From P.E. tennis classes to acts of courage: Back-to-school news and feature stories

With the 2026-27 school year approaching, USTA Missouri Valley showcases the people and programs helping grow the game among students and young athletes. Learn more about bringing tennis into schools by clicking here.

🎾 Dowling Catholic High School tennis player Marek Dessimoz showed extraordinary courage when he helped rescue a woman from a burning home on Mother's Day. Read more about his life-saving act of heroism by viewing this story.

🏫 Westminster Christian Academy is giving the St. Louis tennis community a boost by resurfacing all 12 of its courts with support from USTA Tennis Venue Services funding. The upgraded facility will continue serving student-athletes, local players and USTA events. View more here.

🏫 Hundreds of Oklahoma City elementary students are getting their first taste of tennis through First Serve OKC's P.E. Takeover Days. The program transforms school gyms into tennis courts while introducing students to the sport in a fun, engaging way. Read the full story here.

☀️ Nearly 90 elementary-aged kids learned tennis, built confidence and had fun at a summer camp in Bellevue, Neb., led by local high school coaches and supported by a USTA grant. See how high school volunteers took the camp to the next level by clicking here.

🏆 A total of 32 high school girls' tennis teams from Missouri, Illinois and Arkansas will compete in the Joplin Interstate Championships, a unique early-season event that gives players fresh competition and coaches strategic lineup decisions. Learn more about the huge tourney in Joplin, Mo., here.