b'The board of directors of Tennis Success, Inc., that has steadfastly led the programA tired kid is a good kid, is the adage of Tennis Success Mom-in-Chief, Elaine Bri-through the good times, and the challenging times, together share an essential mis- ones, whose son, Aaron, is a top-ranked player in the program who is soon headed sionand that is what is best for the children they serve, because that is what is bestto high school. Elaine is such a permanent fixture at Tennis Success, that its easy to for the Corpus Christi community that they love so much. Raul Muoz has servedassume shes paid staff, but her motives are just those of a mother obsessed with the as the board president for several years, being the longest-serving volunteer for Ten- safety and success of her children. She provides the loving, supportive, and some-nis Success and its most effective agent of growth, as chief recruiter and the groupstimes disciplinary presence that most kids, like Darius and Ronald back in the old direct connection to CCISD. Ron Woods continues to serve on the board and is thedays, and most Tennis Success kids these days, lack. Im a present-adult for the link to USTA National and Texas, which support Tennis Success with grants, direc- other kids who dont have one. Im always here to talk to the kids who need help tion, and recognition of the program as a model for the state and the entire country. dealing with their troubles. Some kids dont want to go home at night.on Wednes-The balance of board members come from all corners of the city, including an ac- days we try to stay late. Aaron Briones, motivated by his mother, certainly lives the tive CCISD teacher, a homeless advocate employed by Veterans Affairs, a marinelife of a tired kid, training mornings at Baker Middle School, and evenings at Tennis biologist and long-time USTA league competitor, who as a 16-year board veteranSuccess, and now winning tournaments and advancing as a junior tennis player. The has seen tennis kids start off as timid beginners in the sport, and life, but who haveambitious 8th-grader, who started tennis less than two years ago, also earned a black gone on to academic and professional success as adults, an influential immigra- belt in martial arts, and is acutely aware of the advantage he enjoys to be blessed tion attorney and community advocate,with supportive parents who push him, aphilanthropistcouplefromthecitysand are actually present, on-site, for the most beloved hometown business, whomost important events in his young life. were there with Ronald Elizondo beforeI try to be an example for less ambitious the program even had a name, parents ofkids, said Aaron, of his role to lead.current and past program students, andEzra Olmedo is a high school senior who even a slightly-eccentric and outspokenhas been in Tennis Success for five years, business owner who is also known as asince the 7th grade, when he was sent to notorious food snob. the program as punishment for failing two In addition to their shared love for theclasses in the 6th grade, and then lying sport and the kids served by Tennis Suc- about it to his parents. At first, I thought cess, they have a unanimous view abouttennis was a [dumb] sport, said Ezra, It thelong-term,positiveimpactofthewas because I was there involuntarily. Ez-program.BoardmemberMaryMcNeilras older brother, Ezekiel, was already in started a college scholarship program forTennis Success and was benefiting from Tennis Success, back in 2011, that finan- thetutoringprovided,andactuallyre-cial supports graduates in every year ofquired, for all students who are not on the college up to 120 credit hours. The pay- A-B Honor Roll, in order to make it on-ahead for Tennis Success kids is their owncourt. Having been sent to the program volunteerismforothernon-profitslikefor help with his grades in school, Ezra Habitat for Humanity and the Gulf Coastwas soon motivated to succeed as a tennis Humane Society, as required of their par- player. I was in a beginners mixed group ticipation. The life lessons for the kids areatfirstwithCoachKristy,remembers invaluable and ever-lasting: From whomEzra, I became a tennis player who cared much is granted, much is expectedit isaboutimproving,andIwasmotivated the living incarnation of pay it forward,to be in the summer camp with [Coach] and is what we need most as a society. Gerald. I had to try-out for the advanced The Real Impact for Real Families program, and Kristy made the offer to be Celso Gonzales was a 10th grade tennisin the summer camp. It was big deal for player at Miller High School in 2016 when he joined Tennis Success in an effort tome. Ezras dad, Carlos, has seen the difference in his son since Tennis Success became improve his game. Youre by yourself out there, he said of his experience as a com- central to his life, saying, Its improved his academics and hes more social. Tennis has petitive player, You have to be calm and figure things out. Celso was not a troubledhelped him concentrate and be more responsible. Ezra plans to study criminal justice kid or considered at-risk, despite growing up in an environment where bad influ- at TAMUCC, and his mother, Veronica Najera, is a Tennis Success board member who ences were abundant and pervasive. Starting with his time as a program participant,brings a first-hand perspective.he took on a mentoring role for younger kids who were having a tough time. TheWe humans require nurturing, direction, and motivation to find success in this one coaches guided us and taught us that we were each responsible for our own behavior.life on earth about which we know, and the extent to which we receive the care of our Some of the kids who were smart werent being raised that way at home, and we old- elders often determines the happiness and success of our adult lives, and the lives of er kids were there to calm them down and guide them, explained Celso, who todaythose whom we bring into this world. One name that pops up in the lives of every ma-is a professional cook and culinary arts student at Del Mar Collegeas well as a vol- jor player in the 25-year history of Tennis Success, including Ronald Elizondo, Ken de unteer on-court instructor and mentor for the current generation of Tennis SuccessKoning, Ron Woods, and even this humbly-anonymous writer, is Bob Mapes, whose kids, while he pursues his dream of one day owning his own restaurant. spirit as a mentor and father figure fueled the goodness of our tennis family.100THECOASTALBENDMAGAZINE TheCoastalBend.com'