Head Pro Kathy Neil has been at our club for decades, first as a player in our juniors program, and then later as the Head Pro, the position she still holds today. I sat down with Kathy to talk about her career, and what has kept her a part of the Midtown family for so many years.
When and how did you start playing tennis?
I started in sports as a swimmer and when I was about 10 years old, I followed one of my friends to a tennis court. I picked up a racquet and started playing. I wasn’t that good right away so I took lessons. At the age of 12 I started playing in tournaments. I probably didn’t get very good until I was 16.
Did tennis come naturally to you?
Yes. I kept swimming until I was 12, then I gave that up and continued with tennis, while also playing softball. I was an athletic kid.
Where did you play tennis?
I grew up in River Forest so I started playing at Oak Park Country Club. I played singles in high school, at Oak Park River Forest, and during that time I was taking lessons at our club (which was called Willowbrook Athletic Club, at the time). I was here as a junior, and my instructors were Bill Thomas, Tom Dunlap, and Milt Newman. And then I went off to college, and played singles and doubles at the University of Illinois. I studied Program Management and Leisure Services, the management side of the fitness industry.
What did you do after college?
I went to Hilton Head Island for two years and worked there for a recreation company. Then I came back and started my career here. In 1990 I began working as the Head Pro and did that for seven years, and then I went to Kansas City and worked at Bally Racquet Club as a Club Manager for a year. I didn’t like it so they brought me back to Chicago and I went to Four Lakes Athletic Club where I was the Adult Director. After they closed Four Lakes, I came back here and Jeff Newman was the Head Pro and I was his assistant. When he left, I became the Head Pro again. And I’m still the Head Pro today.
Do you still play tennis and what else do you do in your leisure time?
I don’t play much anymore. I enjoy teaching and would rather do other things outside now. I enjoy bike-riding, gardening, vacationing, and going to the kids’ activities.
You’ve been at Midtown for a long time. What do you like about being here?
It’s kind of my home away from home. I grew up here. I’ve been here since I was 16 years old. I feel comfortable here. I also like to use the fitness side of the Club. I use the machines, I enjoy personal training, Pilates, and TRX; I get massages. I’ve tried everything. Midtown is great because it’s not a tennis club. I never wanted to work at a “tennis club.” I wanted a multi-facility. It gives our members more variety. At a “tennis club” you get the competitive tennis players, the high-level players. I enjoy teaching and I can do more of that here.
Also, there are members here that played junior tennis with me that are still here. And the staff stays.
What is your favorite student level to teach?
A student who wants to improve. Anyone who has the desire.
How about your favorite move?
Volleys. Most women are afraid of the net, so they don’t like to go to the net. So I make everyone go to the net. You can win the point faster from up there.
Thanks, Kathy!
Do you have a question for our head pro, Kathy Neil? Post your question as a comment to this post, and she’ll answer it.
Take it from Guy Petruzzelli, personal trainer and swimming instructor, swimming is a great workout. And just like lifting weights or working on your abs, a lesson or two to learn exactly what to do can reap big benefits. Swim lessons aren’t just for kids anymore.
Here are Guy’s Top Five Reasons to Take Swim Lessons, even if you already know how to swim:
1. Comfort: Swim lessons will help you feel more comfortable and safe in the water. Whether you’re in a pool or the ocean, you should at all times feel comfortable so you can enjoy your experience. Swim lessons will teach you that you can make the water your friend no matter how turbulent it is.
2. Increase Your Cardio Fitness: Swimming works all of your muscle groups, and the best way to use those muscles to their fullest potential is to learn how to swim correctly and reap the benefits. The doggie paddle, side stroke or lying on your back are not going to improve your cardio fitness level.
3. Helps You Work Through Injuries: Since swimming is non-weight-bearing, it’s a great way to keep exercising while injured. If your form is good it’s a great way to stay active. Runners are often told to swim to give their muscles and joints a break and if you haven’t worked out for years because of an injury, it’s a great way to begin a fitness program.
4. Safety First: If you know how to swim and you find yourself near someone that begins to panic in the water, you’ll know how to calmly react and get that person and yourself to safety. The better swimmer you become, the stronger you will become, and in turn, you’ll act more confidently in stressful situations.
5. Helping Your Muscles Work as a Unit: Swimming helps other muscles fire correctly. Some of your muscles may not work correctly when you’re doing other exercises. For example, plantar flexion: if I have someone that is swimming and cannot point their toes, and they’ve mentioned they’re having problems running, I can help them. What I see in the water is very different than what I would see in the gym.
For more information on swimming lessons, contact Guy at guy.petruzzelli@midtown.com. Guy also offers lessons for kids as well.
Have you taken swimming lessons? What fitness benefits have you experienced?
Midtown personal trainer Guy Petruzzelli is a professional triathlete and duathlete who brings to the club a wealth of fitness and endurance-based knowledge. After being hit by a car in 1996, he thought his racing career was over. But with much determination and drive, he trained himself back into the game.
Here is a glimpse of what keeps him striving toward the next finish line:
Nicole: How did you get into fitness?
Guy: I started sports at a young age, and I played football and basketball in grammar school. I always stayed active, even in the summer with friends. Actual “fitness” really became critical to me in high school swimming. While swimming for the varsity team, I began to understand what it meant to be fit aside from just swimming.
Once I started working for the park district as a lifeguard on the lake front, it became critical to understand how to do other things besides just swim. I had to run and row as well. During our breaks, we would do push-ups, pull-ups and other basic exercises to stay fit.
While preparing to compete against other lifeguard crews for the Lifeguard Games and the National Lifeguard Championships, I was exposed to a variety of different fitness techniques and experiences. I always loved the idea of pushing harder, going further, and learning more.
Nicole: How has your training paid off?
Guy: In the last three years I’ve been granted a pro card by USA Triathlon and ITU, the International Triathlon Union to compete as a professional. That allows me to participate in higher profile races and gain better sponsorships. It also gives me the opportunity to interact with a higher level of athletes from all over the world. I’m now able to race for the United States in international competitions, which is an unbelievable feeling. I race from February to early November, about 20 races a year.
Nicole: How did you transition from giving swim lessons to working as a trainer?
Guy: Becoming a trainer is new for me but my passion for fitness has just gotten stronger over time.
It started close to home helping family members with illnesses and knowing it could have been curtailed if they would have taken care of themselves. Then I came to Midtown and developed a deeper understanding of health and fitness-related issues. I wanted to be able to take my fitness knowledge and help others.
Now, what excites me about fitness now isn’t as much “How can it help me?” but instead, ”How can I help other people?” by using my racing experiences and techniques I use to increase fitness through nutrition, exercise, and sleep.
Nicole: We know you are super healthy, but you have to have a vice in there somewhere. What two foods do you always have at home: one healthy and one not-so-healthy?
Guy: I always have 100% pure Italian almond butter as a healthy snack, and I drink regular Sprite as a treat.
Have a question for Guy? You can e-mail him at: guy.petruzzelli@midtown.com
And stay tuned for Guy’s Top 5 Reasons to Take Adult Swim Lessons coming soon.
