3 minute read
TENNIS
Blake and Ryan Roegner
Brotherly Love
Game of tennis nets strong family bonds
WHEN THE ROEGNER BROTHERS take to the tennis court, opponents are lucky to move beyond love.
With an aggressive style of play and towering imposition, the 6’3” duo always seems to get the last hit, with a semi-western grip. Ryan Roegner has just wrapped his junior year at Butler University, representing the Bulldogs in the Big East Conference. Little brother Blake Roegner is heading into his senior year of high school, hoping to play Division I tennis as well.
Both boys learned to work hard — and dream big — under the tutelage of Bill Barber, Director of Tennis at the Country Club of Asheville in Western North Carolina.
“Bill Barber is the best coach I’ve ever had in terms of strategy and the culture he brings to the court,” Ryan says. “And he always has your best interest at heart. He always puts me on a path of being the best player I can be.”
Ryan’s best is pretty darn good. At one point, he was ranked No. 1 in North Carolina and top 10 in the South. He’s had a great run during college, playing both singles and doubles, with one year remaining.
Blake’s journey to the top has been a bit different. He strayed from tennis to sample baseball and golf, but returned in recent years to serve up aces. As a freshman in high school, Blake was No. 2 in doubles in Illinois (where the family
– John Roegner, Member at the Country Club of Asheville
moved several years ago) and he recently won the state high school doubles championship. In USTA play, he’s ranked in the top 10 in the Prairie State.
Their coach has enjoyed watching the siblings grow up. Not only did Barber witness their action between the lines, but down the street, as they once lived in the same neighborhood in Asheville.
“Ryan was a wild little kid,” jokes Barber. “He was very intense, but you could tell he loved playing tennis. Blake just continues to get better. It’ll be exciting to see where he lands for college.”
The boys’ parents — Anne and John Roegner — were concerned about leaving Coach Barber behind when work, and relatives, lured the family from Asheville to Naperville, Illinois. So while relocating, they decided to maintain their Asheville home and CCA membership, returning as often as possible to work with a coach they describe as instrumental in helping Ryan and Blake reach their tennis — and life — goals. “It’s about the relationship. There are plenty of pros out there, but there’s another level to being a really good coach,” Anne Roegner explains. Her husband concurs, adding, “He makes it fun for the boys, but pushes them hard, and that’s a great combination.” In connecting with kids, Barber recognizes many players will never swing a racket for a college, high school, nor middle school for that matter.
“Tennis is a way of life, but it’s not your life,” John Roegner says. “Bill always puts that into perspective,
and encourages the kids to do their best on the court and in class.” Barber also runs clinics on character. “Tough love,” Ryan recalls, reminiscing about the time Coach Barber kicked him out of a lesson. “He sat me down and told me to take some time off, and to come back ready to work hard. At 13 years old, other coaches would have given up on me. But he made the right choice. I worked hard and got better.” Ryan returned to rank in the top 75 in the United States among high school seniors in 2018, according to TennisRecruiting.net. After 21 years at the Country Club of Asheville, Barber has ushered hundreds of players through the junior’s program — one he’s built from the ground up. “It’s super rewarding,” the director of tennis says. “It’s cool to see kids you coached at 5 and 6 find success, graduate and get Ryan Roegner married. Tennis is the sport of a lifetime; one you can play the rest of your life. I’m Peter Pan out here and it’s great to see the Lost Boys move on and give back to the sport we love so much.” Bill Barber
