At Last !!!!!!!

In the words of Etta James..."At Last...........!"

Today the SFA varsity tennis team beat the City College HS team by the
score of 5 - 4! This is the first time in three years that we have bested the Knights of City College HS.
Kudos to all of our Doubles teams! Senior Kawuan Tyson & Junior Deanna Harmon, remain unbeaten in conference play. The team of Juniors Tasia Bristow & Sade'Thomas made their presence felt with a 8 - 4 win today. Two of our newcomers to SFA and the tennis team, Juniors Chrissy Whittle & Vini Blige won their second match of the year with a forfeit.

In singles Daniella Seravia, came close but went down swinging to a more experienced senior from City by the score of 8 - 4. Junior Raven Colson continued her comeback today with an 8 - 4 win at second singles. Sophomore Destiny Jones stepped up today and joined the singles line up, beating her opponent by the score of 8 - 6. Destiny asked to fill in today for the absent Niomy Rodriguez, said yes when asked to play singles. Said Destiny, " I really enjoy playing tennis and competing against other schools/teams...I want to get better and get a scholarship to play tennis in college."

In my most humble opinion, tennis is one of the best things to happen at Saint Frances Academy . Why you say? Every school has a flagship sport. It is common knowledge, the banners and trophies speak for themselves that we are first and foremost a basketball school. But guess what? These same athletes that are so great at playing with a big round ball. Can also with the proper coaching and opportunity be great at playing with a small yellow ball.
Look, the best players on the tennis team are basketball players that I taught how to play tennis. I am proud of all of my athletes but even more for their ability to be well rounded! Colleges today want more than just a great athlete. They want a great person, that is going to make a difference in society and the educational institution of their choosing.

We, that is coaches, parents, and administrators must do a better job in promoting participation by these athletes in other sports besides their chosen one. Cross training was the norm for the last 100 years. Now, our young people have become so specialized that they have also become one-dimensional in focus. In corporate America today, more deals are discussed on the tennis court and golf course than in the boardroom. The great basketball player will find out that after the lights of the gyms are turned out and the last jumper has been shot. Better be ready to adapt to life where the same people who once cheered and paid to see them play. Are now going to be their bosses who do not have a great set shot, can dunk or even dribble. But guess what? They can drive a golf ball 100 yards and can hit a serve of 70 miles an hour. The basketball athlete does not have to be a tournament player ! Just learn another sport that will allow you the flexibility to be able to do more than one thing! Lastly, one of the greatest basketball players in the world was also an All-American in tennis. Upon his graduation from the University of Maryland he had a choice of either going on the Association of Tennis Professionals tennis tour or entering the National Basketball Association. History will show us he choose
the NBA and basketball. My point here is that he had a CHOICE!
His name is John Lucas!

There, I said it "At Last!"