TENNIS ACADEMY THE THOREAU CLUB

Dear Thoreau Club Tennis Academy families,

We hope this message finds you well and that you are enjoying the excitement of the tennis season. We want to express our heartfelt gratitude for your unwavering commitment to Thoreau and dedication to enhancing your child’s tennis skills.

Our indoor season is off to an exceptional start, with clinic enrollment reaching full capacity, marking a remarkable 12% increase from last year, and the requests keep pouring in.

We’re delighted to welcome two outstanding professionals back to our regular Academy coaching team. Kip Rogers, who has been with us since early September, will resume his regular coaching duties on October 24th after coaching the Amherst College men’s team. Additionally, Coach Jon Parry, returning from medical leave on November 6th, has been sorely missed by many.

Moreover, in the coming year, we’re excited to introduce Massimo Boscatto, the highly accomplished coach and father of Simone, who will be joining our staff. Massimo’s extensive experience and impressive track record, including working with top-ranked players, make him a valuable addition to our team.

These coaches will enhance your child’s on-court performance and play a crucial role in supervising and supporting our players at tournaments, both locally and nationally.

We’ve noticed an increased number of children participating in our Sports Performance Training sessions, emphasizing the importance of fitness as a foundation for improvement. Please remember that your child can attend SPT even on non-tennis days for added convenience.

We’re proud to witness the continuous improvement of young players who started in our Junior Development Program, progressing through various levels of the Academy and achieving success in local, regional, national, and international tournaments. The rising UTR average for our Academy players this year is a testament to the dedication of our players, their families, and our coaches.

We are thrilled to share some news about our Junior Development Program, which, under the dedicated leadership of Massimo Policastro and Niccolo Vercellino, has been gaining recognition as one of the premier junior programs in New England, offering young tennis enthusiasts an unparalleled opportunity to reach their full potential.

The Thoreau Junior players’ accomplishments exemplify the transformative power of our program, as they have transitioned from the Red/Orange Ball level to becoming some of the most promising players in New England and across the entire country.

We are proud to share some of the outstanding achievements that our program has produced in recent years:

  • Alana Berry – Ranked Top 50 Under 12 National 6.00 UTR
  • Morgan Rich – Ranked Top 100 Under 14 National 8.80 UTR
  • Jackson Rich – Ranked Top 150 Under 16 National 10.26 UTR
  • Dylan Fayerman – Ranked Top 30 Under 16 National 11.20 UTR
  • Oliver Ham – Top 50 Under 13 National 7.38 UTR
  • Noon Akoad – Top 50 Under 12 National
  • Johnny Wastcoat – UTR 7.50
  • Declan Sunstein – UTR 7.80
  • Josh Saxe – UTR 7.00
  • Katherine O’Neill – Ranked Top 20 Under 14 in New England
  • Sahana Vadlamani – Ranked Top 20 Under 12 in New England
  • Valentina Arlati – Ranked Top 20 Under 12 in New England

Our program not only focuses on technical and tactical skills but also strongly emphasizes character development, fostering a sense of discipline, teamwork, and sportsmanship that extends far beyond the tennis court.

Junior Development and Academy staff are available and happy to provide feedback on your child’s improvement, upcoming junior tournaments, or any necessary information. We believe in open communication and aim to support each child’s unique journey in tennis.

As such, we understand that family, school, and athletic commitments can occasionally affect Academy and JDP attendance. We make every effort to accommodate makeup sessions when possible, and your early notice of absences is greatly appreciated.

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to Massimo, Niccolo, and Brian, who are dedicated to ensuring the success of our program. Brian Herrick, while familiar with Thoreau, is new to the Tennis Department and is eager to support our players and families.

Once again, we will offer Academy holiday clinics during Christmas week for those who wish to continue practicing or makeup missed sessions.

Your feedback is invaluable to us, and we’re here to address any questions or concerns you may have. We eagerly anticipate furthering your players’ development and witnessing their hard work translate into remarkable results. Thank you for being a part of the Thoreau Club Tennis family, and we look forward to many more successes together in the future.

Sincerely,

Massimo Policastro
Director of Tennis
The Thoreau Club
275 Forest Ridge Road
Concord, MA 01742
978-831-1205
massimo@thoreau.com
www.thoreau.com