Adult and Youth Tennis Programming (Baraboo Hills, WI)
Goal: Fund adult and youth tennis programming
Leader/Advocate Organization: Baraboo Hills Park and Recreation Department
Introduction/History: Peanut butter and jelly. Bert and Ernie. Fred and Ginger. Some things are just meant to be together. And if you ask Rick Luther, he will tell you that the United States Tennis Association (USTA) and the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) make quite a pair, too.
He should know. Since 2000, Luther has helped secure more that $22,000 in grant money from these two organizations to fund adult and youth tennis programming in the small community of Baraboo Hills, Wisconsin. Without the USTA’s and the NRPA’s financial support and invaluable guidance, he says, Baraboo would not be the vibrant tennis town that it is today.
"I can’t begin to thank these two organizations enough," says Luther, recreation supervisor for the Baraboo Hills Park and Recreation Department. "The money is certainly key, but both groups, especially the USTA, provided training and workshops that help people like me take their public tennis programming to a higher level. I always say, ’If you get in line behind the USTA and the NRPA, you will be successful.’ It’s 100 percent true."
Another irrefutable fact: Tennis is thriving in Baraboo. For starters, the Park and Recreation Department offers a slew of low-cost youth programming for kids in grades 1 through 12. Adults, on the other hand, can choose from a buffet of options—including USA Tennis 123 and organized league play. And in a move that clearly shows Baraboo is in the midst of a tennis Renaissance, the local two-year college (University of Wisconsin Baraboo/Sauk County) has resurrected its varsity tennis programs after a 10-year hiatus. Yes, tennis is booming in Baraboo, but it wasn’t always that way.
When Luther, a native of Baraboo, returned to his hometown in 1999, he found little in the way of public tennis. Yes, the high school was continuing to field competitive teams, but otherwise there was just a six-week summer tennis program for adults and kids and, in his words, "not much else." This was an especially sobering sight for Luther, who had just completed a 12-year stint as manager of the Orlando (Fla.) Tennis Center, a 22-court facility teeming with players and state-of-the art programming. He wanted to revive Baraboo’s tennis scene, but with limited funds, he wasn’t sure how. Then fate stepped in.
Description/Results: During his tenure with the Orlando Tennis Centre, Luther learned a lot about how the USTA and the NRPA were working together to promote tennis at the grassroots level; after all, according to recent figures, more than 70 percent of the tennis played in the United States takes place on public courts. In 2003, the two organizations teamed up to offer Tennis In The Parks grants(or TIPS, as they are commonly known). These grants help finance local park and recreation departments as well as other community associations, who then use the money to develop free or low-cost tennis programming (such as USA Tennis 123) for youths and adults. Luther saw this as a tremendous opportunity and wasted no time jumping on it.
Luther’s industriousness was rewarded with a $5,000 grant, which he used to hire a certified teaching pro and bolster the youth summer program. Overall, the grant paid for 100 hours of professionally run tennis programming. "That first TIP grant was instrumental in giving public tennis [in Baraboo] a much-needed boost," Luther recalls. "It’s what got the ball rolling; it’s what helped people get excited about tennis."
It was also just the tip of the iceberg. The following year (2004), Luther applied for and received a second TIP grant, this time in the amount of $2,500. Baraboo was just one of seven agencies to be awarded back-to-back TIP grants, an impressive accomplishment for a small department that services fewer than 13,000 people. With unwavering support from the USTA and NRPA—and a firm handle on how to write detailed, engaging grant application letters—Luther says, "it all kind of snowballed from there."
What he means, of course, is that Baraboo was quickly becoming the masters of applying for and receiving grants, which they would promptly use to improve and increase their tennis programming. In fact, between 2000 and 2006, the city of Baraboo and the Baraboo Hills Community Tennis Association, Inc. received more than $22,000 in grants earmarked for tennis-related purposes. Grants came from a variety of sources, including the Wisconsin Tennis Association, USTA Midwest Section, and USTA National. This money—along with the steadfast support of local tennis enthusiasts—has essentially resurrected the sport of tennis in Baraboo.
"So many people have worked so hard—and continue to work hard—to make this happen," he says. "Our reward is knowing that we’ve done something positive for the community and that people of all ages and skill levels are enjoying the benefits of tennis. It’s both inspiring and humbling."
Today, Baraboo’s public tennis programming is self-sufficient. The city has not applied for a tennis-related grant in two years, nor has it raised the registration fees for its moderately priced programs. The City’s 12 public courts, all recently resurfaced, are free of charge. As Luther says, "you just walk on and start playing&mdashjust like it should be."
Baraboo’s devotion to junior tennis is particularly noteworthy. After receiving a $4,000 Middle School Challenge Grant from USTA Schools in 2006, the City’s park and recreation department set up an ingenious tennis league for kids in grades 6 through 8.
Here’s how it worked: Baraboo reached out to three neighboring communities (Reedsburgh, Sauk Prairie, and Wisconsin Dells) and invited their middle schools to become part of a new junior tennis league. Each of the three communities (plus Baraboo) were given $1,000 in seed money with the understanding that they would use these funds to recruit and register kids as well as hire tennis instructors. The middle school co-ed teams (often comprised of 16 players) would then compete against each other during both the spring and fall seasons. The idea was to essentially create a high school-like tennis experience for middle school kids. And it’s worked.
