A teenage tennis player has been honoured for her sporting achievements and her dedication to encouraging other young people to take up the sport.
Imogen Lines, 16, received the Junior Player of the Year award from Frome Tennis Club during a presentation dinner on Friday 4th October. She was also recently recognised as the Most Improved Junior of the Year by her coaching team at Writhlington Tennis Club.
Her mum, Sharon Lines, said, “She won Junior Player of the Year for not only competing in the league but also for promoting the sport at Frome Tennis Club, her involvement in the junior coaching programme at Stephen Marcelle Academy at Frome and encouraging other young players.”
Imogen started playing tennis when she was four years old. Recently, she also won Frome Tennis Club’s annual Championship Finals Day, where she won the title and the ladies’ doubles with local player Liz Leatham.
Alongside playing tennis, Imogen has also completed her Level 1 Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) coaching qualification and plans to study for Level 2 and pursue tennis coaching as a career after college.
“A local Frome business, South West Plumbing, is sponsoring Imogen so she can now move forward with her goals this year to achieve further coaching qualifications,” explained Sharon.
Imogen said, “This was an amazing honour to be awarded Junior Player of the Year and thank you to the members at Frome who nominated me for this cup. In the next 12 months I plan to study for my Level 2 coaching and also have a number of LTA courses to look at to improve my coach accreditation score.
“It makes me very happy helping the younger players improve their game and to enjoy the fun tennis games we all play at the club. There are many more younger players joining each week and I want to encourage even more.”
Imogen also received the O’Mahony Most Improved Junior of the Year from Writhlington Tennis Club in the Somer Valley Tennis Club Championships 2024, where she was nominated by her coaching team.
She said, “This award is very special as it has been given by my coaching team at Writhlington for making good progress playing and coaching tennis, my training, and involvement in tennis generally, and not just because I have won a match by being the better player on the day.”
Pictured: Imogen with her Junior Player of the Year award