Tennis program

Starting on Jan. 24, the Friends of Ellington Tennis, in partnership with USTA New England, will offer a 4-week after school tennis program in area elementary schools. This program, based on USTA's 10 and Under Tennis program will be taught on Thursdays for four weeks at Center School, Crystal Lake School, and Windermere Elementary School for students in grades 1 to 4. Each school will have a current or former Ellington High School Girls tennis team member as its lead instructor under the direction of Rich Willis. Additionally, other Ellington High School tennis team members will assist the instructors and help introduce the game of tennis to the elementary school students. The program will use equipment previously donated by the USTA to the Friends of Ellington Tennis and the school and will be conducted in the school gyms immediately after school for 1.5 hours. Students will learn basics of the game, take part in competition, and work to form school teams that will compete against each other in a program ending jamboree later in February. The cost of the program is $15 per student and includes instruction time, participation in the jamboree, and a team shirt. For more information and to register, visit the Friends of Ellington website at www.friendsofellingtontennis.usta.com or call 860-462-3627.