At Cynwyd Club, Lavner Tennis Camp Kicks Off Fourth Summer

For the third straight summer, the Cynwyd Club in Bala is hosting the Justin Lavner Tennis Camp. At the camp, which opened for business June 20, 170 variously experienced kids ages 5 to 18 will sharpen their skills in sessions ranging in length from one week to 11.

"This is actually our fourth summer; we started in Blue Bell in 2008 before coming over here," said Lavner, the camp's founder and operator, alternately shielding his eyes from the sun and sneaking glances at a practice game four teens played on the court across from him.

"We only had 50 players the first summer, now we're up to 170. Not that many are here toda,y though," the 2005 Penn graduate said, surveying the rest of the complex's empty courts. "Friday is usually a tournament day. Today is a travel day for a lot of kids."

This particular Friday, June 24, was a travel day for the sectional championships. Held at several sites, including York and Scranton, the highest ranked players from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware competed in 12,14,16, and 18-year-old age groups.

"For our top kids, all week we prep them for these tournaments," said Lavner, who added, accurately if immodestly, that the prep is often effective. "We have Corey Robinson, who's No. 1 in middle states, and we have Clarissa Hand, who's 11, and won the 12-year-old group at sectionals."

Despite the successes of his most advanced players, Lavner stressed that his camp—which he started while in law school at Villanova—caters to the beginner and intermediate player as well.

"That's one of the things that's great about this facility—there's enough courts to separate and group everybody by skill level," said Lavner, who added that Cynwyd's har-tru surface clay courts, a soft, almost fine sand-like material that reduces stress injuries, are another boon.

"We evaluate everybody's game and try to constantly challenge you," said Lavner.

Madelena Taverno, 12, is one of the camp's relative novices who feels she's getting her (parents') money's worth.

"It's a good camp. I really like the one-on-one time with counselors," said Taverno, a student at whose experience with the sport, up until Monday, had been limited pickup games with her dad on the court across the street from their house.

Lavner says the key to coaching up a player like Taverno to beat her dad, or a player like Hand to earn a national ranking, is close attention.

"It's really about the ability to analyze a player's game, identify their issues, and help put the pieces together," said Lavner, who was a top doubles and singles player in his time at Penn and later played in several pro-tourneys.

As for his players themselves, Lavner says the key to success is even simpler: repetition: "Baseline, overhead, volley, serve. We train our players for so many hours that muscle memory kicks in. It becomes automatic."