Instructors
Jake Abrams
Tennis Playing Experience:
Jake started playing tennis at the age of 10 on the courts of Camp Bauercrest, a summer camp located in Amesbury, Massachusetts. After winning the esteemed Camp Tevya tennis tournament at the age of 13, he continued to polish his skills on the public courts of Sharon, MA. Jake was a Hockomock League All-Star during his senior season playing first doubles for Sharon’s prestigious varsity program, and he was seeded eighth in the boys’ South Sectional tennis tournament.
Tennis Instructing Experience:
Jake instructed 6th, 7th, and 8th grade boys and girls as a volunteer for Tenacity, a Boston-based tennis organization dedicated to helping at-risk urban youth develop tennis skills, build character, and find pathways to excellence.
Age Preference (Adult, Youth, Infant):
Jake is interested in working with players of all ages.
Abby Blaisdell
Tennis Playing Experience:
Abby started playing tennis at the age of three on the courts of Lewiston, Maine. Taking lessons through the Lewiston Recreation Department, Abby was inspired by Lewiston High School tennis team instructors who taught her the basic skills and to love the game. By the age of 12, Abby was in involved with Junior Team Tennis through the United States Tennis Association, playing for The Smashers. The Smashers went on to win the Northeast Championships in 2005. Abby earned a starting spot as the sole freshman on the Lewiston High School Tennis team.
By the time she graduated high school she had helped her team win four Class A State Championships and served as captain her senior year. At the end of her high school career, Abby’s record was 60-2, she was Class A First Team All-Conference for the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference in 2008-11, Sun Journal All-Region Team 2010-11 and named to the KVAC All Academic team in 2011. In March 2012, Abby was awarded the Chamber President’s Award, in recognition of high school athletic success by the Lewiston/Auburn Sports Hall of Fame. Abby went on to play college tennis at Assumption College in 2011-12, where she was a starter for 3rd singles and 2nd doubles. Abby wants to continue her love of the game at Boston College by teaching it to others.
Tennis Instructing Experience:
Abby Blaisdell began teaching tennis through the Lewiston Recreation Department, on the same courts where she learned. She was a youth tennis instructor during the summers from 2008 -11 where she taught Tiny Tots through high school age kids. In October 2010 Abby organized a Special Olympics tennis Skills and Drills Day for youth and adults within the Androscoggin Area held at Bates College. Over 90 athletes from nine teams attended the event.
In February 2012, during her time on the Assumption College Women’s Tennis Team, Abby volunteered at Fed Cup Kid’s Day, where she volunteered with her teammates helping Worcester area children with tennis skills and drills. In June 2012, Abby trekked to Annapolis, Maryland, where she taught at the United States Naval Academy for two weeks, teaching youth of all ages.
Age Preference (Adult, Youth, Infant):
Abby Blaisdell enjoys teaching players of all ages. She has had experience with all skill levels.
Tim Cunningham
Tennis Playing Experience:
Tim started playing tennis at the age of 4 at Meadowbrook CC in Reading, MA. He quickly developed a passion for the game and taught his 2 younger brothers how to play. He went on to become a 4-year starter for the St. John’s Prep tennis team, playing a mix of singles and doubles. He helped lead the team to four Catholic Conference titles and the 2011 MA D1 North State Title, and received the Coaches Award as a senior. He was also a sprinter for the track team and one of the top 10 ranked golfers in Massachusetts as a senior.
Tennis Instructing Experience:
Tim taught the Rookie Racquets program at Meadowbrook Country Club, teaching development tennis to younger kids and working to inspire in them a love for the fun of the game.
Age Preference (Adult, Youth, Infant): Tim is looking forward to working with players of all ages.
