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03/31/2019 12:00 AMCallie Riggio will be making a welcome return to the Valley Regional tennis program this spring. Callie, who played for the girls’ tennis team at Valley, is taking the reins as head coach of the boys’ team in the 2019 season. Callie will work alongside her mother Sally Riggio, who is head coach of the girls’ squad.
Callie served as senior captain while playing No. 1 singles for the Warriors in 2017. Now a coach, Callie plans to employ some of that leadership experience as she tries to guide Valley to a Shoreline Conference title.
Callie’s family has a long tennis tradition at Valley Regional. Callie’s older sisters Lexie and Taylor, her younger brother Jeff, and her mother Sally all played for the Warriors. Now just two years removed from high school, Callie feels excited that she’s coming back home.
“It definitely brought back a lot of memories of when I was on the team. I love it. I love Valley, and I love the team,” says Callie. “We are definitely more of a family than just a team. I love the atmosphere and being with everyone.”
Callie believes that the combined practices between Valley’s boys’ and girls’ tennis teams will help develop a family way among the Warriors in which both coaches have the opportunity to provide input. Callie’s mom has had a huge influence on her game. The mother-and-daughter tandem still competes in tournaments together, and they can both can offer plenty of firsthand experience to either team.
“My mom’s a big role model for me. We actually just played in a travel tournament together. Being able to coach with my mom is a lot of fun,” Callie says. “When she became the girls’ coach last year, she decided join the boys’ and girls’ practices. It’s nice, because we can oversee the whole team, and my mom and I can both offer our thoughts.”
Callie’s wealth of experience should provide a big benefit for her athletes. Callie knows what it’s like to be a No. 1 singles player in the Shoreline Conference, although she’s also seen her fair share of time on the doubles court.
“It’s beneficial that I was a singles player, but I can offer a lot of strategies for both singles and doubles,” says Callie, who lives in Essex and attends Central Connecticut State University. “Playing doubles is easier in a way and, with my mom, we can build strategies together. It helps playing with my family, and it helps having that experience as a singles No. 1.”
Callie has spent many hours working at the Old Lyme Tennis Club. That’s where Callie was inspired to get into coaching after working with UConn women’s tennis Head Coach Glenn Marshall and assistant coach Hailey Barrett. When Callie heard that the position at Valley was opening, she decided to take the necessary steps to become certified and apply.
“I help out with the tennis club in Old Lyme. That drove me to apply. My boss there is the women’s tennis coach for UConn. Watching him run his practices was a motivation for me to go out for the Valley position,” Callie says. “I’ve been working toward coaching at the high school level. When the position was put up, I went for it, and it went in my favor. Being around tennis all of my life, I want to pass on what I know.”
Valley Regional Athletic Director Jeff Swan is happy to have Callie back in the fold as a head coach. Swan has already seen enthusiasm in the turnout for the boys’ team this season. With the combined efforts of both Riggios on the court, Swan thinks this could be a big year for Valley tennis.
“We’re very excited to have Callie on board. She was a great tennis player for us, and she knows so much about the game. Plus, she and her mom working together are a great duo,” Swan says. “Callie understands everything about what it takes to be a coach. She’s got a lot of knowledge, and it’s all about getting better. We struck gold here.”
Callie says the Warriors are shaping up nicely as they get ready to step on the court. Valley has a wide variety of talent in different grades and, by season’s end, Callie believes that the team will be competing for a Shoreline Conference crown.
“We have a few seniors on the varsity team, a couple of juniors, and we have several underclassmen. Some of these kids have come in playing at a high level already. I have a lot of strong players on the team,” Callie says. “My goal for the boys’ team is to try to win a Shoreline title. These kids are all really talented.”
Callie can see herself coaching for a long time. Callie enjoys coaching, and she believes it’s helping her just as she’s helping her athletes. Callie hopes that she and her mom can encourage as many kids as possible to sign up for their squads and have fun.
“I definitely want to stick with coaching and see where it takes me. It’s helping me as leader. I want to be a role model for these kids and, hopefully, I can achieve that,” says Callie, who thanks her grandfather Jeff Gould, Swan, Principal Michael Barile, and Superintendent Dr. Ruth Levy. “With my mom and I being coaches, we’re trying to create a family atmosphere for the tennis team. I hope a lot of people see that and want to join the team.”