Top US college tennis coaches to visit Manila

MANILA, Philippines –  Top US university coaches will be on the lookout for fresh varsity tennis talents in Manila. 

Coaches from Carnegie Mellon University, Claremont McKenna College, and Tufts University will be in the country to conduct the College Tennis Exposure Camp this weekend, from August 11 to 12, at the Colegio San Agustin, Makati City. 

“It’s a camp but it’s more of like an experience for the kids – like if you want to be seen by coaches or get to experience high level of tennis,” said AddedSport consultant Kyle Dandan, the country’s former number 1 junior tennis player.

The camp includes a Universal Tennis Rating (UTR)-sanctioned tournament, the new metric system being used by American college coaches to evaluate local and international junior tennis players.

It will also conduct discussions on US college tennis, recruitment process and opportunities, and university admission tips.

Among the tennis coaches participating in the camp hosted by DreamBig Events in partnership with AddedSport are Paul Settles of the Claremont-Mudd Scripps Stags, Karl Gregor of Tufts Jumbos, and Mike Belmonte of Carnegie Mellon Tartans.   

“We accept kids from 11 to 17 because we think those are the prime ages,” said Dandan, who also starred for US NCAA Division 1 school Santa Clara University in California on full scholarship.

Settles, the Claremont-Mudd Scripps coach for 16 years now,  steered the Stags to 4 NCAA title match appearances in the last 5 years. A winner of 18 USTA National Championships, he also won National Coach of the Year in 2013 and serves as director of player services of the ATP.

Belmonte led Carnegie Mellon to an ITA National Indoor Championship and their first NCAA Division III quarterfinals appearance in his first year as head coach. Now on his 10th year with the university, he boasts of two players who earned All-America honors in singles and doubles.

A former professional tennis player in the ATP, Gregor guided the Tufts to their highest seed ever at 4th in the NESCAC Championship. He’s also a former tennis captain and the top  singles player at Air Force Academy. 

For inquiries, contact 0908-8945708 or email kyle.dandan@addedsport.com. – Rappler.com