Division I Tennis Ahead For Fox Lane Standout Sharissa Ryan

The four- and five-year-olds milling about the court at Bedford Hills Memorial Park looked the part in tennis togs and sunglasses. But actually hitting the tennis ball with the racquet was a tough task for these youngsters.

Eighteen-year-old Sharissa Ryan was on hand to help lead the instruction—lessons that she knows can start any young player on a path to loving tennis and succeeding in the game.

Ryan got her start as a pre-schooler, learning how to hit "smiley-face forehands." She grew up on local courts, and is about to embark on a college tennis career at Fairfield University after being recruited from Fox Lane High School to play tennis at the Division I school.

Watching the little ones gather up tennis balls after a drill, Ryan remembered her humble beginnings, and marveled at the impact of tennis upon her life.

"I came with my mom to the playground," she said. "We had just moved here from Monserrat and she  wanted to get me outside and moving around. I tried playing soccer and tennis, and tennis ended up sticking."

On Saturday mornings, Ryan assists Bedford Tennis Director Patrick LasSalle, a certified United States Professional Tennis Association instructor, with lessons for kids age 4 – 7. They use the USPTA's Little Tennis program and focus on hand-eye coordination.

"We also get the parents involved with their children on the court," LaSalle said. "We give them tools and techniques to play with their kids at the right level."

LaSalle started teaching Ryan 14 years ago in that same weekly program, and quickly recognized her potential. "Her tennis ability is there, but what's most notable is what a fantastic and wonderful person Sharissa is," LaSalle said. "She has stayed focused and committed to the hard work. Now tennis is a big part of who she is."

That hard work included lessons and year-round play by the time she was 8 and traveling to tournaments by age 10.

"When I played in the 12-and-under and 14-and-under tournaments, I didn't win a lot, but that's when I really started to love playing," said Ryan. A personal breakthrough came at her first national tournament in Syracuse. She took the number three seed to three sets and lost.

But it didn't break her confidence—it gave her a boost instead. "I said to myself, 'Hey, maybe I am pretty good at this,'" she said with her endearing smile.

During high school, Ryan traveled to a tournament nearly every weekend, and worked hard to balance school and tennis. Colleges started taking notice by her junior year, she said, and after visits to Fairfield and Tampa University, she chose Fairfield because it felt like a great fit.

"In the last few years, I've felt mentally prepared for my tournament play, so I'm hoping to bring that same attitude to my college matches," said Ryan. "Every time I step on the court I try to put my best foot forward and whatever happens, happens."

But on Saturday, it was back to teaching the tykes on court. "Smile when you swing the racquet," she sweetly exhorted the kids. "That's a smiley-face forehand!"

After the little ones left, Ryan demonstrated her grown-up forehand on the full-size court. She grinned as she ripped the ball across the net—she's got her own version of a smiley-face forehand now.

And it's a safe bet that her forehand today wipes the smile off any opponent's face.