Local Tennis Community Gears Up for This Weekend’s Long Island Tennis Expo

March 4, 2011 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
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This Sunday, March 6, the 2nd Annual Long Island Tennis Expo will take place at Farmingdale State College’s Roosevelt Hall (Expo Room and Auditorium), located at 2350 Broadhollow Road in Farmingdale, N.Y. Doors open for this free event at 10:00 a.m., and the first 250 attendees will be eligible to win tickets for the 2011 U.S. Open. This all-ages event is geared toward the entire family, from the 10-and-Under player just starting out to those weekend warriors who are still in the game on a recreational basis. The 2nd Annual Long Island Tennis Expo will unite the local tennis community for one day under one roof to promote the growth of tennis on Long Island. 

Things start off with "The Road to College Tennis Scholarships" panel discussion where local junior players, college players, coaches and former professional players will share their expert opinions on what it takes to get a college tennis scholarship. Some of the individual speakers include:

►Ricky Becker: Founder of Junior Tennis Consulting who played at Stanford University

►Steven Kaplan: Owner of Bethpage Park Tennis, and with over 33 years of coaching experience, he has coached over 500 nationally-ranked junior players

►Jay Harris: Former Head Coach at Brown and Bowling Green who was Mid-American Conference Coach of the Year, and is currently general manager of Sportime Bethpage

►Whitney Kraft: Director of tennis at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, director of player operations at the U.S. Open and tournament director for the Boy’s Clay Court Nationals

The Junior Panel will be led by Mike Kossoff, regional director at Sportime Syosset/Bethpage/Roslyn/Massapequa, who also played collegiate tennis at Bowling Green University, and will feature local juniors including:

►Hannah Camhi

►Samantha Elgort

►Josh Levine

►Alex Tropiano

The Coaches Panel will also be led by Mike Kossoff and feature some of the area’s top coaching minds, including:

►Joe Arias: USTA High Performance Coach and National QuickStart specialist

►Bea Bielik: The 2002 NCAA National Champion while playing at Wake Forest who turned pro after her junior season and advanced to the third round of the U.S. Open in 2002

►Darrin Cohen: Played at University of Virgina and is currently director of tennis at Sportime Kings Park

►Ed Krass: Completing his 23rd summer as the director of the College Tennis Exposure Camp, and who coached the Harvard Women’s Tennis Team to four consecutive Ivy League titles

From 11:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m., the Expo Hall will open for exhibits and the Center Court Activity Area will open as well. Here , you can come and meet with Long Island’s top tennis vendors and take advantage of the opportunity to sample and purchase products right from the sport’s top exhibitors. Teh Center Court Activity area will feature: 

►Speed Serve Booth: A radar gun will be set up and rackets will be supplied so that kids can see how fast they serve.

►QuickStart Tennis Instruction: Any beginners and all kids 10-and-under will be able to enjoy getting on a small tennis court to play tennis, while getting tips from the area’s top tennis pros.

►Dave & Busters Game Area: Dave & Busters will be on hand with multiple video games to play, as well as a prize wheel with chances to win. Kids will be able to spin the prize wheel to win Dave & Busters Power Cards plus other toys and prizes.

►Beach Tennis: A miniature Beach Tennis court will be set up and kids will be supplied paddles to use so they can try out this great sport that is getting more and more popular all over the world.

►Fitness Area: There will be training experts who will be able to test and discuss your physical fitness and give tips on improvement.

►Challenge Area: Different games and challenges using puzzles, blocks and strategy will be conducted with prizes, such as candy and desserts for the competitors.

Click here for more information and click here for a map to the event.


Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Century
Bethpage

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