Women’s History Month feature: Cindy Klebe

In celebration of Women’s History Month taking place in March USTA Iowa is featuring Cindy Klebe, tennis player, coach and executive board member.

Though she didn’t grow up playing tennis, Cindy Klebe took up the sport in her 30s and is never turning back. Shortly after starting, she looked for play opportunities including local USTA Leagues. She also got involved in a local Community Tennis Association (CTA), the Great River Tennis Association (GRTA) in Muscatine.

“I wanted to play more just starting out, so I started a local USTA Flex League for players in the Quad Cities and Muscatine area for a couple summers,” she said. “That got my foot in the door to where I was encouraged to become a RSPA Tennis Professional, formerly the USPTA.”

Klebe was then asked to join the USTA Iowa Executive Board, where she is second vice president. She helps manage USTA Iowa Awards and is the liaison to the USTA Iowa Officials and Awards committees. Klebe works with the GRTA to provide private, semi-private and group tennis lessons to juniors and adult players in the Muscatine community.

“We work closely with the USTA acquiring grants to help our CTA to put on high-quality tennis programs for our area youth and adults," Klebe said.

When she’s not playing tennis, coaching tennis or serving on a board, Klebe works as a natural resources specialist/park ranger for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), which she has done for the past 31 years. She likes her job because every day is different, which keeps it exciting. On top of that, she is also a personal trainer.

“Fitness and a healthy lifestyle are very important to me,” she said. “I have always been very active, so I need to stay fit and mobile to continue on this path.”

Klebe said Women’s History Month is important because it’s a time to reflect on the achievements and accomplishments of women and can energize and revive the passions of women today. Some of her idols are basketball player Caitlin Clark and tennis pro Madison Keys, who just won her first Grand Slam at the 2025 Australian Open.

“I was so excited for her,” Klebe said. “All her hard work and time in and out of the gym and on the court has proved to her and others that it is possible.”

Klebe said she will retire from the USACE in a few years but will continue to be active and productive. She will continue to teach tennis, personal train, volunteer, travel and build her personal business, Outdoor Fit-N-Fun Adventures in Fitness.

To view more Women’s History Month stories from across USTA Missouri Valley, click here.