At just six years old, Jr. Kallyn Gaul gripped her first tennis racket and bubbled with excitement to play a game she’d only seen on television. As she stepped onto the vibrant green of court two next to the North High School, she stood in the service box and impatiently awaited directions. Dozens of other kids her age were gathered on the courts at West Ottawa’s WOcademy program, all getting their first taste of the sport.
WOcademy offers a unique opportunity to learn tennis at a young age, connecting with age groups that other schools in Michigan typically don’t serve. What started as a summer camp quickly became a passion, setting Gaul on a path that would eventually lead her to the Girls Varsity team by her freshman year. However, athletes who may not pick up their first racket until middle or high school might face significant challenges. For the Girls’ Varsity team at West Ottawa, WOcademy made all the difference.
Gaul wasn’t the only current Girls Varsity player who took advantage of WOcademy. Sr. Eden Hamilton, a West Ottawa Girls Varsity tennis player, has played with West Ottawa since first grade. “I’ve been playing tennis since about kindergarten, and I think WOcademy was one of the first things I did to get involved with WO tennis. It was a long time ago, but I believe I remember starting the program in 1st grade. It was something I really loved being a part of at such a young age because I was able to make so many new friends, who actually ended up being a majority of my teammates that have been with me through middle and high school,” Hamilton said. Hamilton highlights how early exposure to the sport is a benefit. WOcademy provides a learning experience but also builds a future passion for long-term athletes.
“I loved the WOcademy program. Although I don’t remember much, I do remember how much fun I had. It helped me grow as a tennis player, especially since it was a new sport for me,” Soph. Hope Hughes said.
“The WOcademy program is all about giving new young players a fun introduction to the game of tennis. If kids leave WOcademy in the summer thinking, ‘I might want to play tennis in Middle School or High School,’ then we could consider that to be a success story,” Girls Varsity Tennis Coach Peter Schwallier said.
Tennis isn’t just about whether a player is considered a good player; it’s more about who wants to play and has the drive to play a sport they love. Repetition is key for athletes. They need to consider how much time they need to get better and how they can achieve good habits.
Not only is WOcademy available for players to develop the skills necessary to play tennis, but it also creates a supportive environment. “Coach Pete has always had such a passion for making kids better at the sport. He knows how to get kids to come and join by creating fun and engaging classes with high energy,” Sr. Danielle Lebster said. Schwallier continues after WOcademy to connect and reach out to players to give them opportunities to keep growing and keep playing.
“During 6th grade, it becomes more clear which of these new girls are REALLY into tennis. I work with them and their parents to set up a training plan at one of the local clubs for those who want to pursue that route. This means that each year in 9th grade, we have a large number of girls joining the high school team, and several of them have been training in a club for 2-3 years before they even step foot in high school,” Schwallier said. Schwallier opens up opportunities for all ages to play tennis, and he follows up with parents after he has seen someone new playing, making the environment welcoming for everyone.
When the varsity coaches work with the girls at the high school level, they continue to incorporate the same aspects from WOcademy, the girls’ early years of tennis. Schwallier began by creating a safe environment for the girls in the beginning, helping them build relationships and learn how to play tennis with the best possible mindset.
Kayla Wolma, a former Girls Varsity coach and West Ottawa graduate who helped during WOcademy, keeps the same aspects from WOcademy and brings them into the high school level. “Athletes who can learn, adapt, reflect, and make a game plan for the next performance are athletes who are on a long-term path to success. My goal is always to create an environment where athletes feel comfortable being in a growth mindset mentality,” Wolma said. The coaches’ approach not only strengthens the players’ mindsets but also helps them overcome mental toughness both on and off the court. The coaches recognize that from an early age, athletes need to have a positive mindset. They will face setbacks and losses, but having a positive growth mindset allows the players to persevere through those challenges.
While West Ottawa offers tennis programs for players starting in kindergarten, not all players and schools follow that path or have the same opportunities. Sr. Maddy VanderZwaag from Zeeland East didn’t start playing until middle school. “If I had access to a program like WOcademy, I think I could’ve gotten much better since I could’ve started earlier. Many seniors at Zeeland East end up starting tennis their senior year, and they all wish they would’ve started sooner,” VanderZwaag said. VanderZwaag highlights how she believes she could’ve improved more if she had the opportunity to start playing sooner. it. If a program were offered to the younger athletes, it could have a greater impact on skill levels in the new generations of teams.
Jr. Zoe Rant from Grand Haven, who started tennis the summer before fifth grade, believes the mental skills learned through tennis are valuable, regardless of when a player starts. “Grand Haven doesn’t have free tennis programs, so tennis is an expensive sport where we live, limiting the number of kids who play,” Rant said. West Ottawa offers free and inexpensive opportunities for players, like Sunday night hits, which are over the summer for players to go, hit, and get tips from coaches, and WOcademy ensures that all players from all backgrounds can access tennis from an early age or as early as they want.
The West Ottawa Girls Varsity tennis team has made 18 appearances at state since the year 2000, with a streak of eight years in a row. The team’s success shows the dedication of each player as well as the continuing growth that started in programs like WOcademy. With development and dedication, the Girls Varsity team hopes to win a state title in the near future. WOcademy plays an incredible role in creating the future of West Ottawa’s tennis team by preparing all of the young athletes before reaching the high school level. By making tennis more accessible, WOcademy allows young tennis players to strengthen their passion and abilities for the sport.
