Welcome to OKM Tennis
OKM Tennis Programs
Juniors' Tennis
The Sand Sharks' feeding ground is in Burke, Virginia. The Summer Juniors Program was started in
1980 and has grown from a handful of kids to about 104 this past year. The program is designed
for children between the ages of 6 and 18. The Sharks practice everyday except Wednesdays when they
compete in the Northern Virginia Tennis League (NVTL) during the morning and hold an open round
robin in the afternoon.
Richard Klimpl is serving as head coach and director of OKM’s Junior Tennis Program
this year, taking over from Gordon Lee, founder and former director of the program for 27 years.
Richard was raised in the program, having joined when he was 12 years in the summer after 5th grade.
During the winters, he would take lessons in the clinic sessions offered by Springfield Golf and
Country Club and Burke Swim and Racquet Club. Richard has served as OKM Junior Tennis Program
assistant coach for 2 years and this is his third year as the Program’s head coach, second as its
Director -- he knows the program inside and out. A graduate of Cherry Run Elementary and Lake
Braddock Secondary Schools, he was one of the top 6 players on this LBSS tennis team his four
high school years. Richard is currently a rising senior at James Madison University, where he plays
on JMU’s club tennis team and is majoring in psychology.
Alex Clark is serving as assistant coach for the second year. He learned tennis
from the best -- the coaches at Old Keene Mill Swim and Racquet Club, beginning at the age of seven.
During the summers he played at OKMSRC and in the off season he took lessons at Springfield Country Club
and played in futures tournaments. He attended Cherry Run Elementary School. At age thirteen he began
substitute coaching at OKM and gave private lessons. Once a freshman at Lake Braddock, Alex ran cross
country with the idea that he would play tennis in the spring. He had enough success at cross country that
he decided to make running a year round effort. He is a twelve season varsity athlete having served as
captain of Lake Braddock’s Cross Country, Indoor Track, and Outdoor Track teams in both his junior
year and senior year. As a track athlete, he was third in the State for the mile. Alex has completed
his first year in the Engineering School at the University of Virginia.
Michaela Sands joins the junior tennis program as an assistant coach this year. She
graduated from Lake Braddock Secondary School in 2008 and is a product of the OKM Junior Tennis program
having been a participant since the summer of 1999. Currently Michaela is a rising senior at the
University of Mary Washington, majoring in Sociology and Elementary Education, and women’s captain of
the Cross County and Indoor and Outdoor Track teams.
Flori Stavros is also a product of OKM’s junior tennis program, having started at
the age of 12, and now serving as a player/assistant coach, being able to still compete in the NVTL’s
junior matches on Wednesdays mornings. A 2011 graduate of Lake Braddock, she was a member of her
high school girls tennis team. She plans to attend NOVA this fall.
The Boys Team (ages 11-18) has won the NVTL Juniors CHAMPIONSHIP for ten consecutive years, with the
exception of 2006, when they placed 2nd. Within the same period, the Girls Team (ages 11- 18) has
won the CHAMPIONSHIP six times, and our co-ed 10 & Under Team captured first place six times. All
three teams placed first in their division in 2010! Also, last summer the Junior teams earned for
a second time a special award called "NEIGHBORGALL TROPHY OF JUNIOR EXCELLENCE".
This honor was inspired by its namesake Roger Neighborgall who started the Northern Virginia Junior
Tennis League in 1971. Awarded to the club who has the best overall power rating for at least three
teams in the league, The OKM Juniors Team has been the recipient of this trophy in its inaugural
year (for 2009) as well as for 2011. The trophy will once again be kept by the OKM Sand Sharks
during the 2011 season.
Our summer program is based on FUN, solid tennis basics, and good sportsmanship. It is designed for
those who have never held a racquet to those preparing for college competition.
| 2011 OKM Junior Tennis - IMPORTANT DATES | |
| May 25 | TENNIS MEETING WITH PARENTS AT 7PM (TENNIS COURTS) |
| May 26 | EVALUATIONS 4:30-6:00PM |
| May 27 | EVALUATIONS 4:30-6:00PM |
| May 31 | TENNIS SEASON STARTS |
| June 23 | "Summer Vacation" schedule starts |
| June 29 | TENNIS PICTURES, 4PM ($5.OO a picture) Wear black (dark) shorts & OKM team Sandshark T-shirt (if have) |
| July 5 | LAST DAY TO SIGN UP FOR TENNIS TOURNAMENT |
| July 11-15 | OKM TENNIS TOURNAMENT |
| July 16 | LAST DAY FOR POINTS |
| July 28 | TENNIS PARTY |
| 2011 OKM Junior Tennis Schedule (May 31 - June 22) | ||
| Monday | 4pm-5pm 5pm-6pm |
1.01 BEGINNERS 1.02 BEGINNERS |
| Tuesday | 5pm-6pm 6pm-7pm |
1.5 BOYS/GIRLS 2.0 - 4.0 BOYS/GIRLS |
| Wednesday | 4pm-5pm 5pm-6pm |
2.0 - 4.0 BOYS/GIRLS 1.01 BEGINNERS |
| Thursday | 5pm-6pm 6pm-7pm |
1.5 BOYS/GIRLS 2.0 - 4.0 BOYS/GIRLS |
| Friday | 5pm-6pm | 1.02 BEGINNERS |
| 2011 OKM Junior Tennis Schedule (June 23 - July 29) | ||
| Monday & Tuesday |
8:00am - 9:30am 9:30am - 10:30am 10:30am - 11:30am 11:30am - 12:30pm 1:00pm - 2:00pm |
3.0 - 4.0 BOYS/GIRLS 1.01 BEGINNERS 1.02 BEGINNERS 1.5 BOYS/GIRLS 2.0 - 2.5 BOYS/GIRLS |
| Wednesday | Competitive NVTL Matches – mornings Starts at 9:00am or as scheduled) Round Robin for all levels: 2:00 - 4:00 PM |
|
| Thursday & Friday |
8:00am - 9:30am 9:30am - 10:30am 10:30am - 11:30am 11:30am - 12:30pm 1:00pm - 2:00pm | 3.0 - 4.0 BOYS/GIRLS 1.01 BEGINNERS 1.02 BEGINNERS 1.5 BOYS/GIRLS 2.0 - 2.5 BOYS/GIRLS |
| 2011 OKM Junior Tennis Evaluation Schedule | ||
| Monday, June 27 |
4:30pm | All Levels |
| Thursday, July 7 |
4:30pm | All Levels |
| Monday, July 18 |
4:30pm | All Levels |
Women's Adult Tennis
The women’s team is captained by Patty Castillo. Please email her at castillorp@aol.com or call 703-455-1960, if you are interested in playing in the league. Practices are held Tuesday evenings at 6:30 pm at the OKM courts. The Northern Virginia Tennis League (NVTL) matches are played Tuesday evenings, starting May 3 through June 28. Practice sessions will be held on Tuesdays in April, continuing throughout the summer. Tournament takes place in September. The team is always looking for new members to come out, play, and socialize.
Men's Adult Tennis
If you are interested in competitive tennis please contact Mary Holden, OKM Director of Competitive Activities, at mary@oldkeenemillpool.com. Men’s team practices take place Wednesday evenings at the OKM courts. We are still looking for a captain for the men's program to help rebuild our men's program.