The CLC (Central Lincoln County) Y tennis staff is delighted to collaborate with the Boothbay Y to bring a great tennis experience to everyone in Midcoast Maine.

After 19 years of tweaking, the pros at the CLC Y think they’ve finally figured it out and will use what has been successful as a template for the Boothbay Y. The ultimate goal is for every tennis player, young, old, new or experienced, to have fun, get some exercise and make new friends.

We’re starting with a small splattering of offerings, with the hopes of doing things well. We will expand with success, and are very anxious to hear your thoughts as to what you want. Community members will be pleased to know that all youth can play tennis on their own for free and any adult playing with a youth (age 18 or younger) may also play for free whenever there is available court time.

All youth and adult lessons are offered on a monthly basis (registering for tennis programs commits an individual to four weeks instead of the usual seven-week program session) and youth will now practice and play two days a week instead of one.

Both experienced adult tennis players and beginners will enjoy Cardio Tennis on Tuesday evenings, Wednesday Advanced Doubles Clinic, Co-ed Pointers, Play and Social as well as beginner, intermediate and advanced tennis lessons on Thursdays. Unlimited Tennis is still being offered as well as adult private lessons.

Meet the team of tennis pros

Lisa Gilbride is heading up the collaboration between the two YMCAs. Gilbride has been the tennis director at the CLC Y for the past 14 years. She is known state and New England wide for her promotion of the sport of tennis. A 1975 graduate of Providence College, Gilbride captained both the basketball and tennis teams and was named Female Athlete of the Year. A humanities major, Gilbride was often asked by peers if she was majoring in basketball and tennis. The answer was apparently yes. In 1976, she married Tim Gilbride, men’s head basketball coach at Bowdoin College. They live in Topsham and have three children, Mark, Molly and Marcia.

Over a 38-year career in teaching/coaching tennis, Gilbride’s accomplishments include: five years as women’s head tennis coach at Providence College, bringing the team to its first trip to the AIAW National Tournament; five years as women’s head tennis coach at Springfield College; three New England Championships; Northeast 10 Coach of the Year; 13 years as girls varsity tennis coach at Brunswick High School; 11 Eastern Maine championships; two state championships; two Coach of the Year awards; 10 years as Rob Manter’s right hand at Maine Pines Racquet and Fitness; and 17 years at Central Lincoln County YMCA as well as two USPTA Northern New England Pro of the year awards.

Larry Rioux, an all around athlete, graduated from the University of Maine, where he was named state Athlete of the Year, lettering in three sports, football, baseball and basketball. He took up tennis as an adult, and has become an accomplished player. He was the director of tennis at Prout's Neck in Scarborough for many years, coached boys and girls high school tennis at York High School, and men’s varsity basketball at University of New England.

He is now retired from teaching high school science. He is a vital member of the CLC YMCA tennis program and director of tennis at the Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club. He has four children, all of whom were great tennis players. His daughter Lauren won several Maine state singles championships and was a Division 1 scholarship player, and his son Dominic went on to play on the professional circuit. Rioux lives with his wife Ruth in Edgecomb.

Cinda Gurney Holbach played first singles at the University of North Carolina for an unprecedented three years. While there, she was two time ACC Player of the Year and an All American. After earning her degree, Holbach played professional tennis and earned a 200 world ranking in both singles and doubles, beating Mary Joe Fernandez, Amy Frazier, Kim Po and Lisa Raymond before she became sidelined with a shoulder injury. She lives in Georgetown with her husband, Hobie Holbach, their three pugs and a husky. Holbach teaches at Maine Pines in Brunswick and she is the “Pied Piper” of the Y Junior program.

Chantalle Lavertu is a 2013 graduate of Bowdoin College. While at Bowdoin she was a member of the nationally ranked women’s tennis team, was a starter for all four years, and last year played second singles and first doubles. She is a Lewiston native. As a Lewiston Blue Devil, she led her high school team to four straight state championships. For the past four summers she has worked as a pro at the Bald Eagle Country Club in New Hampshire, and during her free time has taught at Maine Pines and The CLC YMCA. Lavertu is excited about teaching tennis full time and being part of the Y collaboration.

Come meet the pros

A Kids’ Tennis Party will be held September 23 from 3 to 4:30 p.m. and an Adult Social, Meet, Greet & Play will be held September 24, 6-7:30 p.m., both in the YMCA Field House. The tennis office will be open with new office hours beginning the week of October 7. You will find one of the pros in the office on Tuesday, 2-3 p.m., Wednesday, 9-10 a.m. and Wednesday, 5-6 p.m.

Stop by the Y to pick up a racquet sports brochure or view it online at www.boothbayregionymca.org.