Cary Davenport, who has more than 40 years as a tennis instructor and is a recognized U.S. professional tennis instructor, founded Carolina Junior Tennis in October 2008. The program is now one of the largest tennis programs in South Carolina and Western North Carolina.
The goal of the Carolina Junior Tennis Program, Davenport said, is to provide families in the community with the same quality tennis instruction you would find in country clubs, select private schools and tennis clubs for a fraction of the cost.
“There are now more than 100 players in the program playing seasonally, once a week, and some play daily. Parents are given the opportunity for their children to play as much or as little tennis as they like. Some children want to play for recreation, and some want to play competitively, and a few want to play at the college level,” said Davenport.
“For the first time in this area the U.S. Tennis Association has sanctioned two tennis tournaments for the Carolina junior tennis players, and we are all thrilled,” said Davenport.
The tournaments will be held Saturday, April 21 and Saturday, Oct. 6 at Chapman High School and Landrum High School.
Carolina Junior Tennis League will also offer several free tennis clinics this spring:
May 11, 3 p.m. at Saluda School
May 12, 10 a.m. at Chapman High School and Harmon Field.
May 19, 10 a.m. at O.P. Earle Elementary School in Landrum.
Davenport led the first District One Schools tennis clinic, which was attended by more than 125 students. When it was completed, Davenport said, many parents asked him to continue offering tennis instruction for their children and Carolina Junior Tennis was born.