Tennis
Otmanski holds court again at annual RBHS tennis tourney – Riverside-Brookfield Landmark
The tennis courts at Riverside Brookfield High School bring back many memories for 2010 graduate Michael Otmanski.
“I met my now wife on the RB tennis courts. We both took part in the summer tennis camp of 2008,” he recalled. “I played on the tennis team all four years and as a senior played No. 1 doubles. We regularly won our conference tournament and made it to the second round of sectionals senior year.”
Otmanski returns to the courts every summer to participate in the annual RBHS Tennis Tournament fundraiser for the program.
This year’s event is July 12-13 and 14 (if needed) for doubles, including mixed doubles, and July 26-27 and 28 (if needed) for singles, which initially had been scheduled for June.
Registration information is available at For more information, contact RBHS boys and girls tennis coach Sam Weiss, weisss@rbhs208.net.
Otmanski has participated every year. One of his favorite moments was reaching the doubles final with his father in 2021.
“That’s been a special kind of full-circle experience. Even though we can both be hotheads on the court, we work well together and it’s a lot of fun,” he said. “I’ve had great times playing in the invite. The bracket always has a fun mix of current students on the team, school alumni, and friends and family who have become regulars at the tournament. This competition is now a staple of my whole family’s summer, a fun event and great motivation to keep my game sharp. [Coach Weiss] has done a great job creating, organizing and running this event.”
The tournament is open to all community players with a double-elimination, best-of-three-sets match format and 1-AD scoring. Prizes will be awarded for first through third place.
Fees are $35 for singles and $30 per doubles player. Participants who sign up for both singles and doubles receive a $15 discount. Students (age 8-18) receive a $10 discount ($25 for singles and doubles).
“Tennis is right up there with the most technically difficult sports to play,” Otmanski said. “Couple that with the fitness required and the mental chess match against your opponent, and that’s what makes it so rewarding when you perfectly execute a shot to win a point.”
Otmanski began playing tennis around age 10 after his father introduced him to the sport and encouraged his interest. After RBHS, he played with the club team at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
“Though I didn’t care much for [tennis] at first, I did end up falling in love with the sport at my own pace,” he said.
In addition to playing, Otmanski loves watching matches. He’s been known to wake up at 2 a.m. with a full breakfast to follow live coverage of the Australian Open.
He enjoys playing both singles and doubles.
“One of the most unique aspects of singles is the isolation,” he noted. “There are no timeouts or opportunities to strategize with coaches and teammates. In doubles, it’s nice to have someone to bounce ideas off and provide a mental lift at times.”
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