Geneva tennis camp gathers generations together

GENEVA — More than 60 children attended the Geneva Tennis Camp this past week.

>The camp provided a basis for area youth to learn the game and commit to the support long term.

>The tennis camp started in the mid-1990s with Phil Dubsky, and has continued for the last 30 years, Michael Rose, who was the boys tennis coach this spring at Geneva High School, said.

>Rose said he remembers learning the game even earlier than that with summer tennis programs.

>The camp was broken into three different levels, as beginners learned the basics, followed by intermediate students and high schoolers, Rose said.

>Rose said 85% of the participants were from the Geneva Area City School District. The four-day camp ended Thursday.

>A tennis tournament took place over the weekend, with 20 to 25 players.

>Christian Bushweiler in the 12u singles division; Clark Netzel and Micah Burns, 12u doubles; Liam Keatine, 15u singles; Keating and Joe Ortiz, 15u doubles; Hannah Dunn, 18u singles and Jackson Burhanna and Jackson Sanzo, 18u doubles, won their age groups.

>The winners were from Geneva, aside from Keating, Aurora and Burhanna, Marysville.

>Rose said some of the players did not participate in the camp.

>He said a United States Tennis Association program called “Racquets in Hand” helped make the event possible with a grant.

>Rose said he was proud of all the former players who returned and volunteered their time to help the younger players.

>He said the leadership of the camp loves the community and seeks to continue a long-standing tradition of tennis excellence in Geneva.

>Dubsky, the founder of the camp and a former Geneva tennis coach, said he appreciated the continued work of those organizing the camp.

>“I think it is great,” he said. “I think they have done a fantastic job.”