The Rocky Road to Pro ft Sky Kim

Welcome to Season 15 Episode 42 of the ParentingAces Podcast! This week, Lisa Stone talks with Dave Mowrey and George Opelka about how Ion Sport evolved from Ion Court, why the platform is about more than scorekeeping, and how it is helping tennis become a more connected experience from juniors to college and beyond. Dave Mowrey is Founder and CEO of IONSport and alongtime technology executive and entrepreneur with deep experience in streaming video, sports technology, SaaS and data-driven media. Today, Dave is bringing that experience in video, data and connected technology to racquet sports through IONSport, the destination for college tennis, while also experiencing the junior tennis journey firsthand as the parent of a competitive junior player. George Opelka has experienced the tennis-parent journey from a child's first racquet all the way to the ATP Tour. His son, Reilly Opelka, began playing at age four, and George has remained closely involved as his parent and longtime advisor through junior development and professional competition. George also brings more than 30 years of technology and business leadership, including senior positions with tennis-technology companies SwingVision and IONSport. He brings a candid perspective on supporting a young player's dreams, navigating the pressures and sacrifices of competitive tennis, and keeping both the child and family grounded throughout the journey. Key Takeaways for Tennis Parents 1. Look beyond the final score. A win or loss tells only part of the story. Match data—such as serve percentage, break points, momentum shifts, and match patterns—can help you understand what your child is actually developing. 2. Help your child interpret matches. Encourage your player to explain what happened in the match, what improved, and what they want to work on next. Learning to reflect is more valuable than simply focusing on whether they won or lost. 3. Treat losses as learning opportunities. A loss can still show progress. Help your child identify specific improvements and communicate them clearly rather than treating the result as the only measure of success. 4. Build better recruiting conversations. College coaches want to see coachability, self-awareness, and growth. A player who can share match data and explain their takeaways demonstrates maturity beyond a win-loss record. 5. Use technology to stay informed—not to add pressure. Live scoring, video, and statistics can help parents follow matches remotely and support development. The goal is to create useful conversations, not to overwhelm your child with constant analysis. 6. Choose tournament experiences that keep kids engaged. Clear schedules, live updates, streaming, and accessible match information can make tournaments less stressful and more enjoyable. A positive event experience can help young players stay motivated in the sport. For more information on IONSport, contact them at [email protected]. The IONSport App is available for players, parents, coaches and fans on iOS and Google Play. Instagram: @ionsportapp X: @ionsportapp LinkedIn: IONSport As always, Lisa is available for one-to-one consults to work with you as you find your way through junior tennis and the college recruiting process. You can purchase and book online through our website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://parentingaces.com/shop/category/consult-with-lisa-stone/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. Please be sure to check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠online shop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. CREDITS Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone

Welcome to Season 15 Episode 41 of the ParentingAces Podcast! In this episode, Lisa Stone welcomes longtime tennis leaders Barry Buss and David Fish for a conversation about reimagining junior tennis competition in the United States. Barry and David unpack the pressures families face on the junior tennis pathway—from constant travel, rankings, and point-chasing to the emotional strain placed on players, parents, and coaches. They make the case for a more sustainable model: one that develops confident, resilient young people alongside stronger competitors. They introduce Match Zone, an approach to local, affordable competition that combines meaningful match play with education around self-awareness, emotional regulation, parent support, and community. Rather than sending families home with another ranking update, the goal is to give players practical skills they can carry into their next match—and beyond tennis. Tennis Parent Takeaways Focus on development, not just results. A ranking or rating can be useful information, but it should not become the measure of your child’s worth, progress, or future in the sport. Help your child build a healthy relationship with competition. Winning and losing are part of tennis. The lasting skill is learning how to respond to nerves, mistakes, tough calls, and disappointment. Be intentional about your role. Your body language, words, and energy matter. Support your player without trying to coach every point, solve every problem, or argue every call. Protect room for a full life. Travel, school, friendships, rest, and family time all matter. A sustainable tennis journey should leave space for your child to grow as a person, not just as an athlete. Look for meaningful match opportunities. Variety in opponents, ages, styles, and levels can help players develop confidence and tennis IQ more effectively than repeatedly facing the same small group. Make the ride home a safe place. Ask your child what they learned, what felt good, or whether they want feedback—rather than leading with the score or a technical critique. It’s a thoughtful, big-picture conversation about making competitive tennis healthier, more accessible, and more developmentally meaningful for families. Connect with Barry and Dave To learn more about Barry Buss, Match Zone, and upcoming events designed to create healthier, more developmental competition for junior players, visit https://barrybuss.substack.com/ and follow Match Zone on social media. David Fish welcomes questions from parents, coaches, and community organizers interested in building more accessible, community-based tennis opportunities. Reach David at [email protected]. Be sure to check out Barry and David’s articles for a deeper look at the ideas behind Match Zone and their vision for the future of American player development.Connect with Lisa As always, Lisa is available for one-to-one consultations to work with you as you find your way through junior tennis and the college recruiting process. You can purchase and book online through the ⁠ParentingAces shop⁠. If you’re so inclined, please share this—and all our episodes—with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. Be sure to check out our logoed merchandise, as well as our à la carte personal consultations, in our ⁠online shop⁠. Credits Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNEAudio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone

