San Marcos, CA — The 10U Woodland Park Samurais, a youth tennis team coached by Coach Fabiana Ibanez of the San Marcos Tennis Organization (SMTO), recently earned third place in their group at the USTA Junior Team Tennis (JTT) Sectionals, a major accomplishment for the young players and a reflection of the region’s growing tennis movement.
The Samurais demonstrated strong teamwork, sportsmanship, and skill throughout the event, finishing third in their group against tough competition from across Southern California. The team’s journey is especially inspiring given their roots. Six years ago, Coach Fabiana launched a small tennis program through the City of San Marcos — a simple but powerful effort to bring more recreational opportunities to local youth. From that city program, San Marcos Tennis Organization was born: a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to promoting physical, educational, and social development through tennis.
“Some of these kids started with me on city courts using donated racquets,” said Coach Fabiana. “Now they’re competing at Sectionals. It shows what happens when we invest in kids and believe in community-based sports.”
Today, SMTO serves youth across North County San Diego, using the USTA’s Net Generation model to provide high-quality tennis instruction in a fun and supportive environment. The program emphasizes integrity, leadership, and healthy competition — values that extend well beyond the game.
With demand continuing to rise and courts often filled to capacity, SMTO hopes this success story will inspire greater investment in tennis infrastructure locally. The organization is actively seeking grants and is optimistic about working with the City of San Marcos to bring additional courts to the community.
To learn more about the San Marcos Tennis Organization, upcoming programs, or how to support youth tennis in the region, visit https://playtennis.usta.com/sanmarcostennisorganization.
