JENKINS TWP. — Tiffany Callaio has two missions every year — to coach a winning tennis season and raise money toward refurbishing the Wyoming Area tennis courts.
The school’s tennis coach is continuing her mission April 8 as coaches and booster club members will host a fundraiser at the Susquehanna Brewing Company.
The event begins at 5 p.m. and is hosted by the tennis coach, booster club and parents association.
Tickets are available at the door for $15 and the event is open to the public for anyone age 21 and older.
“There will be a wine tasting event and there will be a tour of the brewery,” Callaio said. “There will be food, snacks and tailgating games like ping pong and cornhole.”
As she heads into her sixth year as the Wyoming Area tennis coach, Callaio said the courts on Boston Avenue in West Pittston have not been useable since before the 2015 fall season.
“The biggest problem is the cracks in the courts,” she said. “Almost 15 years ago was when they put the resurface on it and that’s starting to come up. It’s more of the resurface coming up and the cracks.”
Since then, players have been using courts at Pittston Area and Exeter Township for practices and games.
Lisa Minelli, president of the tennis booster club, said her daughter, Nina, is graduating this year and is disappointed she didn’t play her last games on her home courts.
“It’s very discouraging,” Lisa said. “It started off where the first year she played, the courts were in okay condition. They were starting to practice for the season two years ago and the school board abruptly shut them down. Tiffany scrambled and got us home games and practice in Pittston and Exeter Township was gracious enough to let us practice on their courts, too.”
Students have done their own fundraising these past few years such as selling candy bars and pizza while adults have pitched in with events such as wine tasting and kickball.
Callaio said it will cost an estimated $100,000 to $150,000 to fix the courts. So far, $10,000 have been raised.
“It’s been a long process,” she said.
Despite her daughter graduating this year, Lisa said she intends to stay on as president of the booster club and continue to help find ways to earn money to fix the courts.
“It’s important for me, personally, to stay the course,” she said. “Although my daughter will graduate, my intentions are to stay the course with the gang. We organize, do a lot of fundraising and I will stay with the booster club. I’m staying until we get courts.”
Callaio is hopeful for a good turnout on April 8, but said her biggest concern is spreading the word to get more help.
“It’s taken us this long for $10,000, but we’re just going to keep chugging along,” she said. “I’m hoping for more publicity so we can get more donors and people to come out and help. $100,000 is a lot to ask for.”
