Sports
Tennis was dead in this city. These kids are bringing it back.
By Barry Carter | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Just beyond the large statue of Althea Gibson, a throng of kids eager to play the game she dominated fill up nearly 18 courts named after the tennis icon.
It’s a Wednesday evening, one of four days they practice at Newark’s Branch Brook. There’s no time to waste, either. They’re up on their toes with a bounce in their step, anticipating the direction of balls tossed at them from instructors at the Essex County Althea Gibson Tennis Complex.
This rarely happens at the courts, unless there’s a high school tournament, and there aren’t many. Hardly anyone from the neighborhood, which borders Belleville, plays there, either, making Newark a tennis desert like many urban communities.
Not anymore. This organization – the National Junior Tennis and Learning of Trenton – started a Newark chapter three years ago with a free program for kids in the city and surrounding communities. Since then, the Newark members of the group moved on and formed the Greater Newark Tennis & Education organization.
Under the new name, the program is still free, receiving funds from private donations and corporations. While financing is a challenge, the program is flourishing.
It started with five kids and finished with 70 after the first year. Now 130 are registered, but on any given evening, 50-55 kids learn the game for two hours Monday through Thursday and for another two hours on Saturday morning.
“We want to give kids the idea that there is a bigger world beyond than what they may know,” said Charles McKenna, the executive director of the program.
Camps big. University big. Globally, big. That’s how far the organization wants them to go.
Historically, they get to learn that Gibson, an East Orange resident in her later years, became the first African-American to win a grand slam title, the French Championships in 1956. The following year, she won Wimbledon and the Nationals, which was precursor to the US Open, then did it again in 1958. Overall, Gibson won 11 grand slam tournaments, including five singles titles, five doubles titles, and one mixed doubles title.
The courts where the kids play were named after her by Essex County in 2002 and the statute was dedicated in 2012. Dozens gathered, including Gov. Chris Christie and tennis great Billie Jean King.
“Greater Newark Tennis & Education continues Ms. Gibson’s legacy by bringing the game of tennis to a new generation of players and using the game to help develop tomorrow’s leaders,” said Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo.
And, if all goes right, this program could be the impetus to spark a comeback of the game in city high schools.
Bob Bynum, a Newark native and the program’s lead instructor, would love to see that happen. He’s always wanted to be part of a tennis program in Newark, having taught the game full-time in suburban communities since the 1980s.
“This is a dream come true. Newark has always been close to my heart,” said Bynum, a South Side High School graduate, who played his first tennis tournament on these courts in the 1970s.
He remembers when Newark high schools had teams, but they dissipated over the years because there were no feeder programs to bring kids into tennis.
“That’s what we’re trying to do,” he said. “We’re hoping that some of these kids who go to high school in Newark will be able to rekindle the tennis programs.”
So, they’re starting them out young. Most of the kids are 5 to 12-year-olds, but the program teaches kids up to 18. The participants are mainly from Essex County, and have taken to the game, learning from Bynum’s staff, which numbers about 13 instructors, who are high school and college students and parent volunteers.
The kids want to play and have improved. Jason Honore, 11, said it was hard at first when he started three years ago. He had no control over the ball, his strokes sending it high over the net. Practice change that.
“Sometimes when you hit the ball really well, you say, ‘I hope that can be my knew normal,’” he said.
His older brother, Julian, 13, said he is motivated by playing against good players to get better.
Ten-year-old Darren Cordero, 10, of Belleville, agrees. He hasn’t beaten Julian, yet, but is looking forward to that day. He’s really into the game, too. After spending all day in summer camp, his parents said he’s on them to get him to the courts on time.
“He doesn’t miss a day,” said Lewis Cordero, his dad.
The Whitest brothers – Marvin III, 12 an Courtney, 10 – like tennis so much that their dad, Marvin Jr., brings them from New Brunswick. They take the train, getting off at the station across the street from the courts.
“It’s good for me, too,” Marvin Jr. said. “It helps me get back active. Now, I’ve gotta hit with my boys. They want to show they can play.”
All of the kids, whether they know it or not, have breathed life into the community. People stop to see what’s going on. With their play — the program runs until October — perhaps others will take up the game and use the courts.
NJSIAA & NBOE Meet to Discuss Procedures of Operation
Ms. Elizabeth Aranjo, Director of Health, Physical Education & Athletics, Mr. Gary Taylor, DC of Athletics at West Side High School, Mr. Gary Westberry, DC of Athletics at Weequahic High School and the Executive Director of the NJSIAA, Mr. Larry White held a meeting on July 30, 2019 at Weequahic High School to discuss the new procedures of operation with the NJSIAA.
Mr. White also committed himself to come to Newark to address all of our coaches as well.
American Dairy Association Summer Feeding Kickoff Event 2019
Soccer for Success Jamboree Brings Together More than 650 Students U.S. Soccer Foundation, NY Bulls & Just One Soccer Partner with NBOE
[Newark, New Jersey – May 22, 2019] The Newark Board of Education recently partnered with soccer heavyweights to host the second Soccer for Success Jamboree at Newark School Stadium. More than 2,000 people participated in the day-long event, which included 650 student soccer players, 24 schools and 37 teams.
Superintendent of Schools Roger León said, “Soccer is growing in interest throughout our school district. I want to personally thank our students for their interest and engagement, their parents, and the U.S. Soccer Foundation, the NY Bulls and Just One Soccer for their generous support of our program. I also want to thank our coaches and the office of Family Engagement and Expanded Learning – their leadership in this program is priceless.”
This is the second year of the Soccer for Success Jamboree, according to Margarita Muniz, Executive Director of the Office of Family and Community Engagement. The office of Family and Community Engagement, along with the Expanded Learning Time Office, headed by Sarah Cruz, manage the Soccer for Success program for the Newark Board of Education.
“The Soccer for Success program is a great addition to our Expanded Learning Time programs afterschool in Newark Public Schools,” said Sarah Cruz, Special Assistant for Expanded Learning Time. She continued, “This partnership gives students a constructive activity where they learn about being active, living healthy and they get to play soccer. More girls joined the program this year and we nearly doubled the number of overall participants. The students and the staff really enjoy the experience.”
For the program, the U.S. Soccer Foundation provided for each player; a soccer Jersey, a soccer ball, a par of shin guards and a set of collapsible soccer goals for each school.
McKinley Students Meet Kobe Bryant!
In the simplest of terms, this book is amazing. It's a perfect little trap. It hauls you in and never lets you go until you finish reading."
- Kauan, age 14, Newark, NJ
Kamila Nieves and Kauan Almeida had the unique opportunity to read Kobe Bryant’s new book before its release. This book, “Wizenard Series Training Camp,” was written for teen readers.
If you click here and scroll down you can see the following book review from Kauan. Over Christmas Break they were given the final edited copy of the book before it went into the final print phase and were asked to write a book review. Kobe Bryant and his publishers were so impressed they decided on using an excerpt from Kauan Almeida’s review for all digital advertising for the book!
Both Kauan and Kamila, along with one of our teachers, Ms. Yancey, were then invited to meet Kobe himself on March 20th!
