By JAMES EIK
Staff Reporter
The annual 24-hour Tennis-a-thon is set to invade the tennis courts of Medical Lake High School July 20 and 21.
Lessons are one-hour segments, with times for different age groups throughout the day.
Organizer for the past 13 years, Medical Lake High School boys' tennis coach Leroy Lemaster has contributed donations from the event to local charities.
“The people in Medical Lake have really done well to support our program over the years, as well as the communities of Airway Heights and Cheney,” he said.
Lemaster said that the program has seen as much as $6,000 donated to the Medical Lake Food Bank, Medical Lake High School tennis program and Medical Lake Community Outreach. A typical year, however, averages about $4,000 to $4,500 in donations.
Participation in the event has no attached cost; those interested need merely register through Medical Lake City Hall.
In an effort to increase donations, participants can pick up a pledge sheet when registering. Participants can bring funds to the Tennis-a-thon, where volunteers will collect the money.
Lessons offered will focus on how to hold the tennis racquet properly, in addition how to make forehand and backhand swings. Although most are lessons geared toward beginners, some advanced instruction is available.
“If we have kids that are above that a little bit, then we'll put them on a different court and give them a different drill and challenge them,” Lemaster said.
Family and adult lessons follow the same one-hour lesson format.
Medical Lake High School girls' tennis coach Dawn Eliassen will also provide coaching assistance.
Wednesday's events include lessons for children from noon to 4 p.m., family lessons from 6 to 7 p.m. and adult lessons from 7 to 8 p.m.
Thursday will hold another round of children's lessons from 9 a.m. to noon.
Equipment will be provided at the event.
James Eik can be reached at [email protected].
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