Mountain View Sports & Racquet Club

In November 2017, the Mountain View Sports & Racquet Club (“MVSRC”) became the first recipient of a $5,000 grant from the ProtoStar-Matt Stevenson Junior Tennis Fund.  Located in the southeastern part of San Diego, MVSRC is adjacent to the Martin Luther King Jr. Park and services areas with a high percentage of low- to moderate-income families and minorities.  It focuses on “introducing youth to tennis and, through tennis, helping youth develop such life-values as self-confidence, integrity, character building, and respect for others.”  MVSRC provides tennis equipment, clinics, and playing opportunities free of charge or at a reduced rate to children needing financial aid.  Its programs also include after school clinics, intermediate classes, and advanced training for “high performance” juniors.

Part of the grant made it possible for many of the junior tennis players from MVSRC to watch the 2018 BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, California.  A total of 22 kids participated.  For some, it was their first time attending an Association of Tennis Professional (“ATP”) tournament and seeing the top touring pros compete in person.  The BNP Paribas Open is often referred to as the “fifth major.”

ProtoStar recently received donations of 25 brand new and gently-used junior tennis racquets and various tennis teaching accessories, which ProtoStar in turn donated to MVSRC for use in its junior tennis programs.

One of MVSRC’s “star” players is Siem Woldeab.  He started playing tennis at MVSRC at the age of 5 and is now nationally ranked in the Boys’ 16 age group.  His Universal Tennis Rating (“UTR”) is 13 on a 16-point scale, placing him at the cusp of being amongst the top Division I college players.  Siem was recently invited to play on the U.S. Junior Davis Cup team.  He maintains a G.P.A. of 4.6 at La Mesa High School, and his parents are from East Africa.