“ACE Tennis and Writing Program Giving Back to the Medford Community”

Tennis anyone? A core mission of Coach Drew Hendrickson, also the varsity tennis coach at Medford High School, is to provide scholarships for the ACE Tennis and Writing Summer Program , ensuring that financial barriers do not prevent young individuals from experiencing the benefits of tennis. In an attempt to make the sport more inclusive and accessible last summer ACE set a goal of providing 175 scholarships and out of the 358 who were enrolled last year 224 received a scholarship of some degree. Coach Drew proudly boasted, “More than 50% of our kids attended for free last summer.”

Whether you're playing singles or doubles, training at a club, or joining a school team, the sport brings people together from all walks of life. There seems to be a resurgence in this classic sport and The ACE (All Court Enrichment) Summer Tennis and Writing Program offers is the place to go. While many sports require expensive sporting equipment, coordination of multiple players, referee fees, and push many out of their comfort-zone with contact, tennis is still the tried and true game it has always been. Unlike many sports that are difficult to continue into adulthood, tennis is something you can play well into your 70s or 80s and is a great way to meet people, make friends, and be part of a positive community.

Beyond his personal coaching endeavors, Hendrickson served as the Director of Tennis at Tenacity, a nonprofit organization offering free tennis and mentoring to youth in Boston. His student-centered approach focuses on maximizing each player's potential, fostering both skill development and personal growth through a commitment to trauma-sensitive coaching practices.

Going on its third year here in Medford, Coach Drew Hendrickson has worked with local children to teach them this classic sport and help them finesse their athletic abilities. Drew Hendrickson is a seasoned tennis professional whose passion for the sport and dedication to community development has left a significant mark in the tennis world. With over two decades of experience, Hendrickson has played, coached, and inspired countless individuals, particularly in the Boston area. In 2018, Hendrickson launched Coach Drew Tennis, a program aimed at making tennis accessible to all ages and skill levels in Somerville and Medford. Starting with a once-a-week adult clinic at the Dilboy courts, the program has since expanded to offer year-round tennis programming for players aged 7 and up, serving over 300 participants annually.

ACE recognizes the importance of the whole-child and also offers a writing component to their program. Medford program of ACE is overseen by Kathi O’Donoghue, 28 year veteran teacher here in Medford, who uses a writing curriculum that encourages kids to explore, be creative and have fun with their writing while embedding skills that will strengthen their ability to write well.

Each week, students are divided into groups: Champs, Hot Shots, and Future Stars. Within each group, kids make friends and build a strong sense of teamwork. We provide tennis instruction with a focus on playing fun, fast-paced games that keep kids moving and working together to achieve team and individual goals teaching them how to get off screens and incorporate more activities that will enhance their health.

ACE is offered in the surrounding cities of Somerville, Cambridge and through the Medford Recreational Program and registration is available now medfordrecreation@medford-ma.gov.