PIctured above: Paul Kabbaya, Aungshu Dhar, Arnab Dardhan, Abeishan Sibanurthy, and Asvin Selvapavan. They all began playing tennis at Philpott’s Oakridge location and remain great friends 10 years later.
Written by Philpott Children’s Tennis
Friendship, Forehands, and a Lifelong Bond: The Story of of Five Boys from Oakridge
Five boys hit the courts at Philpott’s Oakridge summer camp program. Inspired and guided by their Philpott coaches, they found themselves on an unexpected tennis journey, and forging a friendship that has spanned over 10 years.
Aunghsu, Arnab, Abeishan, Paul, and Asvin, attended their first Philpott program at our Oakridge location, when each of them were between 7-9 years of age. Their skills kept improving and they kept coming back because it was fun and motivating, especially since they had a caring coach in Stephan Harris, former Head Coach at Oakridge and Philpott’s current Program Manager.
It’s heartwarming to see the boys laugh about all the fun stories over the years. They smile at inside jokes that usually involve their Philpott coaches Stephan and Ricky, but they also make clear how much their Philpott coaches guided their journey from camper, to player, to coach.
“I really loved to play and compete, so I didn’t think of myself as a coach”, says Abeishan. “Coach Stephan encouraged me to join the Leadership program. I loved it because I got to still improve as a player, and become a coach as well.”
With 3 years between the 5 of them, they all went through Philpott’s pathway at different times and rates, but all find themselves as certified coaches employed in Philpott programs while they attend university or finish up high school.
While growing into great coaches and earning employment in Philpott’s summer program, they also continued to grow as players as well. Paul, Arnab, Abeishan, and Asvin, all went on to play high school tennis and represent their school.
Even though some of them are now in university, they remain close friends. They continue to play, coach, and compete, not just to sharpen their skills, but to stay connected.
Their story is what we always hope for at Philpott, that we build lasting friendships that go beyond the court, and stay connected throughout life.
