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After enrolling in a Try Tennis Program, Mike Richards switched his mindset from “is tennis a good sport for me?” to “I want to keep improving and playing.”

Mike first learned about UTSA North Carolina’s Try Tennis Program from his aunt and mother, who are both tennis players.

“After finishing my six-lesson session in late spring of 2019, I was lucky that I could immediately get some match experience,” Mike said. “Our local league coordinator in Lake Norman formed another session so I could go directly from the group clinic to a real league. This opportunity was a great way to go from instruction to match play.”

Participating in the sessions introduced him to tennis rules and techniques. It also provided him with an opportunity to meet players that are at the same level.

“My favorite memory overall was being a part of my first 2.5 team. It really got me into the swing of competitive tennis,” Mike said. “We had a great group of people who were fun to play with and it was nice having social gatherings to end the season.”

Since completing the Try Tennis Program, Mike continues to play tennis in several singles and doubles leagues.