Liz Bothwell to Open New Tennis Center in Salina
March is Women’s History Month, and here at USTA Kansas, we’re proud to say that we have some incredible women in our district who inspire us each and every day. Liz Bothwell is one such woman.
I had the opportunity to ask Liz some questions about her tennis journey and how it led to her current position helping build–and run–a brand-new tennis complex in Salina. As you can see, Liz has dedicated much of her life to playing and coaching tennis all over the country, and we’re so grateful she’s decided to call our district home.
Can you please share your tennis background and how it led to your current role opening the new tennis complex?
“I started playing tennis at four years old at the local city tennis center in Pensacola, Florida, and fell in love with the game instantly. As I got older, I continued to train and travel as a competitive junior tennis player in the Florida section. My first teaching job was working at a local academy where I had the opportunity to coach players of all levels, abilities, and ages–this was where I realized tennis is my passion!
“After a few years, I transitioned to a position at the Mobile Tennis Center in Mobile, Alabama, where I focused more on the administrative side of tennis, including facility operations, management, and growing community programming and tournaments. Following several years in Mobile, I had the unique opportunity to manage a community-based tennis center in Salina, Kansas, and run the nonprofit side of the Salina Tennis Alliance.
“No matter where I’ve been, I have always felt grateful to have a career I am passionate about.”
What have been the challenges and wins when it comes to a job of this scale?
“The biggest win has been seeing this project come to fruition. Seeing what goes into building a facility–from bare dirt, to concrete forms, to actual courts on the ground–has been incredibly rewarding. Now that the courts are open, seeing kids play and have a great time with their families is wonderful.”
What advice would you give female players considering taking their skill set to the next level as you have?
“Change begins at the end of your comfort zone. If you want to take your skill set to the next level, you must push yourself past what you are comfortable with. This could mean signing up for a new clinic, registering for a tournament, or asking the new player at your club for a practice match.
“There is no such thing as failure if you’re actively trying to improve.”
Please join us in congratulating Liz on the opening of the new tennis center–we know it’ll be a tremendous asset to the city of Salina, and we can’t wait to watch it flourish!
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