, March 25th, 8-9:30pm Baseline Tennis Center (Show up at 745)
A look ahead:
Tuesday Varsity @ Baseline 630-830pm, JV@ Fred Wells 9-11pm
Wednesday Varsity @ Baseline 9-11pm, JV @ Washburn lunchroom 4pm
Thursday Varsity @ Baseline 630-830pm, Jv @ Fred Wells 9-11pm
Friday TBD
Saturday Varsity 5am bus departure to South Dakota, JV OFF

*If you know you’re going to miss a practice, match, tournament please let me know at tryouts (even if you have already emailed me).  We have practices and matches during spring break and need to be able to field an entire team.
Should be a great spring for Washburn tennis.  Time to shock some people!
Mar 12
0

Washburn Men’s Tennis: 2nd Annual Table Tennis Fundraiser! Sign up now!

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Hi Washburn Tennis Team!
It’s time to sign up for the 2nd annual team Table Tennis Tournament. For those of you who were there last year, you’ll remember it was a ton of fun and we raised important funds for our team!
In addition to bracketed ping pong play, we’ll have a raffle for a racket again as well as the ever-popular ‘beat-the-coach’ table (NEW! Two this year!. Your captain, Henry Smith, is the reigning champion and guy-to-beat. Brush up on your top-spin and you could be going home with the coveted traveling trophy.
For those of you who are new or need a refresher here are the important deets:
  • This year’s tournament is on March 24th from 1-3 pm at Washburn.  We decided to do this BEFORE the season officially starts since it gets so busy in April and May!
  • Everyone is welcome! If you’re a member of the team, you are highly encouraged to participate…but the more the merrier — you do NOT have to be on the team to compete, so please share this link with your ping-pong loving friends and have a fun afternoon.
  • We will need volunteers (tennis team members and their families) to help the day-of with table set-up, take-down, raffle sales, beat-the coach collections, referees. etc. Watch for a sign up link shortly,
In the meantime, here is the link. Sign up today! Because we make the brackets — we need you to sign up for accurate head-count. AGAIN, this is an important fundraiser for our team. We need the funds to help pay for indoor courts, practice supplies, tournaments etc.
Let’s make this year even  bigger than last!
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out with questions or concerns! We are looking for a couple of additional families who would be willing to help out with pre-event organization and day-of conducting!
Thanks again and GO MILLERS!
Feb 19
0

Spring Sports Sign Up Night 2019

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We are only five weeks away from outdoor tennis and the start of the season. I am so excited! Sign up night will be in the main gym at Washburn next Monday, February 25th from 5-7pm. I will be there to meet with parents and answer any questions. All paperwork can be filled out and payment for the season (70$) can be made then. You can also find out if your physical needs to be updated. A sports physical is needed every three years.
You can have your child pick up the necessary paperwork this week and send it back with them as well. The nice thing about showing up is being able to take care of everything at once and have any questions answered.
I’m looking forward to catching up with you all!
Please pass this along to any new families you know that may be interested in playing.