Tennis: Kitchen nets US spot

Warming up before training at Scarbro Tennis Centre in Glen Innes, Lochlan Kitchen sends a powerful forehand to his opponent. He follows through on an equally mighty backhand.

The 18-year-old Northlander's tennis skills have caught the eye of an American coach and he's been selected for a scholarship to Bluefield College in Virginia.

In August, Lochlan will go to Bluefield College, where his tuition and on-campus board will be covered for a year.

As well as hours on-court he'll be studying for a degree in exercise and sports medicine. "playing a lot more tennis there and training most days in a team environment," says the former Whangarei local who now lives in Greenlane.

He plays for Remuera Rackets Club's first-grade team and occasionally for the Caro Bowl reserve team.

A former Whangarei Boys' High School student, Lochlan has spent the past two years of school boarding at Auckland Grammar. This year, he has been coaching tennis at a primary school and working full-time in a veterinary warehouse.

"I started competing in tournaments when I was 11 and have played in national tournaments over the years.

"When I was 15. I went to France for three months with my coach from Whangarei.

"We played a lot of tennis in a different environment and there was better competition so it helped to improve my game."

Last year, his Papua New Guinea heritage was acknowledged when he represented that country at the Pacific Games in New Caledonia.

Lochlan gained his American scholarship through Auckland company Play Atlantic, which he heard about through other tennis players who had been awarded scholarships. "I liked the sound of it so I had a chat with them and it seemed like they knew what they were talking about."

He's thrilled and hopes playing in the US will make him a more confident player. "I'll be playing different players all the time, which is something you just don't get here in NZ."

Play Atlantic directors Sheridan Adams and Charlie Bartlett started the company in the UK in 2003, having both returned from tennis scholarships to American universities.

"From our experiences we realised it's quite a difficult process to work through," says Sheridan, "and we thought we could help others to figure it out."

The men moved to NZ a couple of years ago, bringing the company with them and developing it into a full-time job.

"We've made about 50 placements in the last nine months. We're placing kids from the UK, South Africa, Australia, but our main focus is New Zealanders."

The company offers students a range of packages from the free, basic option to one worth several thousand dollars to help build their profiles and get noticed by coaches in more than 20 sports.

Sheridan says tennis, football and golf are the main sports signed. The company also caters to those seeking academic and performing or visual arts scholarships. "Most of the kids who get sporting scholarships also get some academic scholarship," he says.

As well as tuition fees, room and board, some scholarships include books, health insurance and flights. "But it depends on how good you are at your sport."

Sheridan says coaches contact the company daily asking about potential recruits.