Norman Martinen - Pro Tennis - Great Bay Athletic Club

Martinen attends World Conference on Tennis

November 03, 2008 3:37 PM

HAMPTON -- Local tennis professional, Norman Martinen recently attended the World Conference on Tennis in La Quinta, California.

The event was hosted by the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) and is considered the premier educational experience for tennis professionals. The conference focused on informational seminars and industry meetings, and allowed attendees to see new products and network with other tennis professionals.

As the largest and oldest tennis organization, this year’s USPTA annual conference attracted nearly 1,500 of the nation’s most influential tennis instructors and industry leaders including, Tracey Austin, Dr. Martin Baroch, Nick Bollettieri and Lori McNeil.

“This year’s agenda at the USPTA World Conference was an unparalleled opportunity for tennis instructors,” says USPTA CEO Tim Heckler. “Each of the programs was geared toward increasing knowledge and developing ideas in numerous fields including programming, events, general management, nutrition and injury prevention.”

Martinen currently offers instruction at Smart Tennis in Hampton, New Hampshire and coaches the York, Maine girl’s high school tennis team.

“My goal has always been to help kids improve their technical skills and become better players—that’s what it is all about,” said Martinen. “Now that I am back in Hampton teaching at Smart Tennis, I’ve come full circle back to my tennis roots.”

Norm Martinen grew up playing tennis and helped establish his high school’s first tennis team at Winnacunnet High School in Hampton. Following a tour in the army, Norm returned to New Hampshire and enjoyed many fruitful years as an entrepreneur.

With a desire to get back to the sport he loved and become a coach, Norm became a certified tennis professional in 2005 and started the New Hampshire Seacoast Tennis Academy. Through his academy, he developed a specialized instructional tennis programs for children called “Little Tennis,” which follows a nationally credited program established by the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA).

For more information, please visit www.normmartinen.usptapro.com; email Coach Norm NHSTA@verizon.net; or call 603-205-1952

York girls tennis plays for regional championship.

Photo 1 of 1 | Zoom Photo +

York’s Katie McGuiggan will play No. 1 doubles today with Liza Cody in today’s Western Maine Class B regional championship at Bates College against Cape Elizabeth.Don Clark photo / SMG

By Jay Pinsonnault

jpinsonnault@seacoastonline.com

June 06, 2007 6:00 AM

The York High School girls tennis team is scheduled to play Cape Elizabeth today at 9:30 a.m. at Bates College.

The only thing at stake is a berth in the Class B state championship match.

The second-seeded Wildcats, under first-year coach Norm Martinen, advanced to today's match with a 4-1 victory over sixth-seeded Falmouth on Saturday.

The Wildcats went 10-2 in the regular season, with one of those losses coming against top-seeded Cape Elizabeth, 4-1, back on May 4. The other loss, also 4-1, came against Waynflete.

Martinen believes his team has a good chance to play for the program's first state championship on Saturday against either fourth-seeded Camden or second-seeded Waterville at Colby College. Top-seeded Hermon was upset by ninth-seeded Mt. Desert in quarterfinal action.

"We've improved a lot since that match against Cape," Martinen said. "There's no doubt in my mind we can beat them. We have the talent to beat them, it's just a matter of staying focused."

The lone victory for York against Cape was at No. 1 doubles where Liza Cody and Frawley Barton defeated Claire Stack and Heather Furman in straight sets, 6-4, 7-5. However, Barton is now playing at No. 3 singles and Cody now plays with Katie McGuigan.

Lauren Coupal, at No. 1 singles, lost to Amanda Slack, 6-4, 6-1, while Susan Barton, at No. 2 singles, dropped a 6-2, 6-1 decision to Melissa Slack. McGuigan lost at No. 3 singles, 6-0, 6-1 to Fiona Donega. York's No. 2 doubles team, Kayla Westin and Jenn Consaga, both freshmen, lost to Danielle Skinner and Katie Tackach, 6-4, 6-0.

Despite the previous loss to Cape, Martinen said his team was relaxed during its two-hour indoor practice center at Great Bay Athletic Center in Newmarket, N.H.

"I looked at the girls and asked them if they knew what we were playing for Wednesday," Martinen said. "They knew and were excited, but they were so relaxed. They were kind of nonchalant and not showing any nerves. It was pretty amazing."

Martinen said all five matches against Cape Elizabeth worry him.

"We have two freshmen playing at No. 2 doubles and they just don't have the experience," he said. "They are nervous. Sometimes they lose the first set and win the next two. Then with Susan Barton. I don't think there's anybody that can beat her at No. 2 singles when she's focused."

In Saturday's semifinal win, three of the four victories came in straight sets, with only Susan Barton needing three, 6-3, 2-6, 6-3, to win.

"I think we're going to be playing Saturday," Martinen said. "I really do."