Kevin Demers
Tennis Playing Experience:
TBD
Tennis Instructing Experience:
TBD
Age Preference (Adult, Youth, Infant):
TBD
Eric Eldredge
Tennis Playing Experience:
Eric started playing tennis at the age of 9 on the public courts of Mashpee, on Cape Cod. He quickly grew to love the game and was competing at a sectional and national level by the age of 12. He went on to be a four-year varsity starter at Cape Cod Academy, making the South sectional finals all four years and the state semifinals once. Eric continued to play tennis throughout college.
Tennis Instructing Experience:
Eric co-founded and instructed a nonprofit youth tennis program on the same Mashpee public courts where he started playing during the summers of 2008-2010. He has also served as a hitting partner for private lessons at the Willowbend Country Club.
Age Preference (Adult, Youth, Infant):
Eric has experience working with and enjoys teaching players of all ages.
Coleman Gay
Tennis Playing Experience:
Coleman hails from Stowe, Vermont and graduated from Stowe High School in 2010 as an engaged student athlete. He guided Stowe High Tennis to four straight state championships, and hoisted the Vermont Individual Singles crown as #1 player in the state on two different occasions. He competed in USTA tournaments and reached a ranking as high as #30 in New England in the 18 and under age bracket.
Coleman also played varsity soccer and hockey. Coleman is a rising junior at Boston College where he’s pursuing a major in Political Science and a minor in Art History. He is a member of the BC Club Tennis Team and serves on its board as social chair.
Tennis Instructing Experience:
Coleman is an experienced tennis instructor. He was a counselor at the Stowe Tennis Club Junior Program for two summers before serving as its assistant director for the next two. He has also taught for the Killagrew Tennis Academy at the Stowehoff Inn.
Age Preference (Adult, Youth, Infant):
The majority of his experience comes in teaching juniors, but he enjoys instructing players of all ages.
David Lowenthal
Tennis Playing Experience:
Dave started playing tennis at the age of 5 on the two clay courts at the end of his road in Princeton, MA. Growing up on those courts, Dave started to compete in USTA tournaments at the age of 15, reaching as high as 40 in New England by age 17. He went on to claim the position of 1st singles on his varsity team his sophomore year, becoming captain by his junior year. Dave continued to play club tennis at Boston College.
Tennis Instructing Experience:
Dave started teaching tennis his junior year summer, gaining publicity throughout his town. He's continued to give private lessons each summer as well as a 2 week tennis camp at the Pine Hill Club for children which he ran this previous summer.
Age Preference (Adult, Youth, Infant):
Dave has experience working with and enjoys teaching players of all ages.
Amy McDermott
Tennis Playing Experience:
I started playing tennis at age 4 at Oakley Country Club, Watertown, dedicating my summers to instruction and competitive play. Continuing my commitment to the game, I played both singles and doubles competitively and recreationally at Newton Country Day School, and Winchester Indoor Tennis Club.
Tennis Instructing Experience:
During the 2010 Summer I coached tennis at the West Suburban YMCA’s Camp Pikati Tennis Camp with both experienced and novice players age five through twelve, and continued with some group lessons during the winter. I look forward to designing a fun and challenging lesson for each student, that focuses on their particular skill level, and what they hope to accomplish. I am very excited to continue my instructing experience at the BC Plex!
Age Preference (Adult, Youth, Infant):
I have extensive experience working with children in both athletic and academic environments; because of this experience, I am comfortable coaching and working with children of all ages, including those under the age of five. I would also be excited to work with beginner adults.
Other experience/qualifications:
During the 2010 summer I worked as a counselor at the West Suburban YMCA’s Camp Pikati where I coordinated and taught all kinds of sports and athletic games, including a specific tennis-only portion of the summer for children ages 2-14. Throughout the past academic year I continued my work with the YMCA as a birthday party coordinator, organizing gym games for children of all ages. For the past year I worked as an Americorps Corps member for Jumpstart for Young Children, implementing early childhood curriculum and supporting family involvement, into a preschool classroom in Brighton where I learned communication skills with preschool children. I am also CPR and First Aid certified.
