COLLEGE STUDENTS REUNITE TO LEAD TENNIS PROGRAM THAT HELPED THEM

BRUCE A. SCRUTON Staff writer

When Nathan Zach was a preteen, he got invited to take tennis lessons near his Schenectady home. Over in Albany, Ryan Artis saw a bunch of kids playing tennis in Lincoln Park and gave it a try.

Now college students, both Zach and Artis are on the board of directors of 15-Love, the program that gave them free tennis lessons and, more importantly, lessons in leadership.

"I learned a lot being the coach,'' Artis said. "Those leadership skills have led to me being a leader on campus."

A double major -- electrical engineering and industrial economics -- at Union College, Artis said much of his college application was about 15-Love.

Begun in 1990, the program is part of the Capital Region Youth Tennis Foundation, which got its start with help from Arthur Ashe, the late tennis star and first black man to win Wimbledon and the U.S. Open and to be ranked No. 1 in the world. Ashe died in 1993.

Through tennis, the program aims to show the importance of multicultural relationships, in addition to teaching the value of health, fitness and education.

Zach, 21, who graduates from the University at Albany this weekend with a degree in education, grew up in the Mont Pleasant section of Schenectady. "When I was 11 or 12, I saw them playing tennis, and they asked me to come join,'' he said.

That was on the courts along Michigan Avenue where the program continues today. A half-dozen years ago, Zach volunteered as an instructor, working with the younger kids, after coming up through the year-round Excellence Program, which moves promising players into more intensive coaching and competition.

Artis, 20, also progressed from running around the courts in summer through the Excellence Program, to coach's assistant and finally to coach.

"I played at Albany (High School) and my freshman year at Union,'' said Artis. "But I stopped because of my classes.''

Zach was good enough to get selected for out-of-town competitions and one year attended tennis camp in California.

The two first met during the Excellence Program, little knowing that they would meet again as board members.

"They've had their lives impacted by 15-Love, and now they, too, will be able to impact the organization's mission in the future in their leadership roles,'' said board President Herb Shultz Jr. of Cobleskill.

Artis said he will always be involved. "I want to stay working with the kids,'' he explained. "I'm good at it, and it means something to the kids.''

Zach, who plans to get his master's degree in English and teach high school, said being part of 15-Love is a privilege. ``It's a great program, and I want to see everybody get in.''

He also plans to keep working with the kids on the courts. "Besides,'' he said, "I'll have my summers off.''

FACTS: FREE LESSONS 15-Love tennis lessons are free and participants need only show up and fill out a form to register. The summer program, from June 28 through Aug. 11, will be held at the following places: Albany: In the afternoon on Monday and Wednesday in Lincoln Park; Tuesday and Thursday in Arbor Hill; Friday in Ridgefield Park in Pine Hills Schenectady: In the afternoon, Monday and Wednesday on Michigan Avenue; Tuesday and Thursday in Jerry Burrell Park; Tuesday and Thursday evenings in Central Park Troy: Monday and Wednesday evenings at Russell Sage College; Tuesday and Thursday afternoons in Prospect Park Rensselaer: Monday and Wednesday afternoons in Riverfront Park.

Section: TIMES UNION, CAPITAL REGION SECTION
Page: B2
Date: Tuesday, May 11, 2004