Meet Noah Bortnick Your New Junior Competition Manager

Meet Noah Bortnick, your new Manager of Junior Competition at USTA Missouri Valley.

Noah was born and raised in Kansas City with his three other siblings and grew up as a junior player in the Missouri Valley section. After earning his Sport Management degree at the University of Kansas and working at the NAIA, Overland Park Racquet Club and the Plaza Tennis Center, Noah is now pursuing his Masters of Business Administration from Rockhurst University and working at USTA Missouri Valley.

We asked Noah a few questions to get to know him better: 

USTA.com: How did you get your start in tennis?

Bortnick: When I was about seven or eight, my mom signed me up to be part of the sports camp at Oakwood Country Club. Of all of the sports that we played during this camp, tennis was easily my favorite. Kendell Hale, UMKC head coach and tennis director at Oakwood, let me play in the clinic with the older kids. From there, I began taking lessons from him and my interest in tennis began to take off.

USTA.com: What’s your greatest tennis memory?

Bortnick: Easily, my greatest tennis memory getting to play doubles with my brother, Josh (who now plays for the University of Arkansas). During my senior year of high school at Pembroke Hill in Kansas City, Josh and I got the opportunity to play doubles together throughout the entire season. Although we argued quite a bit at the start, we turned out to be a really good team in the end. Once we actually figured out how to play tennis together, I never enjoyed my time more on the court than playing doubles with my brother. Hopefully, there will be a Bortnick brothers comeback one day!

USTA.com: What’s something you love about working at USTA Missouri Valley?

Bortnick: I have known many of the people across the Missouri Valley since I was a junior in the section, and this is a great opportunity to get to know everyone in a professional setting. I do love that everyone in and out of the office has a real interest in growing the sport.

USTA.com: What are you most excited about when it comes to your new role as Manager of Junior Competition?

Bortnick: I am most excited that I will get to continue working in sport and around junior tennis. Over the last few years, I have worked under Scott Hanover at Overland Park Racquet Club and The Plaza Tennis Center, where I learned a lot about the Missouri Valley, as well as the players, parents, and coaches across the section. This will be a great opportunity to continue working with them and travel the section again.

USTA.com: Do you still play tennis today?

Bortnick: I do still play tennis today! Although I have to divide my time more equally with work, I try to play in tournaments and leagues as much as I possibly can.

USTA.com: What’s at the top of your tennis bucket list?

Bortnick: I have been to the US Open and the French Open, as well as the All England Club (one month before Wimbledon). At some point in the near future, I would like to go to both Wimbledon and the Australian Open to complete my tennis bucket list. Hopefully, I'll get the opportunity to travel around England and Australia if I get to go to these countries!

For all questions related to junior competition, you can email Noah at nbortnick@movalley.usta.com.