Orlando Area’s Jeanne Earp Grows JTT, Earns Tennis Volunteer of the Month

Winter Garden’s Jeanne Earp has been a Junior Team Tennis superstar in the Orlando area for the last six years and 11 seasons, driving (sometimes literally) players to local and regional championships, but more importantly recruiting youngsters into the “sport of a lifetime” on age-appropriate courts with age-appropriate equipment.

“I’ve captained my own children and the students participating as a team captain, and as local team tennis commissioner,” she says. “I enjoy getting students involved in tennis for fun, game play, and preparing them for competition.”

From her beginnings coaching high school tennis during college, to later teaching wheelchair, beginner and intermediate tennis for local parks and recreation departments, Earp passes on the love of the game she learned at age 11 from her mother and siblings.

“Jeanne as a volunteer has served as a captain for many teams, and as league commissioner,” says USTA Florida Tennis Program Coordinator for the Orlando area Shelly Licorish. “She does it all, from assigning courts and matches on match days to working with the captains and parents, providing assistance with the rules and format, to managing teams on the court.”

USTA Junior Team Tennis opportunities in Florida are comprised of the JTT league, and one- or two-day Team Tennis Challenges where teams can compete against other regional squads in age-group play. Her coaching skills were evident in 2014 when she coached a local team to victory at the Central Florida Team Tennis Challenge, guiding the teenage “Orlando Laser Sharks” to the title in the 14-Under/18-Under Intermediate division.

Being everywhere and everything to Orlando JTT, she says, “I like to volunteer in tennis because I just love tennis, and love helping others.”

USTA Florida thanks Jeanne Earp as the June 2016 Volunteer of the Month for her expert hand in leading the Orlando area in growing youth tennis at the grassroots level.

ABOUT JEANNE

Birthplace: Minneola, New York
Family: Ken, Morgan, Conner, Chandler and Courtney
Favorite Movie: Notebook and Hitch
Favorite Food: Seafood
Favorite Travel: Virginia Beach
Favorite Shot: Swinging forehand volley and serve

If I could play tennis with three people, they would be…”I admire so many pro tennis players — I’d play with my children.”

When I am not playing tennis I am…”On the court helping others with tennis skills, cooking, reading, and watching tennis and other sports.”

My best tennis memory is…”watching all my kids play high school tennis and the team tennis victories, and winning a tournament in junior high, and mixed doubles with my husband.”