HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS TENNIS

2018 is almost over, but throughout the year I’ve had the pleasure of covering and interviewing some great people who are involved in the Lexington county tennis scene.

One such person was the new and now former director of tennis for Top-Spin Racquet and Swim Club Mark Hancock. He had arrived this year, but recently left his post, leaving TopSpin Racquet and Swim Club without a director going into the 2019 season.

I had the pleasure of interviewing him for the Lexington Chronicle before he left one of his last events. He helped coordinate the first and only college invitational at TopSpin Racquet and Swim Club between the University of South Carolina Sumter and the Citadel men’s tennis teams.

In addition, I had the opportunity to learn more about the tennis coaches of the local high schools and how they got their start in tennis. Among those coaches was Brian Lim, who played for Lexington High School and just completed his fourth season as the head tennis coach at River Bluff High School.

After winning a first-ever state title last year, the Lady Gators fell in the semi-finals of the state championships to Wando High School.

Another big name in Lexington tennis who has been influential in helping to grow the sport in the community is Carlos Lozano.

For him, when it comes to tennis, he loves nothing better than coaching junior level tennis. This led him to take on the position as the coach for the South Carolina Junior Tennis Team, where they won the first ever title for the state of South Carolina.

If I had to say who the most important person involved with Lexington tennis scene, it would be the coach from my high school, White Knoll. Tonya Swalgren, like Lim, has made a huge impact on the Lexington School District 1 tennis program.

Under her leadership, the White Knoll girl’s tennis team won their first region match where they came in number one for singles.