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Thomas Chase Stillman

On April 10th, 2008, I was able to interview Thomas Stillman from
  the Harlingen South Tennis Team. Amidst the almost 100 degree heat
  we stood as his coach/father and Catherine Weber waited for their interviews.
  I know that nobody likes going first; however, he seemed to be eager to please
his coach. As I prepared my digital recorder for our interview, I realized I had
  seen him hitting several times at the Harlingen HEB Tennis Center. I remember
  the discipline that he and Catherine continually show every time I see them. "OMG, it's hot
out here!" I think. I can feel sweat rolling down my sideburns....at least where I used to have sideburns.
  "We'll make these interviews quick", I say. I know you're anxious to get to banging the ball on the court.

RGVT: Thomas I hear you did well in district competition. Can you tell me how you did and how old you
are?
TCS: Thanks. I'm 15 years old and I got second place in district, which qualifies me for regionals.

RGVT: How long have you been playing tennis?
TCS: Um...I used to play a lot of other sports and just played tennis on the side. I didn't get serious about
tennis until I was about 11 years old. I've been playing my whole life really, but not seriously until then.

RGVT: Ok, Here's a direct question that everyone wants to know. How did you get so good? How did
you go about getting good enough to qualify for regionals at such a young age?
TCS: Um...I practiced every day...every day during the summer for about four or five hours a day maybe.

RGVT: (Looking incredulously) Did you say you practiced up to five hours a day?!?
TCS: (laughs) yeah. Usually. I would play here and at the Harlingen HEB Tennis Center pretty much
every day.

RGVT: Wow! Did you take any lessons?
TCS: Um...not much. I took a few here and there, but mostly I learned from my dad...Coach Stillman.

RGVT: (My eyes grow really wide!) So, Coach Stillman is your dad?
TCS: Yeah, he's my dad.

RGVT: Do you think that gives you an advantage or disadvantage somehow?
TCS: Um...well, dad definitely has his "talks" about tennis at the house or wherever we are.
Many times he interrupts my dinner with something I could be doing better on the court. (laughs)

RGVT: Alright. I know you said you were a freshman and that's amazing that you qualified for regionals
already. Let me ask you this: Are you thinking long term for your future? Are you looking at the future
of your scholastics or tennis?
TCS: Well, I'm mainly focusing on my grades right now. Tennis is extra. In order to go to a division
one school, you need to have the proper grades in order to play tennis there. So...grades are first and
tennis goes along to compliment it. I mean, hopefully, I would like to try out the professional tour, if I
ever get to that level some day. I would love to become a tennis coach myself, probably.

RGVT: But, you would like to get your pro card and go pro some day?
TCS: Yeah.

RGVT: Are you taking any steps towards that?
TCS: I'm really just taking it one step at a time. Right now I'm just concentrating on district and now on
regionals...doing the best that I can. That will help me out towards college and college will help me out
towards professional. So, those are basically my goals. So....the grades have to be there first.

RGVT: Wow. Sounds like you have an excellent plan, and we wish you the very best. Is there anything
about the program here at Harlingen South that you would like to see change or improve?
TCS: Um...everything is really fine with me. But, maybe a better tennis facility here.

RGVT: Very good. Ok, to wrap this up...is there anything you would like to say to everyone who
will be reading and/or hearing your interview on the website?
TCS: Um...just I give my best for Harlingen!

Thomas runs off at his father/coach's bidding to begin his grueling work out. I look at my assistant (who also
happens to be my wife) and she has her "I'm really impressed" look on her face. There are some people you
meet that you just know are destined for success. Thomas Stillman is one such example. RGVTENNIS.COM
wishes him the very best life has to offer.

Contact Information:
Harlingen Tennis Center: (956) 428 - 2092
Ask for Don


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Thomas Chase Stillman On April 10th, 2008, I was able to interview Thomas Stillman from the Harlingen South Tennis Team. Amidst the almost 100 degree heat we stood as his coach/father and Catherine Weber waited for their interviews. I know that nobody likes going first; however, he seemed to be eager to please his coach. As I prepared my digital recorder for our interview, I realized I had seen him hitting several times at the Harlingen HEB Tennis Center. I remember the discipline that he and Catherine continually show every time I see them. "OMG, it's hot out here!" I think. I can feel sweat rolling down my sideburns....at least where I used to have sideburns. "We'll make these interviews quick", I say. I know you're anxious to get to banging the ball on the court. RGVT: Thomas I hear you did well in district competition. Can you tell me how you did and how old you are? TCS: Thanks. I'm 15 years old and I got second place in district, which qualifies me for regionals. RGVT: How long have you been playing tennis? TCS: Um...I used to play a lot of other sports and just played tennis on the side. I didn't get serious about tennis until I was about 11 years old. I've been playing my whole life really, but not seriously until then. RGVT: Ok, Here's a direct question that everyone wants to know. How did you get so good? How did you go about getting good enough to qualify for regionals at such a young age? TCS: Um...I practiced every day...every day during the summer for about four or five hours a day maybe. RGVT: (Looking incredulously) Did you say you practiced up to five hours a day?!? TCS: (laughs) yeah. Usually. I would play here and at the Harlingen HEB Tennis Center pretty much every day. RGVT: Wow! Did you take any lessons? TCS: Um...not much. I took a few here and there, but mostly I learned from my dad...Coach Stillman. RGVT: (My eyes grow really wide!) So, Coach Stillman is your dad? TCS: Yeah, he's my dad. RGVT: Do you think that gives you an advantage or disadvantage somehow? TCS: Um...well, dad definitely has his "talks" about tennis at the house or wherever we are. Many times he interrupts my dinner with something I could be doing better on the court. (laughs) RGVT: Alright. I know you said you were a freshman and that's amazing that you qualified for regionals already. Let me ask you this: Are you thinking long term for your future? Are you looking at the future of your scholastics or tennis? TCS: Well, I'm mainly focusing on my grades right now. Tennis is extra. In order to go to a division one school, you need to have the proper grades in order to play tennis there. So...grades are first and tennis goes along to compliment it. I mean, hopefully, I would like to try out the professional tour, if I ever get to that level some day. I would love to become a tennis coach myself, probably. RGVT: But, you would like to get your pro card and go pro some day? TCS: Yeah. RGVT: Are you taking any steps towards that? TCS: I'm really just taking it one step at a time. Right now I'm just concentrating on district and now on regionals...doing the best that I can. That will help me out towards college and college will help me out towards professional. So, those are basically my goals. So....the grades have to be there first. RGVT: Wow. Sounds like you have an excellent plan, and we wish you the very best. Is there anything about the program here at Harlingen South that you would like to see change or improve? TCS: Um...everything is really fine with me. But, maybe a better tennis facility here. RGVT: Very good. Ok, to wrap this up...is there anything you would like to say to everyone who will be reading and/or hearing your interview on the website? TCS: Um...just I give my best for Harlingen! Thomas runs off at his father/coach's bidding to begin his grueling work out. I look at my assistant (who also happens to be my wife) and she has her "I'm really impressed" look on her face. There are some people you meet that you just know are destined for success. Thomas Stillman is one such example. RGVTENNIS.COM wishes him the very best life has to offer. Contact Information: Harlingen Tennis Center: (956) 428 - 2092 Ask for Don