Rick Willsmore: Owner and Head Tennis Professional
Rick is the founder and head coach at Scarborough Tennis Academy and has been running the academy for 13 years. As a player, he has played at a US college on a full scholarship and has played at state grade level in SA, NT and WA. As a player, Rick serves big, rallies hard with big spin on his forehand, great timing on his double hand backhand and very soft hands at net and with a drop shot. Rick has created the courses held at Scarborough Tennis Academy and oversees everything involved in the business. Rick own coaching is focused on the Junior Club squads, teams and private tuition dividing his time between his role of Head Coach with overseeing the Academy’s operations.
Madalina Florea: Tennis Professional
Madalina grew up in Romania where she was represented Romania at the 16 and Under National level. She played some tennis on the professional circuit before playing on a full scholarship at a US college. She has played and coaches all over the world and now is with us at Scarborough Tennis Academy where she conducts private lessons, runs our adult program as well as being a part of our Junior Club and Hot Shots programs. A left handed player, she uses placement, spins and smarts when she plays. A yoga and fitness enthusiast, Madalina can offer experience and expertise to all levels of players.
Meg Connell: Tennis Professional
Meg as a junior went through the Scarborough Tennis Academy system and has been a great example of our values and outcomes winning several tournaments, competing in national titles and gaining a top 30 Australian junior ranking. In year 12, Meg was also elected captain of the WA Pizzey Cup team who travelled over east for the school nationals and has played many seasons of woman’s state grade. As a player, Meg is an aggressive baseliner with great reach and power. Now a qualified coach and halfway through her high school teaching degree, Meg helps others to improve their game through Hot Shots lessons, Junior Club squads, Private Lessons and Adult Programs.
Jack Lyttle: Tennis Professional
Jack was one of the best juniors in the world, representing Australia in the 12 and under age group as well as being a national junior champion. Jack went on to play Division 1 College Tennis in the USA before recently making the decision to come back to Perth to complete his degree and pass his tennis skills onto others. As a player Jack has phenomenal timing and placement of the ball. He can play aggressive or switch to more tactical patient point construction. Jack is now training as a coach where he conducts Hot Shots lessons, Private Lessons and Adult lessons.
Michael Offerman: Tennis Professional
Michael grew up in Albany where he was the top junior player in country WA. He moved on to compete in state tournaments and achieved a top 5 state junior ranking. He representing Country WA and also competed in a junior nationals as a 14 year old. As a player, Michael enjoys an all court game, mixing his game up with slice, topspin and closing the net. Michael is a sport fanatic who is studying medicine. Now a skilled coach, Michael helps coach and mentor our young players through several Hot Shots classes, Junior Squads and Private Lessons.
Andrea Simpson; Junior Coordinator and Tennis Professional
Andrea is highly qualified tennis professional and manager who has been with us for many years bringing with her a wealth of playing and coaching experience. Andrea is a former top 10 British junior and also a division 1 scholarship holder in the United States college system and state league winner. As a player, Andrea has an excellent serve volley game, one hand backhand and can craft points with a variety of spins and placements. Andrea’s main role at the moment is to look after her young daughter, Amelia, but is our junior coordinator. This means she makes sure that all players are progressing as they should and also coordinates our junior club season with pennants, match play and club tournaments.
Anthony Lau; Office Manager
Anthony has been through our program as a parent to 3 strong junior players. He has a background in engineering and business management and in 2018 took over the role as Office Manager for the tennis academy. Anthony helps people arrange make up lessons and changes in enrolment as well as administration of our coaching teams schedules, court bookings and invoicing and new enquiries. Anthony is also a keen social tennis player at Scarborough Tennis Club.
Luca Bonini; Pro Shop Attendant and Tennis Professional
Luca was a very strong national level junior player who has played as high as #1 state league. Luca is our chief racquet technician and restrings racquets as well as looks after the pro shop each weekday afternoon between 4pm and 6pm. He is also an assistant tennis coach and does our hit sessions with some stronger junior players. He has a great all court game with very solid technique. His stringing experience started with he was only 14 years old and can advise on types of strings to best suit your game.
Melvyn Scholtz; Tennis Professional
Melvyn has been a long term academy coach and provides passionate and caring Hot Shots coaching lessons. Melvyn helps the children feel comfortable and whilst maintaining good control of the class, he inspires them to learn, improve and have fun! As a player, Melvyn took up the sport as an adult and loves to rally back and forth from the baseline with his top spin forehand and one hand backhand. On top of tennis coaching, Melvyn also has Tango dancing, painting and many other artistic pursuits to his list of skills. Melvyn conducts both Hot Shot group and private lessons at the Academy and is always up for a chat about how lucky we are to be playing tennis!
Lukundo Simbile; Tennis Professional
Lukundo was a junior at the academy and was in the top 5 players in the state for her age group. A power player with a big forehand, she has had her struggles on court with injuries but now she has finished her school, has taken up coaching to pass her knowledge on to the next generation. You can find Lukundo coaching our Hot Shots program where she has a friendly manner with the kids and importantly knows about our culture at Scarborough Tennis Academy.
Jonny Ross: Tennis Professional
Jonny has been involved in our program from 7 years old as a player and has been a competitive tournament player, div 1 pennant captain and junior club champion. Jonny is now doing PE teaching at University as well as training up to become a qualified tennis coach. As a player Jonny is very consistent and has very good hands playing drop shots and moving his opponent around the court. You can find Jonny coaching Hot Shots group and private lessons.
Melvyn Scholtz Jack Lyttle Jonny Ross Andrea Simpson Anthony Lau Luca Bonini Flavio Rathsam Madalina Florea
Meg Connell Lukundo Simbile Rick Willsmore Michael Offerman