JTCC players certainly didn’t let any grass grow under their feet at Wimbledon as three alumni raced to victories on the hallowed grass courts. The post JTCC Players Well-Prepared for Wimbledon appeared first on JTCC ..read more

After a fun-filled session learning the game of tennis, 262 students, ages 6-12, graduated from the Spring Game On! session that wrapped up June 9. Held at 14 locations across Washington, DC and Prince George’s County Schools and Recreation Centers, students were immersed in tennis fundamentals and at two sites, 40 students also engaged in Academic Creative Engagement (ACE) educational activities in weekly classroom sessions. Classes are led by JTCC coaches assisted by volunteers from the community and JTCC Champs players who serve as role models and mentors for the dedicated young players. Ex ..read more

JTCC High Performance Coach Ali Agnamba made history earlier this month by training the Togolese women’s team as they prepared for their country’s first appearance in the Billie Jean King Cup! Agnamba, who hails from the small town of Kodjoviakope, Togo, coached the squad of five players during their two-week visit to JTCC as prior to their return to Africa for the 2024 Africa IV tournament that took place June 10-15 at the Ecology Club Kigali in Kigali, Rwanda. The Billie Jean King Cup, formerly known as the Federation Cup, is regarded as a highly prestigious event and recognized as the ..read more

Thirteen JTCC graduates in attendance were dressed to impress in front of the more than 100 proud parents, families, alumni, and friends who gathered in the JTCC lobby for the May 29 graduation ceremony for the Class of 2024. The new alumni received their diplomas and portraits which will hang on the JTCC Walk of Fame hallway. This year’s class included four additional graduates who were unable to attend. The group joined the more than 330 other successful alumni. “The JTCC graduation is a capstone event that our entire staff looks forward to every year,” Director of School Mark Santangelo com ..read more

JTCC was recognized on April 14 as the National Junior Tennis & Learning (NJTL) Chapter of the Year during the United States Tennis Association (USTA) Annual Conference in Orlando, FL. For its work specifically with under-served youth, JTCC was selected from among more than 250 NJTL chapters nationwide as the NJTL of the Year for positively impacting youth through the powerful combination of tennis and education. “JTCC is honored to receive the NJTL of the Year Award and I’m pleased to be living Arthur Ashe’s dream and implementing his vision of providing access to tennis in underserved c ..read more

JTCC was transformed for an unforgettable evening on April 10 to salute JTCC’s 25th Anniversary honoring alumnus Frances Tiafoe and University of Maryland President Darryll Pines at the GEICO Champions Celebration presented by Amazon and the Bisnow Family. The honorees shared inspiring messages to an energetic crowd of more than 400 JTCC supporters, who raised an impressive $584,000 benefitting JTCC’s GEICO Game On! community programs. Guests enjoyed cocktails and hors d’oeuvres during the pre-dinner reception while being entertained by impressive match play featuring JTCC Adaptive athletes ..read more

Leaving behind her family and hometown of Yonkers, NY, Stefanie Smart-Abbey, at 12-years-old joined JTCC’s Full-Time High Performance program in late 2022 to pursue her dream to be the best player she could be. Smart-Abbey’s father, a seasoned tennis coach from Ghana, taught his 10-year-old daughter how to play tennis. She began making her mark at a young age in local tournaments by holding her own and competing in older age groups despite having only two years of tennis experience. “Competing in the older age groups was challenging because I was still learning how to play tennis. I didn’t kn ..read more

For JTCC alumna Ayana Akli, the decision to return to the University of South Carolina for her final season of college tennis has the Silver Spring native soaring to new heights. Granted a fifth year of college eligibility after her freshman season was curtailed due to COVID-19, Akli proved that her decision to return was the right decision as she attained a career-high #3 in the ITA Division I singles rankings released on February 7. “The ranking is truly just a number. I don’t feel much pressure added to it,” Akli said. “I’m grateful that I get to compete against the top players from every ..read more

With more than 60 enthusiastic children and adults engaged in interactive tennis drills, the JTCC Winter Tennis Festival held on the indoor courts on February 3 was a smashing success to kicking off the first of four free festivals held throughout the year. During the two-hour free event led by JTCC coaches and assisted by volunteers from the University of Maryland Men’s Club Lacrosse team, the players also participated in team-building activities to improve balance and coordination and enjoyed complimentary snacks. After the fun concluded on court, smiling participants left with giveaways in ..read more

The dreams of seven hard-working student-athletes have been fulfilled with their commitments to play college tennis at prestigious institutions in the fall. A signing day ceremony was held at JTCC on Thursday, January 11, with players, family members, and media in attendance. JTCC players will be competing at five NCAA Division I universities and two NCAA Division III colleges. Headlining the signees is Stiles Brockett, who will be joining back-to-back National Champion powerhouse University of Virginia. He is a three-time United States Tennis Association (USTA) National Gold Ball winner. JTC ..read more