Jordan off to Newk’s Ranch on tennis scholarship

(posted 16.12.09)

Buderim’s Jordan Loughnan is following his tennis dream and is off to Texas to take up a scholarship at the John Newcombe Tennis Ranch.

Jordan, who finished Year 11 at Matthew Flinders Anglican College this year, will head off on December 30 to the world renowned tennis ranch in New Braunfels, near San Antonio.

The 17-year-old has been offered a six-month tennis scholarship but hopes to extend his stay.

The junior tennis program is a full-time live-on-the-premise program for competitive tennis players from the USA and around the world. The players participate in intensive tennis training (20-25 hours per week) and play in tournaments.

“Jordan is a very promising tennis player who possesses great potential and talent,” John Newcombe Tennis Ranch tennis director Phil Hendrie said. “The Ranch experience allows development of this gift to the fullest extent.”

It’s been a big year for Jordan, who moved to the Sunshine Coast from Mudgee, New South Wales, at the start of 2009.

Jordan has trained under Flinders’ tennis coach Andrew Kratzmann, and worked on developing his core strength, speed and agility through a tailored fitness program at the Flinders Fitness Centre.

“I’m amazed at the difference in his level of play from when he first arrived to now,” Mr Kratzmann said. “He’s a very dedicated young man to his tennis.”

Jordan knows a little of what to expect when he arrives in the United States. His sister Shannon also won a tennis scholarship to a North Carolina university, and recently trained and coached at the John Newcombe Tennis Ranch.

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