Welcome to the KCTA! 2024 Event Calendar Click on the title above to check out all the upcoming events this year! 1/5 Upcoming Events UPCOMING EVENTS October 2024 7 - 13 Women's Tennis Open @ BRC 9 High School Team Night @ BRC​ 12 Family Day @ BRC November 2024 13 Ladies' Drills December 2024 7-8 3rd Annual USTA Jr Winter Classic @ BRC 14 Toys & Tennis The KCTA is now on Facebook! Follow us to stay updated on our events! Click Here >> KCTA Facebook Player's Drills https://www.turnto23.com/news/in-your-neighborhood/bakersfield/one-nonprofit-equips-local-high-school-tennis-teams-for-new-season The Kickoff of the Girls' 2024 Tennis Season is complete. We hosted 20 coaches from 14 schools for a clinic at Stockdale Country Club on August 19. Players' Drills at BRC on August 24 were attended by a record 388 girls for two hours of instruction, lunch (courtesy of Little Caesars), and a "Shopping Spree" that delivered approximately 1500 articles of clothing. The Equipment Distribution on August 29 fulfilled requests from 22 schools for gear with a retail value of nearly $100,000. That gear included 150 racquets, 305 pairs of shoes, 610 pairs of socks, over 1000 sports bras, 381 pairs of compression shorts, 252 visors, 129 tennis backpacks, and approximately 3000 practice balls. This is made possible through the generosity of members of our community, partnerships with key suppliers, support of the high school coaches, and the hard work of a great many people. That last group is listed below, and we sincerely apologize if we have failed to include anyone. -KCTA Board of Directors VOLUNTEERS Randy Crider, Dan Rutherford, Manny Gonzales, Tom Curran, Al Johnson, Megan Carnegie, Laurie Haagsma, Minda Owens, Rhonda Slegers, Linette Holliday, Agnes Dejong, Ashley South, Natalie Chene, Trellis Green, Ella Periera, Kaylee Periera, Janet Strandberg, Beth Kuney, Scott Kuney, Jon Raichelson, Sal Moretti, Zeb Duket, Tammy Duket, Adrian Araya, Lauren Mayhew, Brian Yanez, Joe Fike, Edgar Pankey, Jonni Seymour, Mark Windes, Marty Crider, Marjorie Levin, Camille Hanson, Andrea Ames, Eli Jimenez, David Rous, Kristen Villa, Cannon Creese, Tiffany Gill, Patrick Henderson, Sandy Matthews, Melissa Sweaney, Nikki Hiebert, Heather Tkac, Zach Gomez, Noel Dalton, Ashley Periera, Paul Yanez, Jerry Matthews & Robert Limpias. COURT INSTRUCTORS Ryan Chavez, Mark Fredriksz, Zach Gomez, Manny Gonzales, Bre Hiebert Bob Kelly, Hannah Kratt, Abraham Maldonado, Jay Manibo, Eli Noel, Hannah Purvis, Art Sherwyn, Jonni Seymour, Buddy Turl & Anthony Renteria. Women's Tennis Open The Women's Tennis Open has made it's way back to Bakersfield! Come out to the Bakersfield Racquet Club, October 7th - October 13th to watch some amazing women's tennis. More details and schedule to follow soon. We hope to see you there! Advancements In Women's Tennis Click on the link below to read Sal Moretti's article regarding girl's and women's tennis! ​ Click Here >> SAL MORETTI: A wonderful progression for girls and women in tennis Donate with Confidence - KCTA has been awarded a 2023 Guidestar Platinum Seal of Transparency - the highest recognition given. To learn more about what KCTA does in our tennis community, click on the seal to the left to read our 2023 Annual Report. We are grateful for your support and we will use your gifts towards helping Kern County junior players have the tennis equipment and support they need to be the best they can be!

KCTA 2023 Awards Kern Community Tennis Association recently recognized Sandy Matthews as the KCTA 2023 Person of the Year and Laura Rice with a Legacy Coach Award. Sandy was honored for her 24 years as the Chairperson and Treasurer of the Ladies Interclub League. The league has been in operation since the 1970s and is a key contributor to the spirit of cooperation that exists in the Bakersfield tennis community. Each year, Sandy and her team devote hundreds of hours to operate the best league in town that provides the camaraderie and competition that thousands of women of all ages have enjoyed. As those who have worked with Sandy can attest, no detail is ever too small. Laura moved to Bakersfield when she was recruited to play for the CSUB women’s tennis team. After a successful college career, Laura went on to be one of the best recreational players in the area, including 14 consecutive County Doubles Championships and being a member of the 1994 USTA National Open Mixed Doubles Team. Laura coached for several years at Bakersfield College and local clubs before joining the Ridgeview High faculty in 1999. She served as the JV coach before becoming the head varsity coach for both boys’ and girls’ tennis in 2007. Laura also heads the PE Department. Although many of her players are first exposed to tennis during their freshman year, her dedication enables Ridgeview to consistently field competitive teams. Her players are known for their love of the sport and respectful attitudes. Laura has changed hundreds of lives in her more than three decades as a youth coach. Pictured from left to right are Robert Limpias, KCTA President, Sandy Matthews, Laura Rice, and Hank Pfister. 2022 Fall Ladies' Clinic For MANY more pictures, click the photo above! Thank you to all who attended and to our pros!

