Not only is tennis a sport you can play and enjoy for a lifetime, it is a sport that can create everlasting friendships, connections and memories.
In the mid-80’s Bill Hamilton, All Season Tennis Academy’s Director of Junior Tennis, taught tennis in Sweden. One of his students, Peter Hjort played competitively as a junior, played in college, and went on to become the Director of Tennis at Lindingo Tennis Klub in Lindingo, Sweden. Twenty-eight years later, Peter reconnected with Bill via Facebook. Peter proposed the idea of Bill bringing a group of his students to Sweden to start an International Exchange program. Over the past four years, many ASTA players have had the unique opportunity to be a part of this once in a lifetime experience. ASTA players have gone to Sweden twice and the Swedish players have come to the US once. In the summer of 2017, the Swedes will return to the US for yet another exciting exchange ! One of the Swedes who participated in the summer exchange of 2014 enjoyed the US so much, she applied to UCONN and received a tennis scholarship. This summer, players from France joined the program for the first time. The program continues to expand and progress !
As one of our ASTA junior players said, “this was the best vacation I have ever had, better than a tropical island!”
The ASTA juniors observed different styles of tennis. They reported seeing the Swedes with strong volleys and the French with better poaching skills. Beyond the tennis, the international exchange program provided a platform for ASTA’s juniors to expand their understanding of a world beyond their own. Hosted by local families, our players were able to genuinely connect and experience the beautiful life and culture Sweden has to offer.
The new friendships and memories generated by this exchange started from a single connection between two people over 30 years ago. A special thanks to Bill and Peter for coordinating this special effort. Many blossoming new connections are budding as we speak!