Three years and six seasons later, this unique four-team league has earned energetic praise from kids, parents, and school officials alike. Since fall 2006, approximately 420 middle school students have learned the game as well as important lessons in camaraderie and sportsmanship. What’s more, the league has been invaluable in preparing these kids for the competition of high school tennis. Just ask Karll Kruse.
Kruse is Baraboo High School’s beloved and longtime varsity tennis coach. He is currently enjoying his 26th straight year as coach of both the boys’ and girls’ teams, and does not plan on retiring anytime soon. During Kruse’s storied tenure, he has held firm to a no-cut policy&mdashmeaning if you sign up for the team, you will play. His teams have won countless championships, just don’t ask him how many.
"I don’t keep track of that stuff," Kruse says. "Instead, I focus on giving these kids the best possible experience. Tennis is an extracurricular activity; they don’t have to do it. Yes, we like to win and we work hard, but kids really join the team because it’s fun. And I want to keep it that way."
Over the last few years, Kruse has noticed an encouraging trend: The incoming freshmen are more tennis-savvy than ever before. He attributes this phenomenon to Baraboo’s burgeoning junior tennis programs, most notably the four-team middle school league. "Last fall I remember telling Rick [Luther], ’I’ve never had a freshman class of girls come in as prepared to play tennis as this year, and it’s because they are getting great instruction in middle school.’ It certainly makes my job easier.
Baraboo High School is not the only academic institution in town enjoying a tennis boom. The University of Wisconsin Baraboo/Sauk County, a two-year college affectionately known as "Boo-U," recently resurrected its men’s and women’s tennis programs when the College decided it could attract more students by offering a larger selection of sports. The teams, while still relatively new, are already making a mark. The women’s squad (reintroduced in 2006) was conference and state runners-up last year. The men (launched in 2004) have placed as high as third in the conference. Pretty impressive for such young programs.
"We’ve had some early success that we’re looking forward to building on, says Rick Yanke, the college’s athletic director and coach for both the men’s and women’s teams. "But what’s really exciting is that enrollment here has increased since we started offering tennis and soccer. We’re now attracting student-athletes who want a well-rounded college experience."
And many of those student athletes hail from Baraboo, where they have been involved with top-flight tennis programming since an early age. It’s further proof that when kids are introduced to the game at an early age through fun, well-run tennis programs, they will go on to be lifelong players.
"I play tennis at least once a week, and a lot of times my partner or the guy I’m playing against is someone I coached 5, 10, sometimes 20 years ago," says Kruse. ’For us, tennis is a way to have fun and stay connected. Baraboo is a social town, and tennis is a social sport. The two just go together."
Grants Obtained to Fund Tennis Programming:Baraboo has received several tennis-related grants. Here is a sampling of the largest:
- $5,000 Tennis in the Parks Program grant from the United States Tennis Association (USTA) and the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA). Received in 2003, this grant was used to hire a certified teaching pro (100 hours) and bolster the city’s junior tennis program.
- $4,000 Middle School Challenge Grant from USTA Schools Tennis. Awarded in 2006, money was used to fund a co-ed middle school tennis program that involved four area school districts.
- $2,500 Tennis in the Parks Program grant from the USTA and NRPA. Given in 2004, this grant went toward financing a certified teaching pro and expanding Baraboo’s public tennis programming.
- $2,500 Adopt-a-Court grant from the USTA. Received in 2004, this grant was used to repair and resurface a selection of Baraboo’s 12 public tennis courts. This $2,500 grant was matched dollar-for-dollar by the Wisconsin Tennis Association that very same year.
- $1,000 USA Team Tennis Enhancement Grant from USTA Midwest Section. Awarded in 2004, money was used to strengthen Baraboo’s already successful USA Team Tennis offerings.
- $500 Senior Tennis Programming from USTA Midwest Section. Given in 2005, this grant was put toward public senior tennis programming, including group lessons.
Words of Wisdom
Rick Luther, recreation supervisor for the Baraboo Hills Park and Recreation Department: "Educate yourself about the organizations out there and the support they offer, whether it’s financial or training. In terms of tennis, there are a lot of grants to be had. Learn about them, write a detailed and compelling application, and don’t be afraid to ask for help. And above all, get to know the USTA and all the incredible people who work there. They want to help you succeed; they want to see tennis flourish. Follow them, and you will succeed."
Karll Kruse, Baraboo High School boys’ and girls’ varsity tennis coach: "When you are coaching kids, make sure they’re all contributing and having fun. Treat your No. 20 player the same way you’d treat your No. 1 player; they are all equally important. Remember, 10 years from now, the kids won’t remember the matches they won or lost, they will remember the friends they made and the fun they had. And if they had fun, they’ll want to keep playing tennis for the rest of their lives."
Rick Yanke, athletic director and coach of the men’s and women’s tennis teams at University of Wisconsin Baraboo/Sauk County: "Starting college can be scary for a lot of kids; it’s all new and foreign. But having something familiar, like tennis, can put them at ease and make the transition smoother. Since we started offering tennis again, enrollment has gone up. I think that shows how popular tennis has become around here with young adults."
Contact Information:
Website: baraboohills.usta.com
Or contact Rick Luther at e-mail: rluther@cityofbaraboo.com