Terre Haute Junior Tennis Picture in 1974. Back Row: Mike Rourke, Mike Hambrock, Joe Rourke, Dan Coleman, Bruce Anshutz, Brad Wedel, Dan Hopkins. Front Row: Janet Rourke, Lisa Akers, Janet Mace, Dianne Jackson, Zahni VanAllen, Cindy Blane, Mary Ann Shouse, Ev Johnson.
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Terre Haute Tennis History
Some of the tennis greats that have played in Terre Haute over the years.
Curtis Williams
Randy Ross
- Cory Ross
Herb Ross
Joy Hulbert
Frank Grove
Jeff Winkler
Bruce Nichols
Ed Valle
Pete Chalos
Duane Klueh
Brad Parks
Joe Thompson
Woody Sublett Walker
Earl Wood 1920s
Randy Ross
Dick Mace
Allen McGee
James Blake
Thomas Blake
Zena Garrison
- Todd Witsken
- Rick Witsken
Memories of the Terre Haute Tennis Club
by Joe Petty
Tennis players moving to Terre Haute at the end of World War II (1945-46) soon learned that no public courts were available. A few of the long-term residents were playing at private courts at the Water Works, but newcomers hesitated to go there without an invitation.
If willing to wait until there were no students in line, they might be able to play briefly at the two courts behind Wiley High School, or the three courts which then were the total of courts on the Indiana State Teachers College campus. These were concrete courts.
There had been clay courts at Rea Park before the war, but during that time they lay idle and neglected, eventually growing over completely in weeds. Even after the war, the Park Board, basically oriented to golf, playgrounds, and picnicking, doubted that many citizens cared for tennis, and took no action to restore the courts.
Finally a small group of tennis enthusiasts banded together (see the roster of Presidents) and went to city administration officials. When this group, to become the Rea Park Tennis Club, offered in desperation to buy nets and the lime for lining, the city finally acted to restore just three courts, feeling that this would be plenty.
After use of these courts grew, the city later responded to continuing pressures and eventually all six clay courts were restored. The first care-taker was competent, but, upon his retirement, a series of political appointees, more interested in the shade trees than the sunny courts, succeeded him.
Again, the Club went to the Park Board to encourage the hiring of an interested, competent caretaker. A young coach, named Pete Chalos, was hired and, because of his interest as a tennis player, he soon had the courts in much better condition.
The Club initiated a program of giving lessons at Rea Park to beginners. At first, members volunteered. Then the Park Board agreed to pay part-time instructors.
The high schools had only minimal tennis programs, partly because of lack of facilities at most schools, and these were for the boys only. The Club urged the VCSC to expand its tennis program, and to consider including girls. Having expanded its tourney program to include tournaments for women, as well as for men, the Club was able to show that interest was growing among the girls as well as among the boys.
Because of shortage of courts elsewhere, not only did Garfield High School schedule its meets at Rea Park, but Indiana State also had its matches there through the cooperation of the city and the Rea Park Tennis Club. As other high school teams fielded teams, they, too, used Rea. Through the encouragement of the Club, a girls' city high school tourney was held at Rea in 1956.
During that era, Club members, of course, had to deprive themselves of the opportunity of playing tennis on the numerous days when Rea courts were reserved for practice and meets for the various high schools and Indiana State. However, they did so sacrifice in the interest of drawing more young people into the lifetime joy of tennis.
Finally, in April, 1956, Indiana State opened its six new Laykkold courts on Chestnut Street, between Fourth and Fifth Streets. Coach Duane Klueh at last had a place on campus for his varsity team.
Early in the 1950's, the Club had the Industrial League in operation, generating funds to supplement those given by the members. Even in 1956, the Club was still buying nets, center straps, cable and clamps for the nets, reels, calcium chloride and lime for the courts, as well as paying for welding and other necessary emergency repairs.
The existing clay surfaces on the six courts were rapidly wearing out. So, the Club asked the Park Board to loosen the purse strings and apply a new clay surface to all courts, a new type of permanent pervious surface, or a permanent hard surface. It also recommended the erection of canvas back and side stops for these wind-swept courts.
Still, the city appropriations were extremely modest. By 1959, the Club had expended many hundreds of donated dollars (some raised by community-wide solicitations) in the additional steps of erecting a practice board, wind-breaking green canvas for some of the backstops, umbrella-awnings, sand boxes for small children of players, and a bulletin board. An energetic outreach for additional dues-paying members was conducted.
By 1963 tourney time, three of the courts had been made concrete, with the other three still clay. Some players preferred the feel of the clay, while others liked the speed and smoothness of the concrete.
Within a few years, all six courts were cement. This eliminated the expense of a full-time caretaker of the clay courts, which required daily working. It also permitted players to use the courts quickly after a rain, whereas they were not allowed on the clay courts until at least a full day after a rain.
In 1970, the Vigo County School Corporation was realizing completion of construction of its new schools. By 1971, students were using the many hard-surface courts placed at North, South, and West Vigo High Schools. Courts were now available at the junior high schools too, with the well-lighted courts at Woodrow Wilson probably the most elaborate complex.
