15 year old Sale Tennis Club player, Jess Board, has recently been awarded a John Fitzgerald Scholarship by the prestigious Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club in Melbourne, the first ever awarded to a Sale player.
The five year scholarship offers Jess additional specialist coaching, conditioning, mentoring, career and education advice and sport science and sports medicine services from key personnel at the exclusive club.
Sale Tennis Club President Robin Lowe said “Jess is genuine in her love of the sport of tennis. She is under no illusions as to the degree of difficulty associated with progressing in the ultra-competitive sport of tennis. Jess is committed and meticulous in her preparation and training, possesses a strong work ethic and a determination and will to win.”
The scholarship award has added to an exciting few months for Jess. In late November Jess defended her Open Women’s and 18 & Under Girls Singles titles at the Sale Tennis Club Championships after earlier making the final of the equivalent events at the Wellington Gippsland Tennis Association Championships.
In early January she travelled to Shepparton for the first Australian Ranking Tournament of the year and battled through 4 tough matches in a talented field to win the 16 & Under Girls Singles title. ART tournaments attract the cream of local and interstate players as athletes vie for national ranking points, so winning this tournament was not only a significant achievement but improved Jess’s national ranking. Jess was also runner up in the 16 & Under Girls doubles with her partner Brooke Marshall at the same event.
This was the start of a busy month for Jess with tournaments in Melbourne, Wodonga, Mornington, Geelong and finishing the month competing in the Traralgon AMT.
The quality results have continued with a 3rd in the 16 & Under in the Victorian Grass Court Championships in Wodonga having won the 3 V’s 4 playoff and runner up in the 16 & Under Doubles and runner up in the 16 & Under Doubles at Geelong. This weekend is the AMT in Traralgon with a strong field providing Jess with a real challenge.