Haverford Teen Chosen For New US Tennis Program

HAVERFORD, PA — A Haverford teen has been named a member of a new program from the United States Tennis Association.

The United States Tennis Association (USTA) today announced that the inaugural Net Generation Aces Program will launch at the 2019 US Open. The program identified athletes between the ages of 13 and 17 who are making a positive difference in their local communities through creative and impactful tennis programs.

Among those teens selected is Saige Roshkoff, 16, of Haverford.

In 2017, Roshkoff was named to the second USTA Junior Leadership Team, which recognizes junior tennis players who exhibit leadership, sportsmanship and character on and off the court.

She is most recognized for her environmental work — keeping an average of 35,000 tennis balls out of landfills by recycling them to donate to schools and animal shelters in her community.

Roshkoff also led fundraising efforts for Israel Tennis Centers which provides tennis and life skills to underserved youth.

As an Ace, Roshkoff aspires to partner with the USTA to expand her recycling program across the country.

The 17 Net Generation Aces were selected by their respective USTA section for embodying the youth tennis program’s character pillars: respect, responsibility, listening, effort, teamwork, and sportsmanship.

The Net Generation Aces will attend the US Open as part of a four-day VIP trip which includes a suite experience at Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day and a working session with USTA senior management and professional players, where the Aces will provide feedback on current USTA initiatives and discuss ideas for future programming.

Following the US Open, Net Generation Aces will represent the USTA by showcasing positivity, sportsmanship, and leadership in their local communities, providing continuing feedback, collaborating with fellow Aces on Net Generation projects, and participating in quarterly video webinars.

This year’s Net Generation Aces are:

• Madeleine Au of Honolulu, Hawaii (USTA Hawaii Pacific)
• Brooklyn Bindas of Rochester, Mass. (USTA New England)
• Maeve Cassidy of Monroe, N.Y. (USTA Eastern)
• Sophie Davidson of Greenwood, Ind. (USTA Midwest)
• Angelina Fosbinder of Charlotte, N.C. (USTA Southern)
• Jack Garchik of Highland Beach, Fla. (USTA Florida)
• Kyle Garner of Eagle, Idaho (USTA Intermountain)
• Eli Gilbert Susser of Corpus Christi, Texas (USTA Texas)
• Oskar Jansson of Minneapolis, Minn. (USTA Northern)
• Kane Kelley of Tarzana, Calif. (USTA Southern California)
• Ethan Lee of Tucson, Ariz. (USTA Southwest)
• Brooks Lerfald of Eugene, Ore. (USTA Pacific Northwest)
• Santiago Montgomery of San Jose, Calif. (USTA Northern California)
• Andrea Pérez Díaz, of Guaynabo, Puerto Rico (USTA Caribbean)
• Clare Plachy of Lincoln, Neb. (USTA Missouri Valley)
• Saige Roshkoff of Haverford, Pa. (USTA Middle States)
• Derek Yan of Potomac, Md. (USTA Mid-Atlantic)

"We are honored to recognize these young leaders and athletes who are inspiring positive change in their local communities," said Craig Morris, USTA’s Chief Executive of Community Tennis. "Some of the noteworthy contributions these outstanding individuals have made include creating community-based programs, bringing awareness to adaptive tennis play, and implementing tennis ball recycling initiatives. The USTA plans to work with the Net Generation Aces, to learn more about the impact tennis has on young players’ lives. We feel reaching young athletes through their peers is a powerful and effective way to continue growing the sport."

The new Net Generation Aces Program marks the two-year anniversary of Net Generation, the USTA’s official youth tennis brand, which empowers and equips kids ages 5 through 18 to play tennis while providing resources to parents, coaches, and providers to help set new standards and drive participation across the country.

For more information on Net Generation and the Aces Program, visit netgeneration.com and follow #NetGeneration on social media.