Beginning this fall, students at The Kew-Forest School will be able to combine their studies with tennis instruction through the formation of The Kew-Forest Tennis Academy at The West Side Tennis Club.
Kew-Forest headmaster Mark Fish said that the school, which was founded in 1918, has “a long and historic connection” with the tennis club. For about the last year, the two Forest Hills institutions had been seriously talking about creating the tennis academy.
Fish said they thought this would be a wonderful opportunity for tennis players to be scholars and athletes.
“We’re enormously excited about it,” he said.
During the morning and early afternoon, students in The Kew-Forest Tennis Academy will take their traditional academic courses. After lunch, they will go to The West Side Tennis Club.
“They will actually have three hours every day, five days a week, for 37 weeks of intensive play, practice and conditioning,” Fish said. “They won’t have to make a choice between being a good tennis player and being a good student.”
An individualized program that includes training, conditioning and injury prevention will be created for each student by Ergo Physical Therapy, PC.
This program is open to grades seven through 12. Fish said that Kew-Forest’s regular academic admission criteria will apply to tennis academy students, and that they also “need a passion for tennis.”
“The academy is going to be able to offer New York City people a choice of a great education coupled with a great tennis program, allowing them to use all of their time effectively,” said Bob Ingersole, the director of The West Side Tennis Club.
Fish said that one of the intents of The Kew-Forest Tennis Academy is to nurture the talent of the students.
“We hope that we can cultivate a lifelong love of sport, of tennis in particular, and of learning,” Fish said.
Ingersole said that he is looking forward to working with Kew-Forest students and to a “good and long-lasting relationship” with the school.
For more information on The Kew-Forest Tennis Academy, contact Kew-Forest director of admission Hamila Taha at 718-268-4667 x125 or Ingersole at 718-268-2300 x115.
