Herald Neighbors

Oceanside tennis group aces tournament

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Under a sunny summer sky last month, 12 tennis players took the court at Oceanside High School and vied in a round robin tournament. The competition was the result of their hard work and effort after spending 20 sessions with instructor Heather Corriel from October through June and honing their skills.

“I wanted to share my passion for tennis with as many people as possible,” Corriel explained. “I believe that tennis is a fun sport, a wonderful vehicle for exercise and a stress reliever that can serve as a social outlet as well.”

On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights, Corriel serves as an instructor for adults from anywhere in their 30s to 60s. Her classes range from beginners to advanced, and she preaches following the rules while also having fun.

This year’s group finished their sessions with a 12-woman singles tournament on June 12. Fredi Lieberstein finished in first place, while Marissa Manister placed second and Kristen Pohevitz took third. Each participant was awarded prizes, trophies, certificates or awards, Corriel said.

In addition to instructing tennis, Corriel is also a pre-school teacher’s assistant at Oceanside School No. 6.

“It’s a good work out,” Corriel said of the instruction. “It’s about making new friends and it’s about having fun. It’s about learning a sport for a lifetime.”

Corriel said she has been playing tennis since she was 6, and that the sessions entail instruction and supervised playtime for the participants. She added that watching the participants’ skills increase as the weeks go by is a great thrill.

“I enjoy watching my clients grow as their skills develop,” Corriel said, “and gain the most pleasure in boosting their self-confidence.”