Tennis

DAVID HODGE

Director of Tennis

In the 2015 season, TSS Tennis signalled a warning to the Queensland GPS competition that they are a serious contender for the title in years to come. Under new Director David Hodge and Head Coach Kaden Hensel the program saw a record number of participants across all grades this year and there is certainly a buzz surrounding the program. The team welcomed tournament players into school representative duties and witnessed vast improvements in results, events, facilities, training schedule, fundraising efforts, uniforms, coaching and support.

Our First IV competed hard all season recording wins over traditional foes, including Nudgee, Toowoomba Grammar, Ipswich Grammar and Gregory Terrace. Arguably the most improved player of the competition was our own Max McCarthy, who was supported by performances from Rocco Taplin and stalwarts Jesse Russell and Captain Tim Peterson.

The future of TSS Tennis looks bright with our 2015 Team of the Year being the Grade 7 As of Jack McCarthy, Alexey Shtengelov, Jack Humrich and Thomas Schwerkolt. They came within a whisker of taking out the competition. The individual MVP award went to William Timoney who saw action in the First IV but anchored the 9As. Unfortunately we lose some valued seniors this year and hope to have their continued support as the program progresses. Their leadership throughout the year was pivotal in setting the stage for the success of our current group of young guns.

Record numbers and interest within the Prep School and a fast-improving squad will keep the competition fierce for the top spots next year. The Prep courts literally overflowed each afternoon and the enthusiasm was contagious.

Senior School courts were resurfaced in April in traditional TSS colours with block TSS logo beyond all baselines. The surface was also slowed to accommodate technical and tactical development. The result was fantastic and it is a welcome sight as you arrive on campus!

Fresh events were added to this year’s tennis calendar with our pre-season camp and Welcome Evening attracting record numbers, with the Tennis Festival as a finale. Plenty of fun was had throughout the evening during the mini

tennis challenge, team awards and raffles amid some great music and food vendors. Mark the Tennis Festival on your calendar for 2016!

It’s easy to say TSS had the most experienced coaches in the GPS competition with a mix of ex-professional coaches and Grand Slam players committing to take TSS Tennis to the next level. Kaden Hensel, Sophie Letcher, Ross Taylor, Tom George, Beck Meares, Patrick Yelland and Old Boy Ben Dolan set a standard that we are committed to replicating in 2016.

The program is looking to keep our support structures and facility improving to match our players’ improvements on the court. Plans have been made for exciting upgrades to our clubhouse, players room and court surrounds. The TSS tennis coaches and Friends of Tennis support group are working hard to ensure the best environment for TSS players. It’s an exciting time to be a part of the team!

FIRST IV TENNIS

LEFT TO RIGHT: R. TAPLIN, T PETERSON, J. RUSSELL, M MCCARTHY, MR K. HENSEL, MR D. HODGE

YEAR 11D TENNIS

LEFT TO RIGHT: E. LAM, O. GALLAGHER, B. HANSEN, B. BLUNDELL, MR B. DOLAN, MR D. HODGE

YEAR 10B TENNIS

LEFT TO RIGHT: I. JACKSON, K. JO, H. GREEN, J. MCLEAN, MR D. HODGE YEAR 11A TENNIS

LEFT TO RIGHT: R. SMITH, J. KANN, Z. BERNEY, J. JOHNSON, MR B. DOLAN, MR D. HODGE

YEAR 10A TENNIS

LEFT TO RIGHT: L. CHESTERMAN, D. LEON, H. KING, V. NEDUNCHEZHIAN, MR D. HODGE

YEAR 10C TENNIS

LEFT TO RIGHT: M. BLACK, G. MORTON, O. HALL, L. READ, MR D. HODGE

YEAR 9A TENNIS

LEFT TO RIGHT: T. NICHOLSON, T. ZHU, W. TIMONEY, M. HARRIS, MR T. GEORGE, MR D. HODGE

YEAR 8A TENNIS

LEFT TO RIGHT: J. WARE, C. HANRAHAN, A. TIMONEY, A. KITCHIN, MR P. YELLAND, MR D. HODGE

YEAR 8C TENNIS

LEFT TO RIGHT: B. OWEN, T. YOUNG, W. MUIR, S. CHARLTON, MR P. YELLAND, MR D. HODGE YEAR 9D TENNIS

LEFT TO RIGHT: C. HAWKINS, T. ZHANG, L. NICHOLLS, G. SINCLAIR, MR T. GEORGE, MR D. HODGE

YEAR 8B TENNIS

LEFT TO RIGHT: J. CLAXTON, G. ORSMOND, K. NEWITT, M. MANLEY, MR P. YELLAND, MR D. HODGE

YEAR 8D TENNIS

LEFT TO RIGHT: C. GREY, A. MILLS, H. BURDON, H. FRENCH, MR P. YELLAND, MR D. HODGE

YEAR 7A TENNIS

LEFT TO RIGHT: J. HUMRICH, T. SCHWERKOLT, A. SHTENGELOV, J. MCCARTHY, MR R. TAYLOR, MR D. HODGE

YEAR 7C TENNIS

LEFT TO RIGHT: S. LEDINGHAM, O. PORTELLI, T. JACOBSON, J. BURNETT, MR R. TAYLOR, MR D. HODGE

COACHING STAFF

SEATED ROW: B. DOLAN, D. HODGE, S. LETCHER FIRST ROW: T. GEORGE, P. YELLAND, K. HENSEL, R. TAYLOR YEAR 7B TENNIS

LEFT TO RIGHT: S. ROBINSON, N. CLOSE-INNIS, G. GIBSON, O. WEIR, MR R. TAYLOR, MR D. HODGE

YEAR 7D TENNIS

LEFT TO RIGHT: C. BASKUS, B. ARSCOTT, D. HUMPHREY, W. CULLIMORE, MR R. TAYLOR, MR D. HODGE

THE SOUTHPORT SCHOOL

Winchester Street Southport Queensland Australia 4215 Telephone +61 7 5531 9911 Facsimile +61 7 5531 9977 Email reception@tss.qld.edu.au The Corporation of the Synod of the Diocese of Brisbane trading as The Southport School CRICOS Provider No 00523F