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The Wildcat Tennis Club is back on campus for the first time in more than five years, and with new courts, the club looks to get students involved in tennis recreationally and competitively.
Since the construction of Yolo Hall began in May 2001, the courts have been off limits. The construction needed the courts, and afterward they were in such bad shape they were not fit for competition.
On Sept. 29, the new courts behind Yolo Hall opened for play. The courts were built with a combination of donations and school funding, giving way to the reintroduction of the tennis club, student and club president Skyler Boles said.
Boles started putting the club back together with help from faculty adviser Michael Leitner, Boles said. The club has 40 members so far and is slowly growing.
The club meets Monday through Friday from 3 to
5 p.m. and the talent ranges from beginner to advanced.
"Anyone affiliated with Chico State can play," club member Josh Hamilton said. "We are trying to introduce tennis to people, but we are also looking to compete competitively as well."
It is not mandatory to show up every day, and for the most part, members are there when they have time. The club is designed for people to play tennis, but also to start competing, which has happened this semester Leitner said.
Chico State took ninth place in the NorCal Campus Championship, its first tournament of the year, at Stanford University. But Chico State was actually the fourth-ranked school because Stanford University, UC Berkeley and
UC Davis each brought multiple teams that finished first through eighth.
The United States Tennis Association funded the team for the tournament, helping reintroduce the program to the other schools attending, Hamilton said.
The eventual goal is to become a competitive team, club Vice President Jeff Stollberg said.
Chico State hasn't had a team in a while, so it is an opportunity to let others know the 'Cats are back and want to compete, Boles said.
Since it is a club team, the group does not receive funding from the school and must raise its own money for competitions. The club held a fundraiser earlier this semester that raised nearly $1,000 and plans to hold more fundraisers, including a spring mixer that will be held at night with music and food, Leitner said.
Stollberg has been calling schools to try to set up matches, he said.
"It's our goal to have a schedule and practice times for next semester, so we are just trying let other schools now we are interested," Stollberg said.
Leitner is just glad to see tennis back on campus, he said. The club is open to everyone and its main goal is to promote the sport.
"I came to Chico State in 1981 and played on the club team for many years. It's nice to see these kids playing again," Leitner said.
Students looking to have some fun playing tennis are welcome to come play, Boles said.
"And for players with high school or college experience, we can use you as well," Boles said.
Bobby Mouren-Laurens can be reached at bmouren-laurens@theorion.com
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