Aug. 2023

FIND OUT WHAT'S NEW AT THE BINGHAMTON TENNIS CENTER

It’s hard to believe that another summer has almost flown by.  For the most part, we’ve enjoyed great weather and the opportunity to appreciate our new outdoor courts. Pretty soon, the crisper fall air will push us back inside. The good news? Our indoor courts are almost finished and the lobby continues to transform! While we work hard putting on the finishing touches, enjoy the last days of summer play. 
 

This September also marks the beginning of a new era at the club. No doubt you’ve seen the new street sign and shortly, the building itself will have a new sign. The Binghamton Tennis Center will now be known as the Binghamton University Lane – Starke Tennis Center (LSTC) honoring the valuable and longstanding contributors Michael Lane '89 and Michael Starke. 

Michael Lane, and his wife, Lisa '91, have been generous contributors to the Binghamton University tennis programs. Michael Lane was a member of Starke’s first team at Binghamton University and a four-year standout on the University tennis team that captured back-to-back State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) titles and won at a 78 percent clip during his tenure. Michael Starke is a Hall of Fame member who coached the University tennis program for 20 years. He produced 10 All-Americans and his teams claimed five conference titles, advanced to the NCAAs seven times and won at a 67 percent clip. The facility renovations will give the Bearcats a central home complex for year-round play and raise the bar for college and community tennis in upstate New York.

THINGS TO KNOW

HOURS

LABOR DAY MEMBER COMPETITIVE DOUBLES EVENT

Before your holiday barbecue, join us for a Labor Day member competitive doubles event from 10 a.m. to noon, Monday, Sept 4 on the new courts. We will follow an “up and down the river” format, changing partners for each set. Space is limited. Our Memorial Day event sold out! For more information, contact Billy Mendler wmendler@binghamton.edu or sign up at the front desk. 

MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS

Membership renewals are coming up for many current members. While memberships can be purchased on a rolling basis, please remember that you must have a valid membership to participate in contracts, fall leagues, clinics or to reserve court time in advance. View the full list and rates online or see our new membership brochure.

Member Risk Statement/Informed Consent and PAR-Q Forms (Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire) should be updated annually with your membership. You can complete these forms electronically online or in person at the front desk.

PARKING LOT PAINTING

Contractors will be onsite Saturday morning Aug. 26 (new date) to re-stripe parking spaces at the center. The spots in front of the building and the small adjacent lot will be closed for a few hours while the paint dries.  Plan to park along the tennis side of the road while the job is in progress. Be mindful of the horses and stable participants as you park that day.

UNITY STABLE EVENT

Unity Stables, our neighbor across the street, will be hosting a large horse show on Saturday, Sept. 16. They will be utilizing most of the available parking on both sides of the street. Be aware that there will be more traffic and congestion. Do your best to support our riders and not spook the horses!

FACILITY UPDATES

INDOOR COURT RENOVATION

Our indoor court renovation project is almost complete! Once finished, we will have six USTA/NCAA compliant tennis courts with a new Laykold surface. Also coming is new site furniture: player benches, umpire chairs/water stations, court dividers and score cards. We can’t wait for the final reveal.

FACILITIES AND GROUNDS CLEAN UP

Over the summer, our dedicated maintenance team, Doug, Kyle and Justin, have cleaned up the center grounds and disposed of over 70 yards of debris, making room for our new courts, equipment, pro-shop and training room. We’re happy to be starting this year off organized, polished and prepared. Many thanks to the team! 

FACILITIES UPGRADES

Other facility upgrades includle: a new main entrance, staircase to the loft area, the renovation of a fully operational athletic training room, Wi-fi to the outdoor courts and painting the exterior of the entire facility. Watch for the new Lane – Starke Tennis Center building signage! Projects should be wrapped up by mid-September.

BEARCAT INSPIRED PRO-SHOP

The lobby has a new Bearcat inspired pro shop! Hopefully, you’ll notice the familiar faces of some of our junior players as part of the backdrop. A big thanks to our summer campers and staff! The pro shop will focus on tennis-related needs, convenience items, Bearcat spirit wear and some fun LSTC branded items. Our goal is to cover immediate player needs, build support for our varsity teams, and offer equipment and educational assistance to our members, particularly new and junior players.

