ZEPHYRHILLS — The Sarah Vande Berg Tennis and Wellness Center is now gaining global recognition.
“We opened about two years ago,” mentioned CEO and proprietor Pascal Collard.
The thought for the power began with tragedy.
“Sarah Vande Berg, SVB, passed away in an accident with three other student-athletes,” mentioned Collard.
She was a younger tennis star from Zephyrhills.
“A very good friend of the father, Mr. Vande Berg, a very good friend donated the land to the city,” mentioned Collard.
That prompted leaders to proceed Sarah’s story and do one thing with the land that carried her title and legacy.
“This is, you know, what we created altogether with the city,” mentioned Collard.
The Sarah Vande Berg Tennis and Wellness Center now sits within the coronary heart of Zephyrhills.
It presents every thing from tennis to seaside volleyball, seaside tennis, pickleball, and padel.
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“Padel is actually the number one most growing sport in the world. It’s something in between squash tennis that you can play with the walls… and racquetball I would say,” mentioned Collard.
The facility additionally focuses on wellness.
“Cryotherapy, salt room, massage, IVs,” mentioned Collard.
He instructed ABC Action News that the SVB Tennis and Wellness Center is consistently increasing and investing locally.
“The latest addition which is probably one of the most important pieces is that we just built with some investors boarding programs with short-term rentals so that people can come from all over the world and they can study here. We partner with North Tampa Christian School but we have also an online program,” mentioned Collard.
People and college students from throughout come to coach right here, together with Alycia Parks.
“Everybody is like friendly and loving and I think that’s what I was missing a little bit, so it’s a good environment for me,” mentioned skilled tennis participant Parks.
“She is the upcoming tennis player. She almost beat the number two in the world,” mentioned Collard.
Parks is again in Zephyrhills after spending 5 weeks competing in Europe.
“I played French Open,” mentioned Parks.
She trains each single day.
“I do two hours on the court and then fitness or sometimes I do two times a day,” added Parks.
This place gives people like Parks the opportunity to make their dreams come true, and it’s all because of Sarah.
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“My goal is to become number one and win multiple Grand Slams and just keep enjoying the sport,” mentioned Parks.
“We want to enhance the community and help the community,” mentioned Collard.
They’re doing no matter they will to encourage others and put Zephyrhills on the map with this facility.
“Definitely this is a big deal and we hope to continue and we hope this is only the beginning,” mentioned Collard.