Sterling High School assistant coach launches fundraising initiative to remove cost barrier for tennis players
A Sterling High School assistant tennis coach is seeking donations for his initiative that aims to ensure financial barriers don’t stand in the way of a player’s success. Bob Orta’s scholarship fund supports tennis players at SHS, Dixon High School and Newman Central Catholic High School. All donations are used to cover the cost of lessons with Sterling Park District tennis professional Chris Dudley.
Orta said donations kicked off during a celebration for his 80th birthday on Feb. 28. Since then, Orta’s been giving out flyers to anyone he finds out is interested, including his eye doctor during an appointment, he said.
So far, Orta said the fund has raised about $2,000 and provided five hours’ worth of lessons to three SHS tennis players. “It made me feel good,” Orta said about seeing those players practicing with Dudley recently. “I never guessed I would have been doing something like this, ever.
I feel fortunate. I really do. I’m lucky.
” Tennis is “fun and it’s kind of tough to do things right. It’s easier to do things wrong,” Orta said, explaining that a lot of times players will get used to doing something one way and it’s difficult to break that habit. For high school players, “that’s why taking lessons...