Iowa native returns home to teach tennis
Women’s history month is March 1-31 and celebrates the contribution of women in American History. USTA Iowa recognizes Nicole Berger of Norwalk for her contributions to the tennis community.
A few years ago, Nicole Berger moved back to Iowa after a ten-year stint in Key West, Florida, where she started up her own tennis business. Even though work was plentiful, the sun was shining and she lived in paradise, she came home to Iowa to be near friends and family.
“It’s been a really positive experience, moving back to Iowa,” she said.
Berger runs a Community Tennis Association in Norwalk called “Iowa Tennis 4 U”, is USTA Iowa’s District First Vice President and also coaches the tennis teams at Norwalk High School. Her favorite part of teaching and coaching tennis is the impact she’s had on children.
“If I can make an impact on children in a positive way, improve their self esteem in an hour on a tennis court, and create good sports, good humans and good people, I’ve done my job,” she said.
Originally from Des Moines, Berger picked up the sport of tennis when she was at the Wakonda Country Club and Bunny Bruning taught her the game. She played at Dowling Catholic High School and then at Northwest Missouri State until she transferred to Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Michigan.
In her new position as First Vice President for USTA Iowa, she’s been able to see the positive impacts in tennis through grants the USTA can provide.
“The growth Iowa has had, the positive impact is great, and there’s still a bigger impact to be made,” she said. “Tennis is a really positive sport and it creates communities.”
Berger also runs the wheelchair tennis programs and is planning on bringing Iowa’s first wheelchair tennis tournament to Des Moines. She has two kids and met her husband nine years ago at a tennis conference.
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