92-year-old NC tennis champ proves age is just a number

RALEIGH, NC (WRAL) — If you venture to the Raleigh Racquet Club, you’ll find 92-year-old Tio Campanile running the baseline on a daily basis.

“He’s in good physical shape. He moves very well,” said Campanile’s coach and friend Andrew Terrell.

“I’m in pretty good shape,” Campanile added. “I work a lot at staying in shape.”

Terrell taught Campanile how to play tennis when he was in his 50s because golf just wasn’t his sport.

“(Andrew) could tell I was quite frustrated,” Campanile said, “and as I passed the court, he said, ‘Why don’t you try tennis?'”

Campanile has been dishing out aces ever since. “With (Andrew’s) teachings, I got started with tennis, and I thoroughly enjoy it,” he said. Campanile has enjoyed it so much, he’s still showing off his forehand at the age of 92 and is the U.S. Tennis Association’s clay court 90 & above national champ and the grass runner-up.

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