HighFIVE: Lily Chitambar
The following HighFIVE profile appears in the 2018 Summer issue of Colorado Tennis newspaper.
For incoming Boulder High School freshman, Lily Chitambar, success on the tennis court is just part of her family life. And while the 14-year-old netter has had the advantage of both a supportive and tightknit tennis family, as well as the benefit of learning in the ROGY era, Lily is solely credited for her sportsmanship and integrity both on and off the court.
Born to tennis parents, Kendall and Donna Chitambar, Lily is part of the first generation of young players in the US to have the opportunity and benefit of learning through the full ROGY pathway, a system that advances junior play through red, orange, green and yellow balls with appropriate-sized equipment and youth-oriented formats.
Kendall has long been an advocate for the ROGY platform. He has been teaching for 30 years, and is the Director of Tennis and Director of Player Development at the Rocky Mountain Tennis Center. Donna, is also a junior and adult certified coach through the PTR and co-owner of RMTC with Duke Paluch and Kendall.
And while her tennis game, described as a combination of backboard and attacking skills, continues to develop, it’s Lily’s demeanor that her parents, coaches and opponents admire most.
“I personally think that sportsmanship is an inherent quality of most kids,” Kendall explains. “Lily also has a natural empathy for people across the net from her. It keeps her from getting upset. It also helps her stay calm and be able to see the bigger picture.”
Lily’s dedication to training, gratitude for the opportunities she been given, and compassion for people makes her a top competitor and role model for other young athletes. Working hard to balance academics and a tough training schedule, Lily is shooting for a collegiate D1 scholarship with the even bigger dream of playing professionally someday.
Lily graciously describes how she’s navigating the challenging road ahead.
“I just try to be the best person I can be in tennis and keep working on myself and how I feel on the court”.
She doesn’t worry that much about wins and losses but instead focuses on improving.
When asked how she overcomes the fear of failure or pressure that comes with being a top athlete, she doesn’t hesitate to respond.
“First of all I take a few deep breaths and understand that it’s normal to have these feelings. Loving tennis is the reason I am even out here.”
She also said having her parents to talk to about tennis is something she’s grateful for as they can offer her genuine guidance with both the physical and mental aspects of the game.
“Lily’s was always a very sensitive, sweet little girl,” Donna explains. “As a louder Italian mother I wasn’t sure if she was almost too nice,’ she jokes about her daughter’s good natured personality, but adds that determination and hard work are the key to her success. “I knew she would be successful in whatever she tried.”
Lily joins her parents’ mission to spread the sport of tennis as a young coaches assistant and mentor to young players at RMTC. Off the courts, Lily has been exposed to basketball, soccer, skiing, baseball, horseback riding, and swimming. But it is art, including painting and drawing, which she loves and is fundamental to who she is as a person.
“Lily has always been an artist and her creativity has supported her tennis game to be an artist on the tennis court,” Kendall said. “Together her sportsmanship, compassion and creativity are what make Lily the player she is.”
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