Pictured on beautiful West Grand Traverse Bay at
Apache Trout grill for the annual year end luncheon August 2010.
Chip Rucker, Laura Link, Susie Sawyer, Emily Burke,
Douglas Burke, Larry Nykerk,and Shane Dilloway

Not pictured: Lisa Seymour, Cliff Girard & Mike Annelin

Larry Nykerk, USPTR has been teaching and coaching tennis in Traverse City since, well, let's just say a LONG TIME! Larry leads the state in Dual Meet wins at 615, and is 1st in the State with total Career Victories at 915. In addition to coaching the TCC girls varsity team, Larry came back in 2007 to coach the Trojan Boys Varsity Team from retirement in 2000 after 31 years at the helm.  Nykerk has been named Michigan Tennis Coach of the year twice and was inducted into the Tennis Coaches Hall of Fame in 1999. Larry is a hands on Director and is present at Camp all summer long. I guess you could say "Fundraising" is also an integral part of his job description! The Tennis Center at TC Central High School is one of only a handful of facilities in the State like it. Over $500,000 has been raised through Grants and Private donations and the tradition continues each year with the Annual "Friends of TC Tennis Tournament" held each year on Memorial Day weekend. The Mission of the "Friends" is to help maintain the courts at Traverse City Schools.

Shane Dilloway has been with GTTC for 7 years and is a favorite among campers - maybe that's because Shane is a "Big Kid" himself! When Shane isn't teaching tennis, he can be found hanging out at the Clinch Park Marina where he works after tennis is over. Shane coached the Boys JV Gold team last Fall and we hope to have him back again in 2011! Shane played High School tennis at TC Central and currently attends Michigan State where he is studying towards a teaching certificate. Shane will be a great teacher!!

This is Lisa's 3rd year with GTTC. Lisa is the TC Central Girls JV coach and also is the East Middle School 7th grade Volleyball coach. In addition to the mornings, Lisa will again teach Jr. Excellence with Coach Nykerk. Lisa also began teaching at GTR this winter. We are lucky to have someone like Lisa in both programs.

Susie Sawyer has been with us since 2000. Susie is a teacher at Pathfinder School, is a former Bollettieri tennis camp instructor and coached a State runner-up team in No. Carolina. The kids LOVE Susie and we are so glad to have her back!

Susie will take this off as she has family here most of the summer, we will look for her back again next summer!

Doug Burke was TC Central's #1 singles player, an All-Stater with over 100 singles wins.  Doug was also a starter forward on the Trojan basketball team. This is Doug's 3rd year with us. Doug is not only a great athlete, but a great person and we are lucky to have him on staff.