Welcome to Season 15 Episode 40 of the ParentingAces Podcast!Most families misunderstand what college tennis actually demands, and that misunderstanding can cost a player the right opportunity. Eric Dobsha pulls back the curtain on the reality of high-level Division I tennis, why international recruiting is not a new problem, and how parents can make smarter college choices for their children. Eric is the owner of Dobsha Tennis, a private academy in Tampa, Florida, known for developing junior players into college-ready competitors. His background as a player, coach, and academy owner gives him a rare, no-nonsense perspective on what junior tennis families need to know before they chase the dream. From growing up in Titusville, Florida, and hitting against a fence to playing for the Florida Gators, Eric shares the path that shaped his coaching philosophy and the mindset that defines true high performance. He explains why intent matters as much as UTR, why some players thrive in elite environments while others need a different fit, and how the best junior players are often the ones willing to do the work no one else wants to do. In this episode, you’ll discover: Why college tennis has always been global What it really takes to compete at a powerhouse program How training, conditioning, travel, and missed classes affect the college experience Why the “best” school is not always the best fit How smaller programs can offer bigger roles, better development, and a stronger college experience

Welcome to Season 15 Episode 39 of the ParentingAces Podcast! Tennis should build confident kids, not exhausted robots. Adriana Dino shares the coaching philosophy that helps young players grow into thinkers, leaders, and lifelong fans of the game—while showing parents exactly when to step back and when to lean in. Born and raised in Romania, Adriana started with a wooden racket, a straight-talking father, and a coach who changed her life. After playing, studying physical education, and coaching for nearly 20 years in the United States, she brings a rare perspective to the parent-coach-player triangle that drives junior tennis. Tennis Parent Takeaways Support your child with unconditional love rather than constant technical instruction. Learn to recognize when encouragement has become pressure. Gradually transfer responsibility for preparation, performance, and problem-solving to your child. Help your player develop routines for resetting after mistakes and bad line calls. Focus on resilience, confidence, and personal growth—not only wins and rankings. Accept that high-performance tennis may not be the right path for every talented player. Keep your child’s love of tennis at the center of the experience. Lisa and Adriana also break down the mental side of junior competition, including what to do after a bad call, how to reset between points, and why tournaments are one of the best classrooms for resilience. Adriana’s approach is simple but powerful: coach the person first, develop the player second, and keep the love for tennis intact for life. She also shares the unforgettable influence of playing Monica Niculescu as a 14-year-old in Bucharest, and why exposure to higher-level tennis can shape a junior’s mindset long before they’re ready for the professional circuit. This episode is essential listening for tennis parents, junior players, and coaches who want more than wins—they want growth, confidence, and a healthier relationship with the sport. Adriana is based in the DC area and coaches players from beginner to advanced, with a focus on bringing out the best in each athlete as a human being first. Connect with Coach Adriana To get more information on Coach Adriana, visit her website at www.adrianadinutennisacademy.com. You can email her directly at [email protected]. Be sure to follow her on Facebook and Instagram. Connect with Lisa As always, Lisa is available for one-to-one consultations to work with you as you find your way through junior tennis and the college recruiting process. You can purchase and book online through the ParentingAces shop. If you’re so inclined, please share this—and all our episodes—with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. Be sure to check out our logoed merchandise, as well as our à la carte personal consultations, in our online shop. Credits Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone

Welcome to Season 15 Episode 38 of the ParentingAces Podcast! What if the biggest mistake in college tennis recruiting is treating tournament results like player development? Lisa Stone and tennis parent Jennifer Faulkner unpack the hard lesson every tennis family needs to hear: UTR, rankings, and constant travel are not the same thing as real growth. Jennifer shares the full arc of her family’s tennis journey, from her daughter Melanie’s gymnastics recruiting experience to her son TJ’s path from a late-start tennis player to freshman engineering major and team member at Rose-Hulman. Along the way, she reveals what happened when they lived far from strong tennis training in Austin, Texas, why they were on the road three to four weekends a month, and how they learned the difference between staying busy and actually getting better. You’ll discover: Why a higher tournament load did not always move TJ’s UTR the way they expected How video, match play days, and academy changes helped them see development more clearly Why engineering schools changed the entire recruiting search What Jennifer wishes she had asked coaches before committing How the “student-athlete” reality can look very different from the recruiting pitch