This portion of the site is dedicated to those who have done sustained work with the School and gone on to further achievements.
Student: Jason Smits
Jason harks back to the days when the School was located in Kingston, Ontario. His story is all about the rule of quality over quantity.
Living in Trenton, where there are no courts, meant driving nearly 2 hours each day for his training. He came to Kingston 2-3 times per week and, working strictly with Tony Roth and Ben Etheve-Meek, and playing plenty of tournaments, this talented and famously calm young man achieved a ranking inside the top 10 in Canada and is now on a full scholarship with the University of Utah, a top 50 NCAA Division 1 team.
Student: Maria Klokotzky
Maria was ‘identified’ as a young player with professional potential in Germany. Arriving with her family in Canada, they were initially disheartened with what they found, to such an
extent that Maria actually quit tennis at one point. Having attended a regional training camp in Kingston with Tony Roth and Ben Etheve-Meek, Maria’s father said, almost with tears of joy, ‘I have not seen training like this since Germany.’ When the School came to Ottawa Maria joined its ‘Master-Class’ program, and went on to win the U18 Provincials and finish 6th at the Nationals. She was eagerly sought out by NCAA schools, and justified the hopes of her team in Louisville, Kentucky, when she became the first freshman to win a major regional competition. She is now attending school in Fresno, California, where, in 2007-8, she won the ‘super-nationals’ doubles title and went to the NCAA national championships. Maria still works with Tony and Ben when she returns to Ottawa for holidays.
In her own words:
“Having come from Europe, where the training was outstanding, I was disappointed when I saw the level of coaching in Canada, until I met Tony Roth. He re-ignited my love for tennis. He started working with me back at step one. There were tough times, but all I would have to do is look to my right and there was Tony, encouraging me and never giving up on me. This always kept me going, and always made me want to achieve the next level of tennis.
Also, being part of the Noble Tennis School gave me the opportunity to train with some of the best players in Ontario. On the side at these practices you would always have a coach behind you, feeding you more and more knowledge, teaching you all about discipline and hard work. I came back day after day to Master-Class, knowing that I would walk away a better and smarter player.
Now, having been at University and having been involved in an extremely competitive environment there, when I’m home I come back to the Noble Tennis School. This is where I can become the best I can be; on court with the number one coach in the nation, Tony Roth!”
Student: Matthew Sherman
Matt Sherman is a talented athlete who says he was “going nowhere” when the School arrived in Ottawa. He always says his path of success began after a little incident during the first week of training in the School: during a practice session he threw his racquet against the back tarp in rage. From two courts away, Tony Roth called his name, and, gazing at him with great intensity and wagging his finger, said, “no, not here.”
Matt never threw his racquet again, and this was the beginning of a new ethos of dignity, enjoyment and hard work that has led him to a scholarship at the University of Dayton, Ohio, where his high level of play and noble attributes have led him to be the first junior ever to be named team captain.
Student: Stephanie Thompson
School: University of Missouri- St.Louis.
Conference: Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC)
Year: Junior (3rd year, but only second year here playing tennis, 1st year was at
Ottawa U)
Major: Marketing and International Business. (My university’s international business
program is ranked in the top 20 in the United States)
2007-08: Finished my first year (as a sophomore) with an 11-13 mark, playing at No.
1 singles, scored team’s lone point at Northern Kentucky and went 5-5 in the GLVC.
Went 9-12 in doubles, all at No. 1 and went 4-6 in the GLVC. Named a GLVC Academic
All-Conference selection, by obtaining a GPA higher then 3.5. Am a member of SAAC
(student athletic advisory committee).
Looking forward to our 2009 season as it should be a good strong team. We have
rebuilt our team, with many new freshman and transfers, and should be able to put
forward some great results.
