Tennis for Success set to kick off third year

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- A summer youth program designed to help teach kids tennis as well as life skills outside of the sport, begins Monday, July 7.

The program is led by a junior at Central High School, Sara Gupta.

"We just want to help students become student athletes, essentially," Gupta said. "Which have those main skills like teamwork, confidence, athleticism and just using tennis to help achieve those."

Gupta will lead the program for the first time after her older sister, Alisha, started the program and led it for two years.

The program is for kids ages 11-14 and was created after Alisha noticed the kids dropping out of school weren't part of any teams or clubs.

"She really wanted to start early during middle school," program director of youth volunteer corps Misty Coyle said. "So, 11 to 14 years old and get them ready for high school by giving them some pillars of strength."

The program runs from Monday, July 7, through Monday, July 24, on Mondays through Thursdays from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

"We have games, activities and actually this year, I am fortunate enough to find a psychology student from Missouri Western to help with mental health," Gupta said. "Just incorporating all aspects of that with tennis and fun activities."

Gupta said a lot of students in the past have gone on to play tennis in high school, and hopes they can use the skills learned outside as well.

Supplies, rackets and everything for students in the program are provided from sponsorships and other businesses supporting Youth Alliance.

Tennis for Success will be a "pay if you can" program, thanks in large part to fundraising efforts.

To sign up visit the Youth Volunteer Corps website.

"Tennis has been my passion from the age of nine or 10," Gupta said. "It's been something to look forward to, something to have to be active and I have been fortunate to be on the tennis team and see it grow and that's really important to me."