As I am traveling back to the east coast this week for the US Open, and to visit my family in Connecticut, I started to reflect on my early years of tennis.
Let me take you back. It was February of 1992, New England. It was a typical, cold and dreary day in Southern Connecticut, with a chance of 3 feet of snow. My mom dropped me off, as she always did every Tuesday and Saturday afternoon at the old Trumbull Racquet Club. As I got out of her Chevy Caprice station wagon with my trusty Prince Precision Graphite, I walked through those doors to a warm and friendly place, filled with good green vibes.
I have such fond memories of that club. The wall-to-wall green speckled carpeting, those cozy couches in the lounge area. Photos of tennis legends and club members hanging on the walls. Tennis was of course always playing on the TV. Like most east coast indoor tennis clubs in its day, there were those plexi glass walls overlooking the tennis courts on both sides. I remember you had to sort of walk down a couple steps, through a narrow hallway, and lift up the tarp to get out onto the courts. Neon felty fuzzy goodness everywhere.
The club’s director, Dave Fowler, and this young curly blonde haired coach, Andy Jorgenson, were just the best guys. Dave always had a big smile on his face, he was always happy to see me, and I just remember him being very nice and engaging with me. Andy was this really cool, mellow dude. I always wanted to be playing on Andy's court, as he was just so friggin' cool.
I was doing a little digging on Dave, and was saddened to read that he passed recently. I dug up this old article in the New York Times about his coaching, helping improve strokes and lives. This photo pretty much sums Dave up: Jovial, engaging, warm and friendly.
Long time Connecticut Tennis Coach and Director, Dave Fowler.
I was just one of thousands of kids those guys taught, many of which went on to play high school and college tennis. Those guys were also instrumental in the success of another Fairfield County, CT. kid: James Blake.
You can say I was "J-Block Adjacent", knowing not only Andy and Dave, but also being friends and high school teammates with Evan Paushter. Evan was at one time James' hitting partner, and are close friends to this day.
Tennis Coach, Andy Jorgenson, seen in front row of The J -Block (hat on, clapping hands).
As for my high school years, Dave and Andy prepped me nicely. I made it on the varsity squad my freshman year at Joel Barlow High School, in Redding, CT. Oh wait, we only had one team:) For a small school in Southwestern Connecticut, we sure had some bangers on that team, lead by Evan at #1 singles. We had an amazing female coach, Razan Zia. I tended to be a bit rebellious, maybe lazy at times and she knew how to handle me... How to motivate me. I was a pretty good player, and mainly played 1st and 2nd doubles, winning almost every one of our matches. I made it on the singles squad for a hot minute, but was quickly booted by some young studs.
I am the one wearing the tie dye (wow, nothing has changed since high school!). Evan is kneeling, right in front of me in the black and white striped windbreaker.
Looking back, I was sort of fortunate I didn't take tennis all that seriously or competitively. I played on club and intramural teams in college (Indiana University). I never played enough where I got burned out, like some of my peers did, and have gotten better and somehow became a tennis coach in Los Angeles in my mid-40's.
So, thank you Dave and Andy for keeping things cool and loose. I try to live my life that way, and are the core values of what Ace the Moon is all about. This one goes out to Dave and Andy, and all you tennis coaches out there. Love ya~
Oh, and as every good blog should link to a product, our Bubble tee was inspired by the Old Trumbull Racquet Club. All net proceeds for this tee will go to the James Blake Foundation
~Josh