Back to school, back to tennis within USTA Missouri Valley
With the 2025-26 school year nearly here, USTA Missouri Valley spotlights student-athletes, teams, coaches and providers from across the section making an impact in local schools.
🏫 Thanks to a community-backed bond measure, the tennis teams at Reeds Spring High School finally have a home-court advantage with six new courts on campus. Reeds Spring—located near Branson within USTA Missouri—has had a high school tennis program for 25-plus years and now has a state-of-the-art complex to call their own. Check out the full story by clicking here.
👨🏻 Tennis legend J.C. Louderback was inducted into the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame on Aug. 2. Louderback coached the Arkansas City High School boys' tennis team for 36 years, was president of the Kansas District Tennis Association and is the namesake of the Louderback Family Tennis Complex. Learn more about the USTA Missouri Valley Hall of Famer by clicking here.
🏠 With homeschool numbers continuing to surge in the United States, USTA Missouri Valley is meeting families where they are to help them assimilate tennis into their homeschool curriculum. Learn how the section is tapping into this growing market and showcasing tennis can be played anywhere by clicking here.
🎾 USTA Iowa juniors gained match experience and showed team spirit this summer in the Junior Team Tennis Des Moines local league. It was the second summer the JTT league ran, and there was a JTT fall league as well. The league helps prep players for competing on their school teams; learn more here.
👨🏻 Longtime tennis coach Richard Strange continues to make an impact in the Salina, Kansas community. Strange has coached at Bethany College and Salina Central High School, racking up several team championships. He serves on the USTA Kansas Board, teaches tennis at Genesis Salina and captains a USTA League team. Read more here.
The Reeds Spring School District's new tennis complex at Wolf Pack Park in southwest Missouri.
J.C. Louderback, longtime high school tennis coach and 2025 Kansas Sports Hall of Fame inductee.
Homeschool tennis opportunities—like this clinic specifically for homeschoolers in Nebraska—continue to emerge as USTA Missouri Valley staff members like Lindsay Hall hone in on the emerging market.
A Junior Team Tennis local league in Des Moines for 14U and 18U competitors took place this summer to prep players for competing at their schools.
Former college and high school tennis coach Richard Strange now captains a USTA Kansas league team.
A school training at East St. Louis Senior High School in East St. Louis, Illinois equipped PE teachers with the know-how to add tennis into their curriculum.
Members of the Siske family in Ralston, Nebraska have served as coaches in the community for years.
- The Reeds Spring School District's new tennis complex at Wolf Pack Park in southwest Missouri.
- J.C. Louderback, longtime high school tennis coach and 2025 Kansas Sports Hall of Fame inductee.
- Homeschool tennis opportunities—like this clinic specifically for homeschoolers in Nebraska—continue to emerge as USTA Missouri Valley staff members like Lindsay Hall hone in on the emerging market.
- A Junior Team Tennis local league in Des Moines for 14U and 18U competitors took place this summer to prep players for competing at their schools.
- Former college and high school tennis coach Richard Strange now captains a USTA Kansas league team.
- A school training at East St. Louis Senior High School in East St. Louis, Illinois equipped PE teachers with the know-how to add tennis into their curriculum.
- Members of the Siske family in Ralston, Nebraska have served as coaches in the community for years.
🏫 USTA Missouri Valley staff ran a school training for PE teachers within East St. Louis School District 189 in East St. Louis, Illinois on Aug. 7. The school training equipped educators with the skills, drills and resources to implement tennis into their PE curriculum. Read more by clicking here.
🎾 Coaching, teaching and inspiring through sports—especially tennis—is a family affair for the Siske family in Ralston, Nebraska. Their coaching legacy continues to make an impact at Ralston High School and beyond, and you can check out their story here.
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