Stonington COMO Hosts Viking APTA Clinic

September 24, 2014
Stonington, CT

Nationally-ranked players and pros Nick Bergman, Mike Cochrane, Anton Mavrin, and Ritush Venugopal led a successful paddle clinic at the new courts at Stonington Community Center this past weekend. On the Eastern Shore of Connecticut, close to the Rhode Island border, Stonington just welcomed the courts this past spring.

COMO’s part-time pros, Stephen and Trish Griggs, also of Guilford Swim and Racquet Club, were on hand to add to the enthusiasm for the Viking and APTA sponsored event.

Organizers Ann Lobdell and Russ Burgess graciously gave up their spots in the clinic when the event drew more interest than availability. Each of the four sessions was 90 minutes long, after which the pros held an exhibition. “The pros patience was unbelievable,” Lobdell said. “All of them were charming, just wonderful with all of the people who came out.”

While the COMO has a steady men’s and women’s group playing, the clinic “was very helpful for us, getting people who had never played on to the courts. Instead of my badgering them to come play, they got to learn from the pros and then watch them play. It’s a much more substantive way to get new players interested. And they were fascinated!” Lobdell enthused.

Thanks to the pros for their inimitable energy and to Viking for sponsoring another well-received clinic and exhibition