A Successful Memorial-Day Opening Weekend!
During the past holiday weekend, Quince Orchard Swim & Tennis Club opened the pool for yet another summer of swimming! While Covid-19 has certainly taken its toll on many small businesses, the entire staff team was proud to welcome several hundred returning and new members to our facility for the summer of 2022. The weather during the entire weekend was spectacular, with minimal clouds and lots of sunshine that brought the outdoor temperature into the lower 90’s. If you were able to join us, you would know how amazing it felt to go for a swim in the summer heat. If you weren’t, we highly encourage you to inquire about membership and make your reservations today!
Wounded Warriors Tennis Exhibition
Not only was Memorial-Day weekend a large event for the pool, but Quince Orchard Swim and Tennis Club, in conjunction with Adaptive Tennis US and the Chinese Culture and Community Service Center (CCACC), hosted a tennis exhibition featuring players who are a part of our Wounded Warriors Tennis
Program. For those who may not know, Adaptive Tennis US and the Wounded Warriors Tennis group was created by Dr. Karl Lee, a graduate of Tufts Dental School in 1982 and an avid tennis player. Adaptive Tennis is most often associated with the Special Olympics, but the range of conditions is far more diverse. The USTA currently defines three main categories of Adaptive Players: physical-rehabilitation, cognitive-developmental (those on the spectrum, or the sensory impaired), and social-emotional (victims of domestic violence, or foster children). By combining his background as a USPTA pro with his training as a Certified Personal Trainer and Corrective Exercise Specialist, Karl designed a special program that would enable the Adaptive Player to learn the skills necessary to become a tennis player, regardless of their condition.
Some of the players featured in the exhibition included Karl’s son Bear, who began taking tennis lessons at Bethesda Country Club when he was only four years old. From the opportunities it presented with his personal development, to the numerous friendships and new places he was able to explore, Bear thrived as a junior tennis player and became the Maryland state champion at the age of 12. He continued his passion for tennis by playing at Whitman College for four years, where the team reached as high as #8 in the country for Division 3 Men’s Collegiate Tennis. Another player featured in the exhibition was Richard ‘Hercules’ Herkowitz, a former professional bodybuilder who was diagnosed with the flesh eating disease, necrotizing fasciitis, in the fall of 2005. After undergoing more than 20 surgeries and 15 months of hyperbaric treatment, the decision was made to amputate Richard’s leg above the knee. As a child, Richard had enjoyed playing tennis competitively. Therefore, he believed that tennis could be a sport that he could still enjoy with his son, even while wearing his prosthesis. After having joined the Tennis Advancement Program’s (TAP) tennis league for standing adaptive players, he achieved a ranking of 8th in the world in 2019. Following his outstanding accomplishments and success as an adaptive player, Richard now says that he views tennis as a platform through which he can motivate others; “my goal is to inspire people to believe that nothing is impossible.”
New Ownership of QOSTC
As many of you are already aware from the memo that was released to the community, Quince Orchard Swim & Tennis Club is now owned and operated by the Chinese Culture and Community Service Center (CCACC Sports, LLC). Former owners John and Sue Adams have been running the club since 1985, through countless winter storms and even a global pandemic. It goes without saying that any change can make some feel concerned and apprehensive, especially after having the same ownership for over 37 years. Nevertheless, both John and Sue are extremely confident in the CCACC’s vision to continue operating the facility (long-term) as a community swim and tennis club. Furthermore, CCACC ownership has decided that all current staff will remain, in order to minimize the change’s impact and keep the same enthusiastic and professional faces you love seeing around the facility.
For those who may be unfamiliar with the CCACC, they are a non-profit organization that has been providing community health services to the Gaithersburg community and surrounding areas since 1982. They are responsible for providing a plethora of programs, including Adult Day Care, After School Care, and an Arts Center. As John Adams said in his memo, “their values of community health, harmony, and joy mirrors what we have worked toward, since our beginning in 1985.” The former owner is quite certain that the CCACC’s mission statement and values are highly aligned with those held by Quince Orchard Swim & Tennis Club, and members should expect no significant changes in the near future. However, there have been rumblings around the club about possible improvements that the CCACC could possibly implement, such as adding a retractable-ceiling over the tennis courts to allow for year-round play in almost all weather conditions, as well as re-surfacing the entire bottom of the pool and pool deck. It appears that most of the club’s basic functions will remain in place for the time being, and only positive and beneficial improvements are being planned for the years to come.