Julia Melvin
Tennis Playing Experience:
Julia started playing tennis at the age of 8 in Columbus, Ohio where she grew up. Both of her brothers played tennis as well so she quickly came to love it. She continued on to play tennis throughout her childhood, playing competitively in USTA tournaments. At Upper Arlington High School, she was a four-year varsity player, winning the Ohio State Title her sophomore and senior year. She has continued her tennis career playing for the Boston College Club Tennis team, which most recently became 18th in the nation.
Tennis Instructing Experience:
Julia has instructed tennis for the past three summers in her hometown, working at a local park teaching children lessons and then working for the Swim and Racquet Club of Columbus for the past two years. There she was the assistant pro teaching both children and adult clinics, along with frequent private lessons.
Age Preference (Adult, Youth, Infant):
Julia has experience with and enjoys teaching players of all ages and levels.
Steven Nicholas
Tennis Playing Experience:
Steven began playing tennis when he was very young at Bradenton Country Club in Florida. Steven played competitively all throughout his younger years and all four years on his high school team. He won the singles intramural tennis tournament here at Boston College and he’s always happy to play with anyone anytime.
Tennis Instructing Experience:
During high school he taught tennis to younger students at the Bradenton Country Club. Over the past three summers he has worked in the tennis pro shop at IMG academies in Florida, a premier sporting academy, learning the ins and outs of tennis rackets, stringing, and techniques. For the past two school years he has volunteered at Tenacity in Boston, teaching tennis afterschool to students at the Roslindale Community Center.
Age Preference (Adult, Youth, Infant):
Youth, Infant, and Adult
Other Experience/Qualifications:
He was a youth group leader for four years in high school. He is very good with kids and loves to help in any way he can. Steven loves tennis. It is a sport you can play your entire life. His grandmother is 85 and still competes in tournaments! Steven would love to help anyone else enjoy the sport that has been a huge part of his life.
Kristen Turi
Tennis Playing Experience:
I began playing tennis at the age of ten, and have absolutely loved the sport ever since! I have played singles and doubles competitively through both school and USTA tournaments, but enjoy playing recreationally just as much. In high school, I played four years of varsity tennis and captained the team my junior and senior year. I play year-round, and have dedicated many summers to both playing and teaching tennis.
Tennis Instructing Experience:
I have spent the summers of 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012 working as a tennis instructor at Cross Court Tennis Club in Wappingers Falls, New York, teaching both children and adults. I have also spent the past four summers as a tennis instructor, for both group and private lessons, for a town program run in Fishkill, New York, teaching children under the age of 16. I believe it is important to have fun while specializing each lesson to a student’s individual needs and wishes. During the summers of 2010, 2011, and 2012 I directed the tennis program for the town of Fishkill, New York. Helping to make this program grow and seeing the positive impact that tennis can have on a person’s life has greatly increased my love and respect for the game, as well as encouraged me to continue teaching and helping others learn the game. I enjoy helping people improve their skills and develop a love and passion for the game!
Age Preference (Adult, Youth, Infant):
Through my experience, I have worked primarily with children at the novice, intermediate, and advanced levels, but I do have experience teaching adults at the novice and intermediate levels. However, if you are enthusiastic and ready to learn the game, I am ready and excited to teach people of all ages!
Miguel Vizarreta
Tennis Playing Experience:
Miguel started playing tennis at the age of 10 on the public courts of his high school after watching Roger Federer win the 2003 Wimbledon. He instantly fell in love with the sport and played four years on the varsity high school team. He played both doubles and singles. Him and his team won the conference championship finals and Miguel continues to play throughout college.
Tennis Instructing Experience:
Miguel worked as tennis specialist at a summer camp called North Shore Day Camp in Long Island, NY and he is returning for his second year as a tennis instructor here at BC Rec. In both locations, Miguel has taught kids of different ages (5 – 15 yrs) and has experience teaching both group and single private lessons.
Age Preference (Adult, Youth, Infant):
I enjoy playing tennis with players of all ages.