Tennis Clinic participants gather at the Mary P. Johnsen (left) Community Tennis Court in Downieville
DOWNIEVILLE — A visit from Mary Johnsen, former nationally ranked tennis professional and long-time Downieville resident, prompted a tennis clinic to take place at the Mary P. Johnsen Community Tennis Court on Sunday. Johnsen coached the Downieville High School tennis team from 1997 to 2014, leading them to several tournament wins, including at the state level. In 2003, the US Olympic Committee named Johnsen Volunteer Coach of the Year in Tennis.
Since Johnsen’s absence, Downieville has failed to keep a high school tennis team and has seen a significant drop-off in the use of the tennis court. As such, Sunday’s clinic was primarily attended by young children who were complete beginners. Johnsen led several drills to help with the youngsters’ coordination, mainly teaching them how to make contact with the ball.
Johnsen’s visit is a promising indicator of a reigniting of the small but passionate tennis scene in Downieville. Despite the lack of a high school team, free coaching for kids has been ongoing for years, and the tennis court remains in excellent condition. However, Johnsen’s dedication and love for the game of tennis and the youths she coached have proven difficult to replace. Still, Coach Tessa Jordan has been working to help young children play and become interested in tennis, and drills taught by Johnsen may help her in that quest.
A team of Johnsen’s past students and other community members have remained involved with both tennis coaching and the non-profit organization responsible for the upkeep of the tennis court and associated equipment, the Downieville Sports and Education Association (DSEA). In 2022, a previous incarnation of DSEA resurfaced the tennis court, using the opportunity to add lines for two pickleball courts. Pickleball has risen in popularity as a tennis-adjacent sport with a reduced requirement for mobility and has helped increase the usage of the court.