Student News

10.17.24

YTA a Big Winner in USTA NorCal Awards!

YTA Named Chapter of the Year by USTA NorCal for 2024!

We are thrilled to share this news!

USTA NorCal Diversity & Inclusion ACES Awards go to Three YTA Staff!

USTA Northern California takes pride in recognizing individuals contributing to tennis through the ACES (Awards Celebrating Excellence in Service), celebrating players, program participants, volunteers and organizations for their dedicated service to tennis. In 2023, three YTA staff won an ACES award in the Diversity & Inclusion category. (We were just informed of this exciting news! NorCal had delayed extending the awards for '23 until this year.) Congratulations to Terry Stewart, Wing-Yan So, and Shahand Esmaeili!

DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

Awarded to those driven to create an organization and tennis community that is more inclusive. We pay tribute to those who have championed the cause for diversity and inclusion both on and off the tennis court.

Mark Manning Icon Award –Terry Stewart

For outstanding leadership and contribution at the national, sectional and local levels of the USTA for advocating, representing and contributing to Diversity & Inclusion issues and strategies.

Terry Stewart with two YTA Leadership Team students, Bushrod Park, Oakland

Service Award –Wing-Yan So

Recognition of individual, program or organization for lifelong service and/or groundbreaking service and for having made a significant impact on the lives of others in an organization/ program, individual and in the multicultural, LGBT and people with disabilities tennis communities.

Wing-Yan So, third from left, with Team YTA at the 2023 Impact Team Tennis Junior Nationals, Orlando, FL.

Leadership Award –Shahand Esmaeili

Recognition of individual, program or organization for a proven significant and outstanding leadership in the coaching, mentoring and/or volunteerism in the multicultural, LGBT and people with disabilities tennis communities.

Shahand Esmaili with two YTA Juniors at a tournament at Goldman Tennis Center, San Francisco

10.17.24

YTA Coach Carl Mendoza Inducted to the USTA NorCal Hall of Fame

Carl Mendoza had always excelled athletically, but it wasnʼt until he was in his early twenties that he picked up a tennis racquet for the first time. Carl grew up in Salinas, California, where he was a high school football star. At 23 years old he was introduced to tennis by his then-wife, and his then-brother-in-law showed him the ropes on the court. It was love at first volley for Carl, and he never looked back.

Carl had been prepared to continue his academic career in law school, but he soon found that heʼd rather be on the tennis court than in the classroom. His tennis hobby turned into a profession when he began working with NorCal's inner-city programs in Oakland.

Together with Warren Brown, the then president of USTA NorCal, Carl helped develop the Warren Brown Tennis Program to support youth tennis. From there, Carl also contributed to the Oakland Mayorʼs Program and the National Junior Tennis and Learning NJTL of San Francisco.

While Carl enjoyed playing in USTA tournaments, especially doubles, his true calling was coaching. At 40, he became a certified tennis instructor and has since been devoted to coaching through his NJTL program and Youth Tennis Advantageʼs inner-city tennis program. His proudest achievement is the NJTL camp he founded for underserved junior players to allow them to learn and experience the joys of tennis. The program has stood the test of time and has been active for over 30 years, introducing generations of children to the sport.

Throughout his extensive career, Carl has received numerous accolades, including the USPTA Top 10 Point Holder for Career Development Program, PTR Volunteer of the Year and PTR California Pro of the Year. His dedication earned him the USTA NorCal Outstanding Community Tennis Volunteer Award and the USTA NorCal Diversity & Inclusion Mark Manning Icon Award for outstanding leadership for advocating, representing and contributing to diversity and inclusion issues and strategies. It was an accomplishment that meant a lot to Carl, as Mark Manning had been a dear friend, whose work in the inner-city tennis community was something he had deeply admired.

Beyond the achievements, Carl's passion for tennis extends beyond simply coaching. He always actively worked to understand the "nuts and bolts" of tennis, attending industry seminars and conferences to continuously improve his teaching methods.

His unwavering commitment to the tennis community has been evident through his service on various USTA National committees, including the Community Tennis Association, NJTL and Sportsmanship committees. Locally, Carl has held leadership positions on the USPTA Board, where he served as president, and contributed to USTA NorCal as a Board of Directors member for five years. He has also volunteered on numerous USTA NorCal committees as a member or chair including the Budget, Diversity & Inclusion, Adaptive, Community Tennis and Grants committees

And through it all, the same excitement that ignited Carl's passion for tennis in his early twenties still drives him today as a coach. He takes great joy in watching his players succeed both on and off the court, continuing to inspire and nurture the next generation of tennis enthusiasts.

Congratulations Carl on your well-deserved induction to the USTA NorCal Hall of Fame!

10.25.23

McLaren Park Team Shines at Impact Team Tennis Junior Nationals

The McLaren Park tennis team made a significant impact at this year's Impact Team Tennis Junior Nationals, formerly known as the World Team Tennis Junior Nationals. Placing 8th out of 16 competing teams, their journey was marked by determination and triumph.

Unlike past years with a rigid qualifying method, this year introduced an application process. As Wing Yan from McLaren Park explained, "The highest-rated team, judged by UTR (Universal Tennis Rating) and WTN (World Team Tennis) average, received the bid to go. If they had gone with the former method, we still would have gotten the bid since we came in 2nd place last year for coed 18U Advanced."

