- November 27, 2024
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According to Tennisround.com, there are nearly 30 tennis courts in Port Orange, but Marius Tabacila drives 35 minutes to the Ormond Beach Tennis Center, so new director Trey Bogue can coach his 7-year-old daughter, Irina Tabacila. In just three months of work, Marius Tabacila praised Bogue for the improvements he’s seen in his daughter.
“She competed in the Oceanside Club tournament a few weeks ago, and won her first trophy,” he said. “That was her first time competing. We didn’t know what to expect, and we were so happy she got a trophy.”
“I was more happy than the person who got first place,” Irina Tabacila said. “I was jumping around. It’s nice to win a trophy, and I’m having lots of fun with coach Trey. He’s a really good coach.”
Bogue took over operations at the Center back in October, when the old regime lost its contract. Since his start, the Ormond Beach community has supported him and sought his professional expertise.
“I didn’t take many lessons before him, but, now, I hit a lot of balls with Trey,” said Stanley Laczka, a member of the 60-65 Greater Volusia Tennis League. “He’s an excellent teacher.”
Before he began to learn under Bogue, Laczka was a 2.5 on USTA’s national ranking scale. In less than a year, he’s jumped to a 3.5.
“Some guys play all their lives and never get to a 3.5 level,” Bogue said. “My philosophy is more old-school, where you hit 1,000 and then you hit 1,000 more. As long as you’re on the fine-tuning of it, you’re going to get better.”
“Like anything, though, you have to stay with it,” he added. “If you lay off for two weeks, and then you try to jump back in it, you certainly won’t be as fine-tuned as you were, if you play every week.”
Bogue’s coaching experience includes Augusta College in the 1980s, a couple of other college in the ’90s and a 10-year stretch at Bethune-Cookman University, where he led one of his teams to an HBCU National Championship.
At the Tennis Center, Bogue specializes in professional instructions at all levels, all ages and all abilities. Those around the facility, like Jim Reilly, the morning court organizer, commended Bogue for everything he’s brought to the center.
“The biggest difference with Trey being here is his attitude,” Reilly said. “Everyone’s happier, and Trey is just more energetic. I get calls from people from as far as Germany and Canada who, when they come here, they want me to set up hitting times with Trey. Everyone likes him.”
The Ormond Beach Tennis Center offers a wide range of activities at the center, which is located at 38 East Granada Blvd. in Ormond Beach. Call 275-1870.
