Deer Isle-Stonington High School head tennis coach Mark Churchill. By Monique Labbe
Deer Isle—In his fourth year as the Deer Isle-Stonington High School head tennis coach, Mark Churchill says the game is less about winning and losing and more about playing for the love of it.
“We’re a small school, and we have some talent and a lot of these kids can play, but I give it to them straight at the beginning of the year, some schools we just won’t be able to keep up with,” said Churchill. “But tennis is one of those sports that you can take with you basically until you drop dead, and that’s what I want to give them.”
Churchill has amassed an 18-year tennis coaching career, spending several years coaching at schools in Fryeburg and Gorham before coming to the island. Over the years Churchill said he has made connections and friendships with other tennis coaches throughout the state, and that community has become something he appreciates about tennis in Maine.
“I love the community of coaches we have in the state,” he said. “It’s a very small community, the tennis community, and we’ve gotten to know each other. It’s great to make those connections.”
As a coach, Churchill said he has enjoyed watching his players’ excitement at the beginning of the season, when winter is just ending and, often, the shovels are brought out on the courts in order to get those early practices in.
“The kids are always so enthusiastic,” he said. “It could be 30 degrees, snow spitting, and they’re out there, shoveling.”
That excitement about the sport is the main goal for Churchill, who has been playing tennis since childhood.
“I love seeing the kids get excited about tennis and taking it with them long after high school,” he said. “I’m still in touch with kids I coached almost 20 years ago, who are still playing.”
Churchill said the numbers of students playing tennis at Deer Isle-Stonington High School has grown over the last few years, with 20 athletes on the roster this season. He credits the amount of courts in the area and opportunities to play through the Island Country Club and other local programs.
“One thing I would like to see is a program at the Rec. level or through the school at the younger grades,” said Churchill. “That’s something I’ve been working on a little bit.”
With his teams out of playoff competition this year, Churchill said it has been the growth in his athletes and their enthusiasm that was most rewarding.
“The thing I love the most about tennis is the freshness of spring. There’s a sense of hope, excitement in these kids. That’s the best part,” he said.