Coach Michael Pizzo laughs when he discusses the talented Evelyn Flint.

There’s no joke involved, but the Bothell High varsity tennis coach wishes Flint, 14, wasn’t attending Leota Junior High — a feeder school to Woodinville High.

No, she won’t be a Cougar. However, Flint excelled on the Bothell High tennis courts this summer at Pizzo’s Bothell Youth Tennis camps and notched girls-champion honors twice in July.

Flint said she’s ready to roll with Leota tennis this fall.

“(I improved) on my serving. I still need to work on it, but it’s getting better. I’m getting my speed up a little bit,” said Flint. “It was really fun and I made a lot of friends. The drills you can bring over to other schools help, and everybody learns a lot there.

“(Coach Pizzo) is not strict at all. There’s some conditioning — it’s all fun.”

Leota’s team was undefeated last year, and No. 3 doubles player Flint said she hopes to try her hand at the singles ladder this season. Flint took her racket along on her family’s east-coast summer vacation and hit some courts along the way.

Her keys to qualifying for singles this year: “I’m gonna have to stay focused during tryouts.”

On the Bothell High side, senior-to-be Davis Kimball won the boys championship at the second camp while David Maggs took the title the first time around.

Kimball played junior-varsity tennis for Bothell last year and hopes to crack into the varsity lineup this time out.

He feels Pizzo’s energetic coaching style give players confidence to succeed.

“The drills and conditioning help us gain a full momentum going for the fall, help us improve our skills,” said Kimball, noting that he’s taken a conditioning class and private lessons over the summer to go along with Pizzo’s camp. “I just like that it gives me plenty of time to get in shape and get all the courage I need if I’m to face an opponent.”

Pizzo, who will hit his 25th-year coaching mark this fall, teams up with Bothell High assistant coach Bob Moore at the camps.

“We’re getting kids interested in tennis at their schools and to participate in a life-long sport,” said Pizzo, whose camps feature players in grades 3-12 and are supported by local grocery stores and tennis shops. “We’re trying to get the community involved, and it’s gotten bigger than we anticipated.”

For information, visit www.bothellyouthtennis.org.