Summer Tennis Camp has students working up a sweat at BBC

 

Summer is already here and the FIU Biscayne Bay Campus students and the community around it should not have a lack of options to stay fit.

Tennis Summer Camp is about to start at BBC on June 8 and all FIU students are welcome to join.

This tennis camp has been put together by Tom Fowkes, 51, tennis coach and owner of Tom Fowkes Tennis Fitness.

“It is all about the students,” said Fowkes.

He has been teaching children, teenagers and adults for about 10 years.

“Tom used to coach at my building and now that he started the camp, I couldn’t miss out on it,” said Manoela Quadros, 16, Chaminade-Madonna College Preparatory.

“I play every day and enjoy it so much,” said Quadros.

Fowkes used to teach tennis in Terraces of Turnberry and decided to move on to a new challenge.

In 2014, he started to rent out the tennis courts and the building between the Chaplin School of Hospitality and Tourism Management and the Green Library to place his business.

He likes to encourage children and adults of any age to join his classes because he wants to be there for the students.

“A lot of FIU students come casually,” said Fowkes. “I was in college too and I know how busy the life of a college student can get, but some still manage to come and train.”

Bair Bardyshev, 19, junior in Finance, joined the tennis classes this past Spring semester and used to play once a week, but switched to three times a week for the Summer semesters.

“I used to play tennis before, but since I started to play with Tom, I’ve gotten much better,” said Bardyshev.

“We play in the morning, but people like it so much, we usually stay three to four more hours just playing around,” said Bardyshev.

The number of FIU BBC students taking advantage of the tennis classes offered by Fowkes has increased since he started his business on campus.

One of the methods that has encourage college students to try it out has been to lower the fee from $20 to $10 per hour for FIU students.

“We don’t want the struggle of being a college student and not having so much money to stop them from learning and practicing tennis,” said Fowkes.

There are two staff-members currently working for Fowkes.

Fowkes is also considering future possibilities to get FIU BBC students involved in volunteer work and internships to be part of the after school program, summer camp and tennis coaching he offers.

“Tennis is my passion and I want to work as much as possible with students,” said Fowkes.

Fowkes started playing tennis about 42 years ago and his goal now is to teach others, so they can enjoy this sport as much as he does.

There are other events he puts together to keep his students entertained.

“We also organize tournaments called Round Robin Tennis Doubles,” said Fowkes.

There are two level groups, A and B level. Snacks and drinks are being provided free of cost for all the players and the audience. Trophies are given to the winners of each group.

Another event was the Ice Cream Social, which took place right before Valentine’s Day this year. There was no admission fee.

“We might do another Ice Cream Social for the Fall,” said Fowkes.

Fowkes also starts an outreach program. Every Sundays at 10:30 a.m. Fowkes and ones of his students give free lessons to people that can’t afford to pay for tennis classes.

“We usually get between seven and 10 children and adults,” said Fowkes.

The summer camp this year will take place at the tennis courts next to the Chaplin School of Hospitality and Tourism Management from June 8 to August 14.

There will be two options: Full day from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and half day from 8:30 a.m to 12:30 p.m. The costs for the full day will be $250 per week and $175 for the half day option.For more information call (954) 558-1038 or email tomfowkestennis@gmail.com.

 

Photo Credit – Alexandra Mosquera Netzkarsch