Pictured on beautiful West Grand Traverse Bay at
Apache Trout grill for the annual year end luncheon August 2009.
Cliff Girard, Lisa Seymour, Laura Spencer, Chip Rucker, Susie Sawyer Mike Annelin
Shane Dilloway, Larry Nykerk, Emily Burke, Sarah Malone and Douglas Burke

Larry Nykerk, USPTR has been teaching and coaching tennis in Traverse City since, well, let's just say a LONG TIME! Larry leads the state in Dual Meet wins at 598, and is 4th in the State with total Career Victories at 883. In addition to coaching the TCC girls varsity team, Larry came back in 2007 to coach the Trojan Boys Varsity Team from retirement in 2000 after 31 years at the helm.  Nykerk has been named Michigan Tennis Coach of the year twice and was inducted into the Tennis Coaches Hall of Fame in 1999. Larry is a hands on Director and is present at Camp all summer long. I guess you could say "Fundraising" is also an integral part of his job description! The Tennis Center at TC Central High School is one of only a handful of facilities in the State like it. Over $500,000 has been raised through Grants and Private donations and the tradition continues each year with the Annual "Friends of TC Tennis Tournament" held each year on Memorial Day weekend. The Mission of the "Friends" is to help maintain the courts at Traverse City Schools.

Shane Dilloway has been with GTTC for 6 years and is a favorite among young campers - maybe that's because Shane is a "Big Kid" himself! When Shane isn't teaching tennis, he can be found hanging out at the Clinch Park Marina where he works after tennis is over. Shane played High School tennis at TC Central and currently attends Michigan State where he is studying towards a teaching certificate. Shane will be a great teacher!!
 

This is Lisa's 2nd year with GTTC. Lisa is the TC Central Girls JV coach and also is the East Middle School 7th grade Volleyball coach. Lisa will help out when needed in the mornings and will be part of the Junior Excellence teaching staff.

Susie Sawyer has been with us since 2000. Susie is a teacher at Pathfinder School, is a former Bollettieri tennis camp instructor and coached a State runner-up team in No. Carolina. The kids LOVE Susie and we are so glad to have her back!

Doug Burke was TC Central's #1 singles player, an All-Stater with over 100 singles wins.  Doug was also a starter forward on the Trojan basketball team. He taught with us last summer as a sub and taught at the tennis club at Neahtawanta in 2007. Doug is not only a great athlete, but a great person and we are lucky to have him on staff.
 

Emily Burke is back for her 2nd year. Emily played for TC Central her senior year at 3 singles and is an all around great athlete. Emily will head up the Quick Start program and also instruct both Junior Excellence and High School Team Camp - the kids love her. Emily just finished her 1st year at Duke University.

Melissa Hughes is back with us this year. Melissa played for us at TC Central and attends Central Michigan University. She will work with the Quick Start program.

This year we also have Laura Link back for a limited engagement!