Passion For Tennis Turns Into Real Family Affair
The National Junior Tennis League philsophy of tennis as a lifetime sport is something that appeals to Peggy Donovan.
That is why she sat in on the initial meetings when NJTL formed three years ago and why she and her three children became a part of it.
“I like the competition of tennis but didn’t try to instill that in my kids,” she said. “That’s what I like about NJTL. They expose (youngsters to tennis) and let them find themselves.”
The third NJTL season begins Tuesday at Mission Park for beginning level players ages 8-18.
Peggy volunteers her help. Oldest son Eric, 17, is an instructor. Her youngest children Jeff, 11, and Jenny, 8, are participants.
A former player during the formative years of women’s high school tennis who played briefly in college, Peggy encouraged Eric to play the sport.
“I think he figured out I liked it,” she said. “He wanted to play pro sports and figured out at a young age I wouldn’t support football but that I was willing to go the extra mile for tennis.”
Eric said he would play for hours with his best friend before Andrew Buchan, an instructor in the Seattle area where the Donovans lived, recognized his aptitude.
Eric would become one of Mead’s better singles players and a three-time state qualifier in doubles after the family moved here with Boeing in 1990.
When looking for a tennis vehicle for her younger children, Peggy saw a program similar to Buchan’s in the beginnings of the NJTL.
“He really thinks tennis is for everyone,” she said. “That’s why I chose Mission over other programs. You get a feel of the game. It pulls you along and gives you encouragement until you get it down.”
She also volunteered Eric as coach.
“It’s really not hard. I work well with people and pretty much teach all basic skills,” said Eric, who is a third-year instructor. “The weird thing is when I’m teaching, I’m teaching seniors in high school.”
Although his younger brother doesn’t share Eric’s passion for tennis, National Junior Tennis League has helped Jeff.
“I’ve seen quite a bit of improvement in his game,” said Eric.
Jeff prefers the competition to the instruction.
“Most of it is pretty fun,” Jeff said. “They put you against someone of equal skill. I’m probably not the best player but I’m not the worst.”
Initially Jenny just came along with the family but wound up getting the hardest-hitter award. Just being around the game with her older brothers helped her game.
“They thought I’d get pretty bored just watching,” she said. “It’s something I’d like to get good at.”
Eric considers it an advantage that his brother and sister have taken instruction this young.
“I’d have been a lot stronger if I had the NJTL-type instruction earlier,” he said.
His mother, who will eventually return to USTA competition when she surpasses age 50, has another reason she likes the National Junior Tennis League.
“I have my family all together for an hour,” she said. “It’s a moment of pride.”
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