Wilson, Chappel find way to give back
Gretchen Wilson and Lexi Chappel have been traveling down the same path — and enjoying every minute of it.
Wilson, a 2015 Butler High School graduate and a Grove City College grad, is in her second year as head coach of the Butler Junior Tennis Association.
Chappel, an incoming senior at Butler, has become a court coach with BJTA while continuing to be an active player in the organization. She received a sportsmanship award at the recent West Penn Junior Inter-Club Mixed Doubles Team Championship at Butler Country Club. Her playing partner was Jack Somerville.
“It's a fun event and I love the atmosphere there,” Chappel said of the event at BCC. “I've played in that a few times.
“I love the game in general and want to stay with it.”
Wilson and Chappel have been playing tennis through the BJTA since their grade school years. Both have been members of the Butler High School girls tennis team.
Wilson and Chappel have played at No.'s 1 and 2 singles at Butler. Chappel may be the Golden Tornado's No. 1 singles player this coming season.
“I'm hoping to get approved as a teacher at Butler shortly,” Wilson said. “I assisted the girls tennis program there before and I'd love to help out the team again, as a volunteer, assistant, whatever they need.”
Butler Junior Tennis is a member of the six-team summer West Penn League. Wilson runs a program that has 50 to 60 kids ranging in age from 5 to 18.
The program offers 16 hours of practice over eight weeks for $100. Travel tennis, covering six or seven matches, is $110.
“We make this program affordable,” Wilson said. “It can cost $80 an hour for private tennis lessons. We're here to introduce kids to the game and basically teach them how to play.”
Wilson and Chappel have both said they learned the game through Butler Junior Tennis.
“It's competitive, it's a mental game and a physical game,” Chappel said. “Working with the kids during summer is fun.”
BJTA has four court coaches who spend time with players in the association “teaching proper technique and proper strokes,” Wilson said.
Chappel works with different age groups in the association.
“It can be tougher working with the younger kids because you're never quite sure how hard to hit the ball to them,” Chappel said. “Explaining technique can be more challenging, too.
“But as you see them begin to grasp the game and improve, it feels rewarding. When they offered me a position of court coach, I saw it as a way to give back to the program. I've enjoyed it.”
Chappel added that working with incoming freshmen and sophomores at Butler “can be beneficial because I may be teammates with some of them in high school and we're getting to know each other.”
Wilson plans on staying in charge of the BJTA for as long as possible.
“Being a teacher and having the summers off ... I was born and raised in Butler. I don't want to leave at all.
“This (summer) position is the perfect fit for me. And I love being part of building the sport of tennis in Butler.”
