34 South Main St., Attleboro, MA - Directions - (508) 222-7000
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DA holding court in Attleboro



Sam Sutter hits some balls around with AHS player James Bensson. (Staff photo by Tom Maguire)




ATTLEBORO - Sam Sutter is generally accustomed to putting away individuals who violated the laws of the Commonwealth.

On Saturday, though, the Bristol County District Attorney, will be putting away winners - on the tennis courts at Attleboro High School.

In conjunction with the Attleboro Recreation Department, Sutter - a former tennis player at Brown University, who dinked and dabbled a bit on the men's satellite pro tennis tour - will conduct a free clinic for boys and girls interested in the sport of tennis.

Boys and girls, ages 6-14 - beginners, intermediates and advanced level players - are invited to participate in the clinic, which will also have a number of guest clinicians on hand to assist in developing players' interest in the sport and confidence on the court.

Which is why Sutter began the program on courts in the Fall River and New Bedford areas - to get youths, who would not likely have an opportunity to play tennis, out and playing, to provide underprivileged and disadvantaged youths with an opportunity to enrich their lives through athletics.
Boys and girls, ages 6-8, are invited to the AHS courts for a clinic from 8:30-9:30 a.m.

Boys and girls, ages 9-11, are urged to participate in the 9:45-10:45 a.m. session.

And those in the 12-14 age bracket will have their turn on the tennis courts from 11 a.m. until noon.

Through the support of Mayor Kevin Dumas and generosity of Dennis Walsh, the Director of the Attleboro Recreation Center, the eight AHS courts are being reserved.

Through the generosity of Bishop Feehan High girls' tennis coach Paul Perry, tennis balls and tennis racquets will be provided.

Through the generosity of time, such notables as Attleboro High's No. 1 singles player, Brown University-bound James Bensson and Bishop Feehan High's No. 1 doubles player, Boston College-bound Michaela Monroe will be among the local luminaries who will serve as instructors.

Former Bishop Feehan High coach Paul Carden, the Shamrocks' No. 2 singles player Siobhan Licudine, Bishop Feehan High doubles player Eileen Flynn and veteran amateur players such as Charlie Shanley and John Flynn will also be serving as volunteer clinicians for the event.

Over 70 have already registered for the clinic, with further details available by calling the Recreation Dept. at 508-223-2222.

"I've coached some youth basketball before, I like volunteering," said Monroe, an Attleboro resident, of her participating in the event, hoping to develop another generation of tennis players. "It's such a great thing to do."

Sutter began the series of summer tennis clinics in 2000 and has always found time in his schedule volunteer, not only to develop an interest in the sport, but also to use athletics as a tool for community interest and involvement.
Shanley, an attorney and a member of one of Attleboro's most noble tennis families - with brothers Brian, Terry and Phil - often crossed paths with Sutter through the years and began an acquaintance due to their mutual love of the game of tennis.

"I've known Sam from the early 1990s and we always talked tennis," said Shanley. "His dad was quite a player too and he was mentioning about how well his clinics were received in Fall River and New Bedford. He came to me last fall about possibly doing something in Attleboro."

Interest is so widespread that all eight courts at AHS will be in use.

"It took the assistance of mayors and their recreation departments for us to have the courts on which to teach," said Sutter. "We've received help from the Boys and Girls Club of New Bedford, the city of Fall River and Dartmouth tennis courts donated tennis racquets. We've had so many volunteers donate hours of their time to help me teach and make the program a resounding success.

"In addition to the great benefit of reaching out to the community and teaching kids a sport they can play for their entire lives, there is another message here - through partnerships and volunteerism, all of us can make a difference in our communities."

 


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