Gold Star Winner Scott Maple Makes Tennis a Big Deal in Small Towns

Small town tennis is in Scott Maple’s blood. From his days as a high school letterwinner to his current position as teacher, he has found joy in the sport. He’s also turned that joy into action, earning him a USTA Missouri Valley Gold Star award.

In honor of its 100th anniversary this year, USTA Missouri Valley is recognizing 100 deserving tennis providers, players, partners and more throughout the section. These Gold Star awards recognize contributions to support and grow the game in USTA Missouri Valley.

Maple’s day job is music teacher at Martin Warren Elementary School. He’s very good at it, too. He was recently named Elementary Educator of the Year by his fellow teachers in the Central Region Teachers Association. The Central Region includes more than 90 public school districts.

When he’s not in the classroom, though, he spends a lot of time on the courts.

“This is my sixth year at Warrensburg and I am the high school boys head coach, girls assistant coach, and put on some youth programs,” Maple said. “I run a summer program for the youth in the area.”

Warrensburg is a town of less than 20,000 people. That’s bigger than Knob Noster, where Maple went to high school. That town, just east of Warrensburg, is home to about 1,800 residents. Knob Noster high school, in 2018, had an enrollment of 375. Maple lettered all four years at KNHS, then coached the boys and girls teams before moving to Warrensburg.

He may not teach at Knob Noster anymore, but Maple hasn’t forgotten about the small-town tennis players. He reaches out to athletes within a 30-mile radius of Warrensburg..

“(Maple is) great at connecting the community with tennis,” Lindsay Hall, USTA Missouri Community Tennis Manager, said. “Everyone from schools and students, parents, community, the college, a potential Tennis on Campus team, and even other close communities for additional play and education opportunities. He's creative with getting people in and works hard on planning and retaining to build current and future teams.”

There’s a reason he works so hard at it. He really loves promoting and sharing the game of tennis.

“I'm happy when people play tennis,” Maple said. “Tennis is such an inclusive sport that anyone can play for most of their life, so why not play it? I'm most proud when I see current and former players of any age out on the courts.”

Maple has fewer words to talk about his work in promoting the game. He doesn’t want to sound like he’s bragging. But that doesn’t mean he isn’t appreciative of this Gold Star honor.

“I was so surprised,” Maple said. “The USTA continues to be so generous to me and the programs that I work with. I’m very humbled.”