GUSTINE — What began as one local tennis lover’s idea to get kids on the court has grown into one of Gustine’s most uplifting summer traditions. Now in its seventh year, the Gustine Tennis Camp at Schmidt Park is still hitting aces — inspiring young athletes, building confidence and creating friendships that last long after the final volley.
The four‑day camp, founded by longtime tennis enthusiast Pat Rocha, is run entirely by volunteers from the Westside Tennis Club with support from the City of Gustine. This year, 17 campers showed up ready to learn the basics of the sport in a setting that keeps things light, lively and accessible.
“We started the camp back in 2019 because we wanted to share our excitement about tennis with a younger generation and hopefully see them develop an enthusiasm for it too,” Rocha said.
Campers came from Gustine as well as surrounding communities like Patterson, Newman and Crows Landing. By day two, Rocha said, the group was already chatting like old friends — proof that the camp’s sense of community is just as strong as its forehands.
For some participants, the camp was a return to a sport they’d tried before. Adrienne Moreno, who will be a freshman at Orestimba High School this fall, first attended three years ago and was eager to pick up her racket again.
“I had forgot a lot, but once I got out on the court and started doing the movements, a lot of it came back to me,” Moreno said. “It was like muscle memory.”
Others were brand‑new to the game. Incoming Orestimba freshman Leah Ferrand signed up because she wanted “to try something new this summer that would also keep me active.” She said she learned more than she expected and plans to keep playing throughout the summer.
The camp focuses on fundamentals — hitting, keeping the ball in play, volleying and serving — but Rocha said the lessons extend well beyond the lines of the court. Respect, teamwork and building new friendships are all part of the program’s winning strategy.
The Westside Tennis Club, founded in 1979, continues to be a driving force behind the camp. The club fields a 10‑woman competitive team that travels throughout the region and finished second in its division last season. Members volunteer their time each summer to help the next generation fall in love with the sport.
Despite its short schedule, the camp’s impact tends to linger — a reminder that sometimes all it takes is a few days, a few rackets and a few encouraging voices to spark a lifelong passion.
And in Gustine, that’s a tradition worth rallying around.
