– Lee Anderson
At Trumbull Racquet Club, our entire staff shares
one thing in common. A whole-hearted love for tennis.
Our team of pros is second to none. Each one was chosen based on their
proficiency in instruction, their level of play and their enthusiasm for the game.
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Charles Akinloye - Director of TennisNo one works harder or longer hours as a tennis professional than Nigerian-born Charles Akinloye. And no one has more fun doing it! A graduate of Livingston College (N.C.) with a B.S. degree in Business, he continued on with his education earning a Masters diploma from the University of Bridgeport. He is a former member of his native land's Davis Cup team, and played the ATP Tour for a while. Charles is married to Tanisha and they've been blessed with three children, a son Shyheim and two daughters Unique and Symphony. If you want to turn on a friend to the pleasures of tennis, treat him/her to an Akinloye clinic. No one does it better! He is the Trumbull Racquet Club's secret treasure. |
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Betty BlakeBetty was born in Banbury, Oxfordshire, England, where she played high school tennis, but preferred track and field where she was a long jump champion. Betty took up tennis again in Yonkers, New York where she won the city Triple Crown two years in a row: 1975 and 1976. She also won the Westchester Parks Championship. She moved to Fairfield, Connecticut in 1986 and captured the Town Open Singles title in 1987. Having taught her sons James and Thomas from an early age, she specializes in pee wee clinics and has coached the St. Josephs High School girl’s team for two years. |
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Marc ClintonMarc was born and raised in Connecticut. He graduated from Amity Regional High School and from Harvard University with honors in Social Studies. He comes to us with many years of instructional experience, including being the tennis professional at Winthrop Racquet Club near Boston, as well as Welby Van Horn Tennis programs in Connecticut and Pinehurst in North Carolina. He recently taught at Fairfield Indoor Tennis, Beaverbrook Tennis Club, Kings Highway Tennis Club and Milford Indoor Tennis. Marc and his wife, Paulette, live in Bethany with their son, Amari. |
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Phil DukesPhil was born in New Canaan, Connecticut. Three-time #1 ranked player in New England Juniors ages 12, 14 & 18 in doubles. Top ten every year ages 12, 14, 16, & 18 in singles. State high school champ as a junior at New Canaan High school. College: averaged twenty wins every year in singles & doubles at University of South Carolina. Named captain twice and MVP once. Team usually ranked 20-30 nationally. Ranked #3 as an adult in men’s doubles &l top ten twice in singles. Winner in more than 30 local and regional tournaments and runner-up in more than 20. Teaching Experience: 31 years in virtually every indoor club in Fairfield County – last 11 years at Country Club of New Canaan in the summer. Teaching motto: You can’t teach everyone the same way. I am the number one voice against the bent arm follow-thru on the forehand for beginners and most intermediates. |
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Tom HolevaTom is a Nutmegger from Bridgeport who obviously enjoys this part of the world, having spent his whole life in the area. After graduating from Sacred Heart University, he has been the boys’ varsity coach at Masuk High School in Monroe for the past two seasons, directing the team into the prestigious Connecticut State Tournament each year. He is a member of the Connecticut High School Coaches Association and the National High School Athletic Coaches Association. Tom is now entering his sixth season of coaching adults and juniors at Trumbull Racquet Club. He and his wife, Lisa, live in New Haven with their two Golden Retrievers. |
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Colin LeaA long-time tennis coach in the Trumbull area, Colin Lea brings 30 years of tennis teaching experience to Trumbull Racquet Club, along with some faithful students who like the way he teaches and won't have anyone else.Colin is a member of the Professional Tennis Coaches Association for Great Britain and the USPTR. He has traveled the world extensively, coaching and playing in much of Europe, Australia, and India, and has enjoyed outstanding success at all levels of play. |
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Norbertus Oduor OchielNobby is from Kenya, where he achieved a high level in junior tennis. He represented his country in Davis Cup and the All-African Games in Egypt, where he received the Bronze Medal in men’s doubles. Nobby loves to coach tennis at all levels from beginner to tournament level competitor. A goal of his is to see his players reach the international competitive level. His hobbies include playing tennis for fun, watching good movies, traveling for tennis, site seeing and experiencing different cultures. He enjoys listening to West African and Country music. He and his wife Lynnet have two daughters, Nicole and Noreen. |
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Cãtãlin PavelLike the famous Ilie Nastase, Cãtãlin is from Turnu Severin Romania. He comes to the Trumbull Racquet Club from Beaver Brook Tennis Club in Danbury. He is a USPTR certified instructor and holds a four-year, full time Tennis instructor ID in Romania. After graduating from the Gheorghe Anghel University, he taught high level juniors and adults for four years. As a junior player, he placed in his country’s top 20 and won national singles and doubles titles. When not teaching, Cãtãlin enjoys spending time with his wife and their son, Kristian Andrei. He is a big soccer fan and the Universitatea Craiova is his favorite Romanian team. |
