Geneva tennis camp gathers generations together

GENEVA — More than 60 children attended the Geneva Tennis Camp this past week.

The camp provided a basis for area youth to learn the game and commit to the support long term.

The tennis camp started in the mid-1990s with Phil Dubsky, and has continued for the last 30 years, Michael Rose, who was the boys tennis coach this spring at Geneva High School, said.

Rose said he remembers learning the game even earlier than that with summer tennis programs.

The camp was broken into three different levels, as beginners learned the basics, followed by intermediate students and high schoolers, Rose said.

Rose said 85% of the participants were from the Geneva Area City School District. The four-day camp ended Thursday.

A tennis tournament took place over the weekend, with 20 to 25 players.

Christian Bushweiler in the 12u singles division; Clark Netzel and Micah Burns, 12u doubles; Liam Keatine, 15u singles; Keating and Joe Ortiz, 15u doubles; Hannah Dunn, 18u singles and Jackson Burhanna and Jackson Sanzo, 18u doubles, won their age groups.

The winners were from Geneva, aside from Keating, Aurora and Burhanna, Marysville.

Rose said some of the players did not participate in the camp.

He said a United States Tennis Association program called “Racquets in Hand” helped make the event possible with a grant.

Rose said he was proud of all the former players who returned and volunteered their time to help the younger players.

He said the leadership of the camp loves the community and seeks to continue a long-standing tradition of tennis excellence in Geneva.

Dubsky, the founder of the camp and a former Geneva tennis coach, said he appreciated the continued work of those organizing the camp.

“I think it is great,” he said. “I think they have done a fantastic job.”