Why Junior Tennis Needs a Data Backbone ft Dave Mowrey & George Opelka

Welcome to Season 15 Episode 42 of the ParentingAces Podcast! This week, Lisa Stone talks with Dave Mowrey and George Opelka about how Ion Sport evolved from Ion Court, why the platform is about more than scorekeeping, and how it is helping tennis become a more connected experience from juniors to college and beyond.

Dave Mowrey is Founder and CEO of IONSport and alongtime technology executive and entrepreneur with deep experience in streaming video, sports technology, SaaS and data-driven media.

Today, Dave is bringing that experience in video, data and connected technology to racquet sports through IONSport, the destination for college tennis, while also experiencing the junior tennis journey firsthand as the parent of a competitive junior player.

George Opelka has experienced the tennis-parent journey from a child's first racquet all the way to the ATP Tour. His son, Reilly Opelka, began playing at age four, and George has remained closely involved as his parent and longtime advisor through junior development and professional competition.

George also brings more than 30 years of technology and business leadership, including senior positions with tennis-technology companies SwingVision and IONSport. He brings a candid perspective on supporting a young player's dreams, navigating the pressures and sacrifices of competitive tennis, and keeping both the child and family grounded throughout the journey.

Key Takeaways for Tennis Parents

1. Look beyond the final score. A win or loss tells only part of the story. Match data—such as serve percentage, break points, momentum shifts, and match patterns—can help you understand what your child is actually developing.

2. Help your child interpret matches. Encourage your player to explain what happened in the match, what improved, and what they want to work on next. Learning to reflect is more valuable than simply focusing on whether they won or lost.

3. Treat losses as learning opportunities. A loss can still show progress. Help your child identify specific improvements and communicate them clearly rather than treating the result as the only measure of success.

4. Build better recruiting conversations. College coaches want to see coachability, self-awareness, and growth. A player who can share match data and explain their takeaways demonstrates maturity beyond a win-loss record.

5. Use technology to stay informed—not to add pressure. Live scoring, video, and statistics can help parents follow matches remotely and support development. The goal is to create useful conversations, not to overwhelm your child with constant analysis.

6. Choose tournament experiences that keep kids engaged. Clear schedules, live updates, streaming, and accessible match information can make tournaments less stressful and more enjoyable. A positive event experience can help young players stay motivated in the sport.

For more information on IONSport, contact them at support@ionsport.com. The IONSport App is available for players, parents, coaches and fans on iOS and Google Play.

Instagram: @ionsportapp

X: @ionsportapp

LinkedIn: IONSport

As always, Lisa is available for one-to-one consults to work with you as you find your way through junior tennis and the college recruiting process. You can purchase and book online through our website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://parentingaces.com/shop/category/consult-with-lisa-stone/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. Please be sure to check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠online shop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

CREDITS

Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE

Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone