All-Star Weekend Features Top Junior Players in South Carolina

For the second consecutive year, the USTA South Carolina Board of Directors awarded the association’s annual Junior All Star Camp to the Family Circle Tennis Center. The camp was created in 1982 to provide the state’s top juniors with some additional top-level instruction and training and to celebrate their success in the previous year’s tournament competitions. The top 10 juniors (boys and girls) in four age divisions (12's, 14's, 16's, & 18's) were invited to the camp. USTA South Carolina funded the entire weekend and invited tennis coaches and pros from around the state to participate as well. The USTA South Carolina All Star Camp was held February 3-5, 2007.

In 1984 Dennis and Pat Van Der Meer offered to help what was then known as the South Carolina Tennis Association by coordinating and running the all-star camp out of their tennis facility in Hilton Head. For the first 20 years, the Van Der Meers’ leadership played an instrumental role in the success of the camp.  In honor of that dedication and commitment, USTA South Carolina will continue to name the camp to the South Carolina Dennis Van Der Meer All Star Camp.

The annual camp is open to the top 10 players in the boys and girls 12,14,16 and 18 age divisions. The rankings were based on the junior’s final 2006 state ranking which comes out in late December each pervious year. This camp provides these elite junior players with first class instruction and training provided by many of the state’s top tennis coaches. The weekend itinerary includes fed ball drills, which will include certain specific tennis training techniques, match play, and various seminars on nutrition and training.

“Junior tennis in South Carolina has grown so much over the past few years and much of that growth can be attributed to the efforts of USTA South Carolina,” stated Rob Eppelsheimer, Family Circle Tennis Center Director. “We appreciate the association’s vote of confidence in us to continue to host this event, and we will make sure each junior receives a quality experience that will help them become better players.”

As one of the area’s leading health care providers, Trident Health System again signed on to provide healthy training guidance including tips on everything from proper hydration to effective physical training. Guest speakers included Bill Ozaki (Head of Southern Tennis Junior Development) and renowned Sports Psychologist Dr. Bryce Young who has worked with professional and collegiate athletes from all over the country.