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.