A non-traditional school choice for tennis athletes

Editor’s Note: Once a month, we pose a question submitted by one of our readers to a local professional or expert regarding parenting issues. While we don’t have a specific question for this month, we do occasionally get questions about alternative school options for kids in our community. That’s why, with the Volvo Car Open gearing up on Daniel Island, we thought it would be a good time to take a look at one option for tennis athletes right here on Daniel Island.

For 17-year-old Emily Elliott, tennis is a passion. A Daniel Island resident, Emily has been enrolled in what some would consider a non-traditional schooling option for almost a year. She attends the MWTennis Academy’s High Performance full-time program, which operates out of the Family Circle Tennis Center. The program, which was founded by Jeff Wilson and Bryan Minton, offers full-time and after school options for tennis athletes. The full-time program enables student athletes to both complete schooling requirements on-site through South Carolina Connections Academy’s virtual school and pursue their tennis passion at the same time.

“They (students) spend their day taking academics very seriously and when this portion is completed they begin their tennis training. They take private lessons, play practice matches and refine their techniques through drilling. In addition, they work with a trainer daily on their fitness and their tennis specific movement,” Wilson says of the program.

According to Maria Elliott, Emily’s mother, the High Performance program seems to be a good fit for her daughter.

“She wants to play college tennis and so as long as she maintains her grades we will allow her to continue this path. Academics come first, but she’s maintained her grades,” Maria says of her decision to let her daughter finish high school in the program.

With a mix of tennis practice and academics, the program seems to be meeting the needs of tennis athletes in the Lowcountry.

“(Emily) plays tennis from 9 to 11 a.m. and then again from 1 to 3 p.m.” explains Maria of her daughter’s daily routine. “She attends SC Connections Academy from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and then 4 to 7 p.m.”

According to their website, South Carolina Connections Academy (SCCA) is described as a tuition-free virtual public school where students are given the flexibility to learn at home (or in a team environment such as MWTennis) with a rigorous curriculum that meets South Carolina state education standards.

MWTennis has a full-time certified teacher as well as multiple, course specific tutors in the classroom.

“Academic success is the main priority in this program as this will allow our student-athletes to become a recruitable student-athlete to a college of choice,” maintains Wilson of their emphasis on academics.

For Emily, the program is helping her stay focused on her long-term goal of playing Division I tennis in college. While she has played multiple sports in the past, she realized last year that she would have to devote more time to tennis alone, leaving soccer behind.

“I chose tennis over soccer and realized that I wanted to play college tennis and the MW program seemed to be a good fit,” states Emily.

The MWTennis High Performance program is for ages 10 and up and caters to all different playing levels.

“The players in this program are all at varying levels of play and it is important to note that they are all working on becoming great players. In order to participate in the program, they do not need to currently be at the highest level. It takes a lot of time to become a collegiate student-athlete and this program will maximize each student’s abilities through the daily routine,” notes Wilson.

Emily would recommend this program to any tennis athlete that wants to take it to the next level.

“It’s a great way to quickly improve your tennis and meet new friends!” she says.

For more information on this program, please contact Jeff Wilson at jeff@mwtennisacademy.com.

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