NEW PROGRAMS AND UPCOMING EVENTS

FALL CONTRACTS

Our fall contract online selection process opens at 9 a.m. Monday, Aug. 21 and will remain open through 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 25. All current, active tennis club members should have received an email with detailed information on the contract time slots available for purchase, as well as instructions for logging into the portal on Monday morning. If you did not receive this email, confirm that your membership is active by calling the front desk. 

Members will not be able to access the reservation portal until Monday morning at 9 a.m. Be sure to speak with your teammates in advance and identify your contract day/time preferences, 1st, 2nd and 3rd choices. Popular times will go fast!  Designate a captain and be prepared to make your payment within two business days of making the reservation.

Fall contracts will run 12 weeks in length from Monday, Sept. 11 through Sunday to Dec. 10. Contract time slots are available in 1, 1.5 and 2-hour increments, seven days a week. The contract rates remain the same: $550, $600 or $650 per hour, per court based on time slot. Remember, fall contracts will have first right of refusal for spring, if available.

FIRST HOME BEARCAT MATCH

The men’s varsity program will be hosting its first fall event on Sept. 23 and 24. The NateRentals.com Binghamton Championships is expecting over 60 players from Army, University at Buffalo, Bucknell, Colgate, Cornell, Niagara University, Le Moyne and Marist. Matches begin each day at 9 a.m. 

Check out the Bearcats’ websites for details on the 23-’24 season:

• Binghamton University Women's Tennis 

• Binghamton University Men's Tennis

The BU women’s team starts their season on Sept. 9 at the Navy Invitational. Go Bearcats!

FALL JUNIOR COMPETITIVE TENNIS PROGRAMS (JCTP)

ADULT FALL PROGRAMS

STAFF AND MEMBER NEWS

MEMORIAL DAY EVENT

The Memorial Day member round robin was a great way to open our new outdoor courts! The round robin event was a sell-out with 36 participants and a wait list!

WELCOME TWO NEW JUNIOR TENNIS PROFESSIONALS TO OUR STAFF

We’re excited to announce that Erica Haray (pictured on the left) and Mia Hayes (pictured on the right) have joined the coaching staff at the LSTC. Both Erica and Mia are experienced tennis players with high school coaching responsibilities at the modified and varsity levels. Whether in a private setting or in a large clinic environment, Erica and Mia have played crucial roles in establishing fundamentals and motivating our juniors to achieve their individual goals. We’re so happy to have them on our team!

SUMMER CAMP HIGHLIGHTS

Summer camps have been a success this year. There are just a few weeks left for fun in the summer sun. Whether you’re getting back into training for the upcoming girls' season, or just looking to have fun, the camp sessions provide instruction, development, activities and smiles. Call today to get enrolled.

JUNIOR TEAM TENNIS (JTT) ACHIEVEMENTS

Congratulations to our remarkable 14-and-under and 18-and-under Junior Team Tennis teams for their outstanding achievements at the sectional championships! Our juniors showcased the exceptional talent and dedication of young players from the Binghamton area and the LSTC. We couldn't be prouder of both teams and are excited to witness the bright futures of these talented young athletes.

The 14 and under team displayed their prowess by securing the regional title, earning them a well-deserved spot at the prestigious event held in Flushing, NY.

Equally impressive, the 18 and under team demonstrated resilience and skill, earning a finalist position after facing some tough opponents.

SPRING 2023 BOYS VARSITY SEASON RECAP

As with many sports there’s both a regular and postseason. For the tennis postseason, a variety of events are held. There are team events, sectionals, regionals and the coveted New York State Championships, among others. Our club trains players from almost every school in the area. For the full recap, click here.

ADULT ACHIEVEMENTS

WELLNESS MOMENT

Learning from losing: Tips and reflections

Dr. Shawn Foltz-Emmons, PH.D. USTA

A recent USTA webinar addressed the subject of losing. Losing can be a challenging aspect of playing tennis, yet losing is inevitable. Using the loss to learn can turn the loss into a productive experience.

RECIPE TO TRY