Comets tennis coach sees year-round possibilities

By John Burbridge

sports@charlescitypress.com

CHARLES CITY — When Bobby Riggs took on Billie Jean King — and lost in straight sets — it was referred to as “The Battle of the Sexes”.

But according to Charles City tennis coach Brian Parrott, whenever men and women play against each other or with each other as doubles partners, it’s “The Betterment of the Sexes”.

“For girls, it gives them a chance to play against someone who hits harder,” Parrott said. “For boys, they tend to learn how to control their shots and keep the ball in play longer.”

Parrott is hoping by next spring that Charles City will reintroduce a boys program to the already existing girls program.

“They play during the same season so they would often practice together,” Parrott said. “And for the boys who play baseball, it’s not going to interfere with their summer season.

“I would love to have a shortstop or an overhand pitcher.”

In order to accommodate two teams — or even just the girls team for want of hosting more home matches — Parrott had proposed added two more tennis courts to Sportmen’s Park for a total of six.

During Charles City’s School Board meeting on Monday, the tennis court expansion was an “action item” that was moved forward.

To defray the cost, Parrott is submitting an application to the United States Tennis Association for a grant.

“You need to show how an awarded grant is going to help promote tennis in your community,” Parrott said. “Like, ‘Is it going to help expose tennis to underprivileged kids?’”

If the added courts are going to happen in time for next spring, they need to happen in the near future before colder weather thwarts the project.

“We already have it staked out,” Parrott said. “There would have to be some tree removal and some playground equipment has to be moved.

“We would like to break ground sometime in September.”

Other than the addition of outdoor courts, the next thing on Parrott’s agenda is a plan to lease the space inside the old Charles City Middle School gymnasium for indoor, year-round tennis.

“There’s enough room in there for one full-size court and two hitting lanes,” he said. “The ceiling is high enough and there’s plenty of lighting.”

Parrott says that there are at 20 people he knows who would be willing to rent court time on a regular basis if indoor courts in Charles City ever became a reality.

“It would also help the high school and younger kids if they were able to play and hit year-round,” he said. “We could hold lessons there … bring in guest instructors.”

While living in Oregon, Parrott had coached numerous state champions, including his son Travis Parrott, who was a U.S. Open mixed doubles champion with Carly Gullickson in 2009. He sees similar talent in Charles City.

“The athletes are here … they are as good as anywhere I’ve coached,” Parrott said. “Giving them a chance to play and practice during the winter, like they do at a lot schools we play against, will help with their technique … their skills … where it becomes more natural where they can concentrate more on the geometry of the game and use more of the angles. Like what’s a high-risk shot and what’s higher-percentage.”