Competition Meets Community
Searching for a tennis program that is the perfect combination of competition and community?
USTA Junior Team Tennis is the gem you’ve been looking for! It’s easy to get registered, and players are placed on teams that are tailored to their experience level.
USTA Kansas Junior Team Tennis coordinator Janet Glaser runs the summer league with over 130 kids from different schools and locations in Kansas. These teams of boys and girls travel to Riverside Tennis Center in Wichita, Kansas, to compete weekly for overall team points. In each Junior Team Tennis weekly competition event over 90 matches are played in a timed format that includes girls/boys singles, girls/boys doubles and mixed doubles.
Junior Team Tennis teams can consist of school teams that want to continue their competition or they can often be a combination of players from different schools and parts of Kansas.
Program participants are of a variety of levels and play experience and use the welcoming Junior Team Tennis environment to work on their skills and make fun memories with friends they would not have had the opportunity to meet otherwise.
Not only do the kids and their parents love the formatting and competition they also thoroughly enjoy fun times with other teammates and opponents who become friends.
Each time a team is playing all of their matches are placed on adjacent courts to give it more of an interactive atmosphere like one would see in collegiate tennis.
We caught up with Junior Team Tennis participants and parents in our 18 & Under league between matches to get their perspective on the program:
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“It's very competitive but it’s a lot more friendly than I thought it would be. Everyone is just so happy to be here which is really fun.” - Ben Voloch, Wichita Collegiate School
“Junior Team Tennis is so much fun in the summer and in the winter. When she comes out here she gets to play her favorite sport. She gets exercise. It keeps her active and engaged. Fun competition. She gets to see all of her friends.” - Mackenzie Evans, parent
“I like that it’s in a format where I can coach and talk to my players during matches just like we would during a regular season.” - Ricardo Sanchez, Coach for McPherson High School/Junior Team Tennis Coach
“I feel like it really helps you grow. You know how to do match points and how to score and that type of stuff so you can go to a tournament and know what you’re doing.” - Emma Richardson, Augusta Middle/High School
“Just come and try your best. There are some really high level players here and some that are just beginning to learn the game. I think that’s good for the beginner players and helps them progress as well.” - Kinsey Nichols, Wichita Collegiate School
“We make each other laugh, we play fun games or we just hype each other up. You’re playing on the courts during these games and then you just look over and your teammate is laughing over there. It’s fun.” - Joanna Nguyen, Southeast High School
Many have noticed the fun and wholesome atmosphere that captivates the attention of people visiting the facility during Junior Team Tennis. The program is designed to help players improve their play. It is designed to help them develop their character and craft a sport and friendships that they will carry with them throughout their lives.
For information on future Junior Team Tennis leagues contact Janet Glaser.
USTA Kansas Junior Team Tennis District Championship Photo Gallery
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