Three spots on the KCTA Board of Directors open each year: Directors serve a 3-year term Monthly Meetings and Service Opportunities to help grow tennis for juniors and adults New ideas and love of the sport are all that is required! Nominations with 10 signatures is due by December 6, 2023- Voting on the nominations will take place in December, 2023 with new terms starting in January, 2024 We would love your input and involvement - please consider fellow players and yourself as possible candidates! ​ The KCTA is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. Board Members must be sponsored by tennis community members and are elected to their positions. Robert Limpias President Jerry Matthews Vice President Melissa Sweaney Treasurer Nikki Heibert Secretary DIRECTORS Ashley Periera Nikki Heibert Noel Dalton Zach Gomez ​ Paul Yanez ​ Kellie Dibble EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Beth Kuney (661) 331-9315 bkuney@kerntennis.org PO Box 11915 Bakersfield, CA 93389

Bakersfield College Tennis Noel Dalton and Marc Gomez will be coaching the Men's and Women's Tennis Teams at Bakersfield College this Spring - come out and support BC Tennis! 2023 BC Women's Tennis Schedule>> 2023 BC Men's Tennis Schedule>> Marc has over three decades of playing and coaching experience. Marc started his tennis teaching career in 1996 as a Tennis Professional at Visalia Racquet Club after competing for the men’s tennis teams at College of the Sequoias in Visalia, CA and Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, CA. He has coached high school boys' and girls' tennis teams which have won team and individual league and sectional championships. Marc teaches private tennis lessons and clinics full-time and is the Garces Memorial High School girls tennis coach. He remains active in tournament and league play. Noel Dalton played for Bakersfield College Men's Tennis in the early 80's and was the recipient of the BC Scholar Athlete Award in 1984 before finishing his degree at Pepperdine University. Noel has been an active USTA League player and Captain. Noel will be coaching the men.

Visit btopen.org for pictures, results and great memories - and mark your calendars for March 2023!

KCTA 2022 Annual Report Kern Community Tennis Association Our Purpose The Kern Community Tennis Association (KCTA) is a non-profit, volunteer based organization established in 1965 to develop and grow the game of tennis at all levels for both juniors and adults. The KCTA has a particular interest in partnering with high school tennis programs to help coaches and players acquire the racquets and other equipment they need to be successful. We sponsor free drills for jr. high and high school players as well as younger kids. The KCTA also coordinates and supports a schedule of tennis events and tournaments culminating in the Grand Prix Masters Championships for adults. Want to Participate? We encourage anyone interested in serving on the Board of Directors to contact the KCTA at bkuney@kerntennis.org for more information. The Board of Directors meets periodically throughout the year via e-mail or physical meetings. We also need and warmly welcome volunteers who want to help in the drills we offer to juniors or other outreach programs - please let us know if you are interested! ​ Nominations will be accepted for 2023 KCTA Board positions in November Nominations for 2023 will be accepted in November of 2022 with voting taking place in December 2022. You may nominate yourself or someone you feel is interested in promoting tennis for juniors and adults right here in Kern County. Ten signatures are needed for each nomination. The deadline for the nominations is Monday, December 6, 2023 Refurbished Used Racquets Get A Chance to Shine Again! Thank you to all of you who donated racquets. They were lovingly restrung and regripped and handed over to young men who needed a good racquet to play their best. They now know that they are supported by many men and women they've never met, but who share their love of tennis. Thank You All So Very Much!

2022 FALL KCTA LADIES' CLINIC November 2, 2022 @ Stockdale Country Club Pictures from 2022 Fall Ladies Clinic A plethora of prizes led to wonderful raffle ticket sales - thank you to all who donated and all who came out to enjoy a beautiful SUNNY day of tennis!

2023 High School Team Night at the BTOpen Nearly 200 student athletes were our guests at KCTA High School Team Night at the BTOpen. They enjoyed dinner and an evening of great tennis.

KCTA is providing Tennis Scholarships to high school players KCTA began sponsoring professional instruction for high school players in the summer of 2021. Since that time more than 400 student athletes have benefitted from up to 15 hours of small group instruction. This has been made possible through the support of our sponsors and partnerships with local teaching professionals and Bakersfield’s four private clubs. These scholarship lessons are available to players from every high school in Kern County, but the request must come through the team coach. Player eligibility will be determined by a demonstrated commitment to the sport, agreement to attend at least 90% of the sessions, and financial need. There is no cost to the players or their schools. For more information, contact Jerry Matthews at jerrymatthews004@gmail.com