Making your mark on the next generation is something many people find themselves dreaming about. This dream can manifest itself in many different ways. Some become teachers, growing the minds of our future. For others, the dream grows dormant and they find themselves thinking about it years down the road, wondering why they gave up on it.
Libby Banet did not want to find herself like the latter, which is one reason she started the Southern Indiana Tennis Academy. Its mission, as described on its website, is to “help young players grow their love for tennis while building friendships across schools and communities.”
Why did Banet plan to do this in the first place?
“Playing college tennis has taught me how important it is to be part of a supportive team. That is a big reason I started this academy, I want kids to feel like they are part of something bigger than themselves, where they are supported and encouraged to grow.”
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Banet is a product of the Indiana tennis system herself. She honed her skills at Floyd Central High School, and eventually committed to play collegiate tennis at the University of Southern Indiana, not far down the road from where she cut her teeth. However, the turbulent and ever-changing world that is college sports now spares no one, and after one season Banet hopped in the transfer portal and joined up with the Grenadiers of Indiana University Southeast.
“I transferred from USI because it wasn’t the right fit for me. I had great teammates and an amazing coach, but I wanted the opportunity to play every match and truly contribute to my team. Now I am playing one singles and one doubles, and I feel like I am making the impact I was looking for.
But, as the astute reader may have already noted, there are many resources for a young student of tennis in southern Indiana. From the Southern Indiana Tennis Center in Sellersburg or the Louisville Racquet Club just across the Ohio River, someone in the jurisdiction of Banet’s class wouldn’t be starved for opportunities. What is she doing to help separate her academy from a saturated market?
“Those are great tennis clubs, especially in the winter. What makes my academy different is that it is taught by current college tennis players. That gives kids a huge advantage because we understand what high school and college coaches are looking for. We also actively play with the kids to raise the level of competition. So not only are they being coached by high-level players, but they are also hitting and competing with them, allowing us to see firsthand how to help them improve. That is what really sets us apart.”