Building a Program from Scratch

At Boiling Springs High School, organized tennis did not exist until Steven Lubart began working to make it a reality.

His vision is now taking shape in South Middleton Township, located in central Pennsylvania, where new community courts and a first-of-its-kind high school program are opening doors for the next generation of players.

Raised in Chambersburg, Pa., Lubart was first introduced to tennis in elementary school by his P.E. teacher. After a four-year high school tennis career, he continued his play at Shippensburg University, where he founded and led the club team after the varsity program was cut. Because club tennis had not been established at that point, Lubart took it upon himself to advocate for the sport, reaching out to local colleges to organize matches.

“Back then, I was always fighting for tennis and was always advocating for it,” said Lubart.

After graduating from high school, Lubart earned his Professional Tennis Registry (PTR) certification and began teaching at local clubs. Those early experiences laid the foundation for Lubart’s passion for growing the game and expanding access to tennis. Today, that commitment is on full display in his own community.

Lubart stayed closely connected with the Athletic Department, continuing to advocate for the addition of a high school team at Boiling Springs. With the support of the Athletic Director, the program is now beginning as a club team – an exciting first step toward establishing a future varsity program.

This spring marks the program’s first club season, with 16 boys currently on the team and six exhibition matches scheduled. The club practices twice a week and is already attracting multi-sport athletes. The girls’ team is set to run in the fall. Lubart hopes the program will reach varsity status within a year.

“The most rewarding part is finally reaching the point where the club is real, like picking up the uniforms and getting matches on the calendar,” said Lubart. “It’s amazing to see the kids show up and make it official, rather than me just talking about what’s going to happen.”

Looking ahead, Lubart hopes to help other communities facing similar challenges. He believes reaching varsity status will continue to grow the game locally and create more opportunities for players. Now, with a growing program and new courts in place, these opportunities are becoming a reality for a new generation of players in South Middleton Township.