The youngest members of the tennis participants at this week’s Port Clinton Tennis Camp were among the most enthusiastic.

BY D’ARCY PATRICK EGAN

Tennis is fun.

That’s a life lesson being taught to small squads of young kids swinging racquets at the Port Clinton Tennis Camp this summer. It’s also a reason that, down the road, many will mature into members of the Port Clinton High School boys and girls teams, which have a reputation for success.

“The kids have been having a great time, and they’ve come a long way in a fairly short time,” said Joe Miller, the coach of the girls’ varsity tennis team. Aaron Taylor is coach of the boys squad.

Miller, a high school tennis star at Sandusky St. Marys and an English teacher at Port Clinton, has been instrumental in developing the five-week tennis camp.

This week, he said, the kids are moving into the fifth and final week of the camp.

“We’re impressed with their developing skills, and having a ton of fun,” said Miller. “By the time tennis camp is over you can tell how much they love tennis.”

In fact, parents are already asking about tennis lessons and next summer’s tennis camp, said Miller. Tennis lessons are affordable, at $25 for the littlest kids. Older players are $40, which includes a T-shirt. Private lessons are $50.

The tennis enthusiasm has morphed into high school success. Both boys and girls tennis teams won Sandusky Bay Conference titles this year. The tennis camps have helped, and so have the well-maintained Hablitzel Tennis Center facilities at Port Clinton High School.

“Like our brand new Port Clinton Field House, our athletes are enjoying some of the finest athletic facilities in the state,” said Miller. “We’re fortunate to have all of this for the kids.”