Tampa Tennis Blog: Wimbledon Champs at Seminole Club; KC’s Kamp for Kids; More

2nd Annual Family Club Championships Winners Crowned at Seminole Lake

John Ramdeen

Erick Chall, tennis director at Seminole Lake Family Tennis in Seminole, recently completed the third leg of the club’s 2nd Annual Family Club Championships.

Named SLCC Wimbledon champions were John Ramdeen in 3.5 men’s singles and Ramdeen and Kim Northup in 3.5 mixed doubles. Due to weather-challenged conditions, Nancy and Mindy Strange and Kim Northup and Meg Clough were declared co-champions in 3.5 women’s doubles.

Chall introduced the championships to provide local competition during each of the Grand Slam events. The championships culminate with the Masters Tennis Championships that is open to the top two finishers in each of the four Grand Slam events in singles, doubles and mixed doubles’ NTRP divisions.

Masters winners receive tickets to the Miami Open, reserved parking space at the club, their name engraved on a club trophy, club t-shirt and the choice of a free beer or ice cream.

Signups are still open for Seminole’s US Open Championships. Contact the club by calling (727) 394-1733 or visiting www.seminolelakefamilytennis.com.

Racquet Club of St. Pete Names New Director

Shikha Singh was recently named to his first tennis club directorship when he accepted the role at the privately-owned Racquet Club of St. Petersburg.

He assumed the position after 12-year club director Kathy Woods accepted the position of director of tennis at the USTA National Campus in Lake Nona.

“It was the best transition we could have hoped for because Kathy always kept me in the loop,” said Singh. “We have a terrific blueprint for the Racquet Club and I plan on adding a modern touch to things while infusing new energy and excitement to the club.”

Singh joined the Racquet Club in 2014 after a 12-year stint at the St. Petersburg Tennis Center. Before that, the Mumbai, India native defended the No.1 singles and doubles positions for Eckerd College in St. Petersburg. Prior to college, Singh achieved a No. 1 junior ranking in India.

“I owe many thanks to those at St. Pete Tennis Center who helped me get to this point in my career,” added Singh. “Among those that helped me the most were Mike Carroll, Tom James and Jim Courier, to name just a few.

“Now, I welcome the challenge in helping the Racquet Club grow and prosper in the years to come.”

KC’s Kamp for Kids Helps Police Athletic Club

Volunteers with KC’s Kamp for Kids joined forces with the Police Athletic League in St. Petersburg to participate in a “Back to School Event Day” at PAL’s center on 16th Street in St. Petersburg.

More than 460 kids received backpacks, school supplies, clothes and haircuts and more, thanks to a variety of vendors. KC’s Kamp for Kids provided lunch box snacks and tennis activities.

KC’s Kamp for Kids was begun in 2014 and is headed by Executive Director Sally Marshall. Volunteers hosted a tennis carnival-type atmosphere for participants. In spite of a day of rain that kept all inside during most of the event, tennis pro Gail O’Connor drew on years of experience and provided improvised indoor tennis play that included swimming noodles fashioned into tennis racquets and beach balls for tennis balls!

KC’s Kamp for Kids, one of the USTA’s National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL) affiliates, begins this month offering free after-school tennis classes at two PAL sites in St. Petersburg and an educational component, EarthBox Gardening.

To learn more or to volunteer, visit www.kcskampforkids.org.