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Kids Love Henry The Sports Bug
Henry the Sports Bug Pre-School and Elementary Tennis Enrichment Program
Rich Neher
August 13, 2024
I have noticed a colorful Kia Soul at various tennis venues and events in the San Fernando Valley of Southern California for several years. The car is a great promotion on wheels for Henry the Sports Bug!
 Melissa Detwiler | Recently, I was lucky to have the opportunity to meet the owner, Melissa Detwiler, who kindly invited me to attend one of her Preschool Tennis Enrichment Classes at Wagon Wheel Nursery School and Kindergarten in the Hollywood area of Los Angeles. |
Melissa has a deep-rooted passion for tennis. Allow me to provide you with a brief overview of her notable achievements:
Started playing tennis at age 7 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Full scholarship at Nick Bollettieri’s Academy at ages 11 and 14
Played Satellites and on the Clemson and BU teams
Middle School tennis coach at SoCal’s Campbell Hall
Director of After School Elementary Tennis at Campbell Hall
Since 2012 Owner/Creator of Henry the Sports Bug
Melissa and some of her team members
From her website: ”Beyond her coaching role, Melissa aspires to inspire children worldwide through the Adventures of Henry the Sports Bug After School Tennis program to preschools and elementary schools across the nation.”
Pictured below is Henry the Sports Bug merchandise: T-shirts, hats, book series.
 Henry the Sports Bug merch | Melissa’s book series is “designed to teach kids the benefits of sports through fun and engaging stories.” “Playing a sport and being athletic has so many lifelong benefits, and the ability to get those benefits and life lessons while having fun is priceless.” |
Wagon Wheel School aims to foster a “loving environment that is beautiful, inviting, and full of laughter. As a learning environment, we use our outdoor spaces just as much as our indoor ones.” |  Wagon Wheel School Hollywood |
Melissa and her two assistants Izzy and Ilana had two classes of preschoolers this morning and they all seemed to have so much fun hitting low-compression tennis balls, running over agility ladders, and learning the basics of tennis.
Preschoolers getting ready to learn to hit volleys over the net
Melissa Detwiler aims to inspire children globally to lead active and healthy lives, both physically and mentally, as well as to cultivate their intellect. This objective is pursued through her ongoing series of books and upcoming cartoons. "I am eager to explore how the character Henry the Sports Bug can ignite enthusiasm among young children for the forthcoming LA28 Olympic Games."
The Henry the Sports Bug Assistants Ilana and Izzy
 Kids love Henry the Sports Bug | The Henry the Sports Bug After School Tennis program works at 30 local schools in the San Fernando Valley and on L.A.’s Westside. Melissa is eager and ready to expand the program to more schools and pre-schools. |
Melissa currently has 15 Team Henry staff members and is looking for more assistants who are great with kids.
Designs for new Henry the Sports Bug tennis racquets
For more information and how you could become part of the Henry the Sports Bug family, contact Melissa: [email protected].