This accomplishment reflects YTA’s McLaren Park teams’ excellence in junior tennis and their unwavering dedication. Youth Tennis Advantage celebrates their remarkable performance and looks forward to their continued success on the court.

Click HERE to see photos.

10.16.23

Meet Enam

Enam is a rising tennis star with a heart of gold, dedicated to both her sport and her community. For three years, she has been a standout player at the YTA Bushrod Park/Oakland Site, impressing with her skills on the court and her unwavering commitment to YTA's values. Enam and her father are active volunteers, exemplifying the program's dedication to supporting the community.

In 2023, Enam won the YTA essay contest with her insightful words that reflected her profound understanding of YTA's values. She quoted Althea Gibson, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging those who have supported us on our journey to success. Enam recognizes that achievements are seldom solitary; they are the result of collective support and mentorship.

Enam's personal growth is as impressive as her tennis skills. “I did not have any tennis skills at all, but since I joined YTA, I have learned and improved a lot. I appreciate my coaches very much. This program also made me more social and more confident. I’m less shy and more happy to speak up and talk in front of people."

During the summer, Enam had a remarkable opportunity that significantly impacted her. She attended the Carmel Valley Tennis Camp, a cherished partnership of YTA, which generously invites two YTA students to their sleep-away camp each year. Enam was among the fortunate few selected to participate, and it proved to be a valuable and transformative experience for her.

Her promising tennis career, combined with her humility and dedication, inspires everyone she encounters within the YTA community and beyond. Enam epitomizes the power of mentorship, community, and seizing opportunities, making her an exceptional role model for young tennis players.

03.29.23

Anthony and Brayden, Bushrod Park

Congratulations to Anthony and Brayden -- the twins played in their first USTA tournament recently and got their first win too! They are 10-years old and were playing in the 12 & Under Green Dot ball division.

Anthony had a tough second round, and was still upset about that loss when called up for his third round. Anthony said he thought of Rafa Nadal's quote: "losing is not my enemy, fear of losing is my enemy" when he went out for his final round of the tournament. In his words: "I tried not to think about the past and just the present.... In my final match, I played without worrying about losing to my opponent. Playing fearlessly and not thinking about my earlier disappointment helped me to focus on my game. I held my serve and I broke his serve most of the match. By letting go of the past and staying persistent, this allowed me to win the last match 6-3 and earn a bronze medal."

Brayden faced his own obstacles, and said how much YTA has helped his tennis game and more: "I like to go to YTA after school because I can play tennis with other people and make new friends with them. For example, I made friends with older kids and some younger kids, boys and girls....Going to YTA also helps me improve my tennis skills. My forehand and backhand have gotten really strong since the time we first started playing at YTA....I have learned that practice makes perfection....Finally, YTA is also free for all kids, so that you don’t need to pay for tennis, unlike other tennis lessons which usually cost a lot more. This allows all people to play and learn tennis."

Thank you to Brayden and Anthony's father, Phil, for interviewing them about their experience. And thank you to Phil also for being one of our invaluable volunteers with YTA!

10.13.22

YTA Student Wins National Essay Contest

Congratulations to YTA McLaren Park’s Devin S., who won the 2021 National award for the USTA Foundation’s annual Essay Contest in the Male, aged 11-12 category. Every year the USTA Foundation NJTL Essay Contest presented by Deloitte is held, open to NJTL Chapters nationwide. NJTL participants are asked to write essays answering a thought-provoking question requiring research and analysis. Awards are given to the top essay for Male and Female in age categories 10 & Under, 11 -12, 13-14, 15-16, and 17-18. Hundreds of essays are submitted, and winners receive a fully paid trip to NY for themselves and a parent or chaperone.

Devin and his mother recently returned from their trip, summer of '22, to New York City! Devin is pictured here speaking at the NJTL National gathering in NYC.

10.13.22

YTA Hunters Point re-opens!

This fall marked the re-opening of YTA Hunters Point, which had been closed since Covid. Partnering one again with the Willie Mays Boys & Girls Club, we opened at the start of the school year and are running programming Mondays and Wednesdays under the direction of long-time YTA coach and legend Coach Thomas White!

(YTA Hunters Point students warm up with volunteers from the women's UC Davis tennis team.)

02.16.21

Student Spotlight: McLaren Park Junior Team competes at World Team Tennis Nationals

Congratulations to YTA’s McLaren Park – they competed in the 2021 World Team Tennis Junior Nationals and came in an impressive second place! The event was held at the USTA National Campus in Orlando, the players faced rain delays and lightening warning delays, 8:00 am start times while still adjusting to the time difference, but according to Coach Wing-Yan, had a BLAST competing. According to Wing-Yan, it was their doubles play that really made the difference.

11.16.20

Russell and Lee Flynn College Scholarship

Youth Tennis Advantage proudly launched The Russell and Lee Flynn College Scholarship in 2019. The Scholarship was named for Russ and Lee Flynn to honor their history of extraordinary service and support of YTA.

A scholarship is presented to up to two YTA students annually to further their education at an accredited community college, college or university and to help them minimize the amount of student loan debt needed to pursue a degree. It is our intent to provide these scholarships in the amount of $8,000 each.This scholarship fund will help meet a critical need for students wanting to go to college today -- reducing student debt. Click here to make a donation to the Russell and Lee Flynn College Scholarship Fund.

Congratulations to our Class of 2021 scholarship recipients!