By Laura Stabbert
MONTICELLO — The four- week USA Tennis 1-2-3 Camp at DeHoyos Park in Monticello recently concluded.
The camp was sponsored by a grant from the United States Tennis Association (USTA) received by Urvashi “Tutu” Gupta. Kids ages 8 to 16 of all skill levels were encouraged to attend the camp free of charge.
The camp was run by Gupta and Village of Monticello Parks and Recreation Department Director Betsy Conaty.
Gupta has been playing tennis her entire life. She is the boys’ and girls’ varsity tennis coach at Monticello High School, tennis pro for the DeHoyos Park and was ranked third in all of India, her native country.
At the USA 1-2-3 Tennis Camp, Conaty and Gupta focus on giving the kids positive reinforcement.
Kyle Chuckran and Ashley Mangabang both served as coaches at the camp, which was held on four consecutive Thursdays.
Chuckran was the No. 1 tennis player for Port Jervis High School. He plans on playing tennis and basketball at Orange Community College in Middletown in the fall.
Mangabang is a graduate of the camp and currently plays tennis at Misericordia (Pa.) College.
The camp was designed to encourage kids to find a love for tennis in a low pressure environment.
The final session of the 2008 camp was held last Thursday afternoon.
Each camper received a T-shirt and some earned special awards such as “good sportsmanship.”
Gupta recently received another grant from the USTA and plans to host another camp starting Monday, July 7 for adults at a nominal fee.
For more information about the adult tennis camp, please call Matchpoint Tennis at 794-7651..