Take Stock in Children Tennis Festival draws crowds
Take Stock in Children Tennis Festival draws crowds
By
Amanda Sebastiano
| 10:22 p.m. May 2, 2015
East County
Neighbors
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A variety of on-court tennis activities that ranged in expertise from beginners to seasoned spikers, the inaugural Take Stock in Children Tennis Festival had an event, and court, for everyone, May 2. Housed at the Lakewood Ranch Tennis Center, located off Legacy Boulevard, the all-day event also featured matchups between tennis veterans and pros and prodigies, such as 14-year-old JP Fujiyama, who trains at the IMG Academy. Courts also offered tennis lessons and free play for children, while their parents watched a range of matches throughout the day.
Claudiu Retean, 36, focuses on smacking the ball during match No. 1 of the Pros versus Prodigies event.
Fourteen-year-old and Brazil native JP Fujiyama trains at IMG Academy and has lived in Bradenton for five years.
Barbara and Bob Chalson are avid tennis players who played on open courts throughout the event.
Three-year-old Avery Volk participates in the tennis festivities with her friends and sister.
Rylee Volk chases after a ball her mother served over the net.
Wade and Joan Wilkerson watch a tennis match from the shaded sidelines.
Howie Ash tests his serving speed.
A baseball player who doesn’t play much tennis, Giancarlo Gamboa-Barrios tests his serving speed.
Jack and Suzette Ventrone find close spots near the tennis match with friend Laura Way.
Ricardo De Arruda, Enzo De Brida and Guilherme Barbosa enjoy a match.
Emarie Marcin enjoys an afternoon with friends Jenah Victor, Nathaniel Victor-Smith, and Beate and Jolanda Goldstein.
Paul Tradelius and Mary Rice enjoy tennis matches from the stands.
Juergen Mader and Guy Larreur enjoy cold drinks on a warm afternoon.
Katia Taba and Stephanie Tominga stay cool in shorts and with sunglasses.
Tina Gardner, Bobbie Meyers, Rosemary DeMarco, Arline Stein and Gail Calisoff cheer from the stands during the first matchup of the day.
