Boys tennis gets new coach

Bim Gander has been named as the new Outlaws boys tennis coach.

Gander brings with him 50 years of competitive play. Gander holds a USTA (United States tennis Association) rating for tournament league play at 4.5. That number converts to a low handicap golfer, which proves Bim is a master at the game.

Gander started to play tennis at age 12, while living in Wilson, Connecticut, a small town located about 50 miles from New York City. Bim played tennis for four years at St. Luke's, a small private school in the neighboring town of New Canaan. During his senior year in high school (1968), Bim's tennis team won all of its dual matches, and went on to win their private school league championship at a tournament held in Poughkeepsie, New York. Gander then played for four years on the varsity tennis team at Middlebury College in Middlebury, Vermont.

After college, Bim settled in Hartford, Connecticut, and pursued a career in real estate finance. But, tennis didn't take a back seat. Gander continued to play regularly, and often played USTA-sanctioned tournaments in the New England states.

In 1982, Gander took advantage of a new job offer and moved to the San Diego area. Bim told The Nugget that the move was not only a promotion for his career; it also gave him the opportunity to play tennis outdoors all year long.

Gander continued to play USTA-sanctioned tournaments and league events in Southern California during the 26 years he lived there. As a senior tennis player, defined as a person over 50 years of age, he and his doubles partner were ranked as the sixth-best team in Southern California by the USTA as recently as 2006. That year the duo won the Balboa Park Senior Doubles and the University of San Diego Senior Doubles Championship.

Bim moved to Crooked River Ranch in 2008, where he lives with wife Cindy. He retired in 2009, and now enjoys playing tennis three to four times per week at Eagle Crest. While playing there recently, he met one of the players who is currently on the SHS tennis team. Gander heard about the coaching opportunity, contacted Athletic Director Tim Roth, and was eventually hired.

Gander is excited about the upcoming season and hopes to help all of the SHS players improve their tennis this year.

"Boys who take up tennis at this stage in their lives can make dramatic improvements in their skill levels," said Gander. "

During practices, Gander will concentrate on conditioning, executing tennis strokes with the proper form, and also court strategy.

"Tennis is a sport for a lifetime," stated Gander. "I'm living proof of that! One of the great things about tennis is that, if you play consistently, you'll be able to stay in great shape without even trying."