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Local Tennis Players Showcase Skills In Mount Kisco

MOUNT KISCO, N.Y. – More than 100 high school tennis players from throughout the United States Tennis Association Eastern Region showed their skills at the region's 26th Annual College Showcase Day on Sunday at the Saw Mill Club in Mount Kisco.

Several college coaches watched the high school players in action at the Saw Mill Club in Mount Kisco.

Several college coaches watched the high school players in action at the Saw Mill Club in Mount Kisco.

Photo Credit: Andrew Meola
Eric Butorac spoke to the young players at a seminar during Sunday's event.

Eric Butorac spoke to the young players at a seminar during Sunday's event.

Photo Credit: Andrew Meola

More than 60 college tennis coaches attended the event, including Eric Butorac, who has won 13 professional titles in his career and now works as an assistant coach for the Harvard University men’s tennis team.

Butorac, who specialized in doubles play, led a seminar in which he gave advice to the youths about playing in college. He emphasized that playing for a top school is not as important as just getting a chance to play at all.

And he is living proof of that. Butorac played tennis for a year and a half at Division I Ball State University before he transferred to Division III Gustavus Adolphus College. At the latter school, he thrived.

“There’s plenty of ways a good coach and a good program can push you to get better, plus you’ll benefit so much from playing the top players at all these other schools,” Butorac said. “You’ll get extra attention.”

The high school juniors in attendance played matches, attended seminars and learned about several colleges in the Northeast. Seniors attended seminars, played in a round robin tournament and met with several college coaches.

Charlie Adams, an author, sportscaster and speaker with National Collegiate Scouting Aassociation Athletic Recruiting, spoke during one of the seminars and encouraged the players to be proactive during the recruitment process.

“Market your abilities. Get your name out there. Develop a good video and let the coaches know why you wan to go their particular school,” Adams said. “Then you’ll have more success in recruiting.”

Sunday’s event should certainly help with that. Each coach at the event received student profiles that had information on their athletic backgrounds, academic records and interests and their contact information.

From a report by USTA Eastern.

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