Guest pro from Japan joins Sandpoint HS tennis camp

SANDPOINT — Seiko Kozaki, heap-pro at Wakayama Tennis Center in Japan, is coming to Sandpoint as the guest pro at the annual high school tennis camp on July 17-21, from 10 a.m to 1:30 p.m. each day at the Travers Park courts.

CiCi Rickert, a former Big 10 tennis player at Minnesota who spends part of the year in Japan where her husband Rick Rickert plays professional basketball, will join her dad Kent Anderson and doubles partner Kozaki for a great week of tennis for area high schoolers. Anderson, the Bulldog tennis coach, was thrilled to get Kozaki for the camp.

“She’s not only a seasoned tournament player, she’s also a high level certified teaching pro and Cici’s doubles partner,” said Anderson, a former player at the University of Monatana. “She doesn’t speak fluent English but her incredible abilities on the court speak volumes. The fact that she’s decided to join our camp is a pretty huge deal.”

While Sandpoint Summer Tennis Camp always focuses on perfect stroke production, game strategy, doubles technique, mental toughness and the drive for competitive excellence, it also expands the gift of tennis as it applies to life’s struggles, love of family and ability to concentrate and motivate.

The 5-day camp will emphasize high-energy drills, accuracy contests, lots of perfect serves and the all-important match play. T-shirts and prizes will be available for all players, and participants should bring a sack lunch. The camp is open to existing/incoming high school players or by special permission of the instructors.

The camp fee is $75 ($5 city discount), and the registration deadline is July 1, so act quickly to guarantee your spot in the clinic, which will feature guest feeders Jon Gant, Tish Litven and Eric Plummer, among others.

Sign-up at the Sandpoint Parks and Rec Department (1123 Lake St.) or by visiting www.sandpointidaho.gov/parksrecreation.

For more information on this and other activities call 263-3613.