Meet the Team

Steve Ondish, Managing Partner and Director of Tennis at MRC, is a leading figure in the world of tennis coaching. As a former top 10 USTA Eastern junior player and collegiate athlete at Temple University, Steve's passion for tennis has driven him to develop Tennis Systems, a cutting-edge approach that combines tennis-specific fitness with skill development for optimal results.

With a reputation as a trailblazer in tennis instruction, Steve has trained highly ranked and blue-chip tennis recruits, producing successful athletes who have excelled at renowned universities such as Columbia, Vanderbilt, and Wake Forest. With over 25 years of coaching experience, Steve is dedicated to changing the way tennis is taught and shaping the future of the sport.

Alexandra Kiick is an American tennis player. Kiick has won seven singles and two doubles titles on the ITF Women's Circuit. In June 2019, she reached her career-high singles ranking of world No. 126. In May 2014, she peaked at No. 214 in the doubles rankings.

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Kiick's parents are mother Mary, a former professional softball player, and father Jim Kiick, a former NFL player who won two Super Bowls with the Miami Dolphins. Her mother introduced her to tennis at the age of nine. Kiick was coached at USTA by Kathy Rinaldi and Adam Peterson. Her idol growing up was Kim Clijsters.

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Tom Clear, our Assistant Director of Tennis, joined MRC in 2017. With over 30 years in the tennis industry, Tom has worked with ATP & WTA professionals, top college players, and highly ranked juniors. He has extensive experience in High Performance programs, including a tenure at the USTA Player Development East Training Center.

Tom has also coached the Eastern Section 12's National Zonal Team, USTA/Eastern High-Performance Camp, and USTA National Talent ID Camp, and is a member of the USTA Eastern Section Coaches Commission. Known for his expertise in tennis strategy, tactics, and the mental aspect of the game, Tom has helped his students achieve great success in reaching their goals.

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Howard Sherman, a fixture at MRC since its relaunch in 2015, is a passionate and experienced tennis professional committed to coaching players of all levels. As MRC's first pro hire post-reopening, Howard has been instrumental in shaping the club's junior programs, including the successful 10U, AJP,  and Junior High-Performance Programs.

 

Howard is SafePlay and was PTR certified, ensuring a safe and supportive environment for all his players. His coaching approach has helped many young athletes develop into top-ranked juniors and college recruits, including Kobe Siegle (blue-chip recruit) and Aarush Jupalli (four-star recruit), who started their journeys with him. Howard continues to coach and work with standout players such as Mark Krupkin (blue-chip recruit committed to Stanford), Cavan Donnelly (blue-chip recruit), and Rohan Kondhawekar (four-star recruit), supporting each player in achieving their personal best and fostering a lifelong love of the game.

Bret has over a decade of experience in sports and personal training. As a former collegiate football player and protégé of an NFL Strength and Conditioning coach, Bret is passionate about helping kids reach their physical potential. He is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) and a Certified Personal Trainer (C-PT).

Bret works with a wide range of clients, from kids as young as 7 to adults as old as 80, focusing on balance, functional strength, and basic weight training. Bret believes that the goal for any athlete is to be to move efficiently and effectively in their sport to give them the best chance at success. Bret works with the kids in our home school programs and our AJP programs as well to give them a basic understanding of strength training.

Raja Budhu is a PTR certified tennis coach with a passion for coaching players of all ages and skill levels. He currently works with the 10 & Under Program as well as other junior and adult clinics at MRC. Raja's love for the game of tennis began during his time playing on the MSU men's tennis team, where he honed his skills and developed a deep understanding of the game.

Following his playing career, Raja became the tennis coach at Immaculate Conception and later at Mount Saint Dominic High School, where he helped guide his teams to success both on and off the court. With his years of experience both playing and coaching, Raja is a valuable asset to the MRC coaching staff.

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Brittany LaBruna, a lifelong tennis player who started at the young age of 3, has had an impressive career. As a USTA junior player, she excelled and went on to become a four-star college tennis recruit. Enrolling at William Paterson University, Brittany played first singles all four years, achieving remarkable success. With a career singles record of 67-6, she was a two-time All-American and a winner of the ITA regionals twice.

Notably, Brittany was awarded the New Jersey Athletic Conference Player of the Year for four consecutive years, making her the first female student-athlete in NJAC history to achieve this in any sport. After graduating, Brittany served as an assistant coach at William Paterson University before joining MRC full-time.

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Frank Suarez, a Venezuelan-born tennis star, rose through the ranks as one of the top juniors in his country. Graduating from Columbus State University in Georgia, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame for his remarkable college tennis career. Known for his exceptional skills in singles and doubles play, Frank's contributions helped lead his team to the NCAA Tournament multiple times. 

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With a decade of experience as a member of the PTR Professional Tennis Registry, Frank has dedicated his career to coaching tennis, mentoring juniors, college players, and adults alike.

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Gerald is a High Performance Coach from Brooklyn, NY, now in Hillsborough, NJ, and a certified USPTA/USPTR Professional since 1998. He holds USTA High Performance Sports Science Level 1 certifications in Biomechanics, Motor Learning, Physiology, Sports Psychology, and Nutrition. Gerald has trained numerous Sectional and Nationally Ranked juniors and has a notable stringing career, including the 2022 Australia Open with Yonex.

Since 2004, he's been Lead Stringer for The International Tennis Hall of Fame and since 2017 for the Connecticut Open. Gerald is also a USTA Tournament Director, UTR Verified Organizer, and CPR Certified. His playing background includes being a USTA ETA ranked junior and achieving several USTA titles, including 2019 USTA Mixed Doubles 8.0, where he ranked #2 in the Nation.

Yannik Mahlangu's tennis journey began at 4 years old, playing with family at a local park before swiftly moving on to national tournaments. He consistently held the #1 spot in the Intermountain section across age groups from 10's to 18's.

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After his junior tennis success, Yannik attended Georgetown University, playing singles and doubles throughout his four years. Graduating in 2017, he pursued a finance career while staying connected to tennis through coaching and playing.

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In 2021, Yannik founded his own financial firm, blending his love for tennis with his financial acumen. Coaching has been a deeply rewarding aspect of his career, and he is excited to bring his passion to Mountainside Racquet Club, believing tennis was a cornerstone of his childhood and coaching allows him to give back to the sport.

Ramy is no stranger to the tennis world. After playing #1 at MIT and competing in the ATP Satellite Circuit he has learned exactly what it takes to make you a great tennis player. Ramy has 20+ years of tennis teaching experience and is currently teaching in Westfield and the neighboring areas.

After working with Steve for longer than he cares to admit, he has a great understanding of the Director’s Tennis Systems. Ramy’s deep love for the game has allowed him to continually improve and grow as both a coach and a person and he is eager to share what he has learned, including Steve’s Tennis Systems.

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