The decade brought construction of new varsity courts at Indiana State University, as well as additional courts on the Rose Hulman campus. Yet, even with all the added facilities, the Rea Park courts became more crowded. So three more hard-surface courts were built just north of the existing six. At the end of the decade, the Rea courts were resurfaced so that they would be in better shape, as we entered 1980, than in many prior years.
Because of its interest in promoting tennis throughout the vicinity, the Rea Park Tennis Club had become the Terre Haute Tennis Club. Thankful for the extension of school facilities, it still saw other needs. Through the Club's encouragement, the City Park Board constructed and made available to the public without fee charge hard-surface courts in numerous parks, with the most elaborate set-ups at Collett, Deming, and Brittlebank. Even the Vigo County Park system shared the enthusiasm, placing courts in rural park areas.
An interesting swing of the pendulum had occurred. The Terre Haute Tennis Club was sponsoring a growing number of tourneys for players of all ages, both sexes and of varying degrees of ability. Some tourneys were drawing so many entries that Rea's nine courts were inundated. So the Club turned to the county school system and the university, which made extra courts available to accommodate the fields. This seemed to be poetic justice, since the Club had furnished courts to the schools and university when they lacked facilities.
The Terre Haute Tennis Club has become well-known statewide and in numerous other states. This is because it not only has drawn many good players from other areas to its tourneys, but also has sent numerous outstanding members to play and win trophies in tourneys held in those areas.
From the beginning, the success of the Club has stemmed from a happy combination in its membership of long-time local citizenship and new-comers to the community who shared their special knowledge and abilities and cooperated in the common goal of giving everyone a chance to play tennis.
Tennis instruction is now available through the Vigo County School Corporation, the City of Terre Haute, Indiana State University and both amateurs and pros in the community. Interest in the sport continues to grow, and the Terre Haute Tennis Club is ready to grow with the times.
Past Presidents Roster
1996 - 2012 Mike Hambrock
1995 RoseAnn Toulson and Janet Medley
1994 RoseAnn Toulson and Janet Medley
1993 Mike Hambrock
1992 Mike Hambrock
1991 Dave & Jami Patterson
1990 Stan Petrulis
1989 Art Diebert
1988 Stan Petrulis
1987 Tina & Marlon Nasser
1986 Tina & Marlon Nasser
1985 Linda & Larry Pair
1984 Glenn Gee
1983 Bob Denny
1982 Ted Bentrup
1981 Stan Evans
1980 Sue Clokey
1979 Glenn Gee
1978 Randy Greasham
1977 Hans Henseler
1976 Don Layton
1975 Bob Fischer
Adult Evening Match Play -Drop In Tennis
THJTA Advanced High School Clinic - Session #2 Only
THJTA Advanced High School Clinic - Session #3 Only
THJTA Beginner Elementary/Middle School Clinic - North Vigo - Session #2
THJTA Beginner Elementary/Middle School Clinic - Woodrow Wilson - Session #2
THJTA Beginner Elementary/Middle School Clinic - West Vigo - Session #2
THJTA Beginner Elementary/Middle School Clinic - Honey Creek - Session #2
THJTA Advanced Middle School Clinic - Session #2 Only
Terre Haute Tennis Association
This is how the THJTA began. Back row: Troy Brown, Tom West, Chris Drew, Anne McLaughlin, Kristie Williams, Mary Ann Stadler, Jim Cook, James Park. 2nd row: Rob Reed, Kirk Anderson, ?, Nancy Cundiff Padan, Elliott, John Whitehead, Adam Loeser, Brian P. Cahill, Zaid Alsikafi, Frank Reynolds, Jason Meyer, ?,Patrick Goodman(maybe), USTA person.
Help us grow. If you would like to make a donation click on the donate button below.
P.O. Box 6112, Terre Haute, IN 47802
Dallas Kelsey (812) 249-9538 Chris Strong (812) 249-5498 Jordan Kelsey (812) 240-4932
Matt Wilson 812-264-6262 Wes Kirk (812) 240-8596
Founded in 1986 - Our 37th Year - updated 4/01/2024
Summer Program 2024 - Information Coming Soon!
THJTA Original Board of Directors
Phillis Fee
Anita Loeser
Russ Williams
Manny Cacdac
Cheryl Lowe
Linda Pair
Fadhil Alsikafi
Mickey Willey
President - Russ Willaims
Secretary - Chris Hopkins
Treasurer - Anita Loeser
Legal - Bob Effner
Information
USTA Rankings - Juniors and Adults / WTN Rankings
UTR Ratings - Juniors and Adults
National Men's Tennis Association / National Women's Tennis Association
TennisRecord.Com - Interesting Rating System
Indiana High School Tennis Association - Rankings
Indiana Association of Girls Sports - Tennis
Great Britain - Lawn Tennis Association - Dan's Team Playing in September
2024 Terre Haute Junior Tennis Summer Programs
Palm Creek Tennis Club, Casa Grande, Arizona
Scholarships are available based on financial need. Please click here if you need assistance to participate.
Advanced High School and Middle School Tennis Clinics
Advanced high school clinics are for players who will be entering 9th grade through 12th grade. Advanced middle school clinics are for players who will be entering 6th grade through 8th grade. Players in these clinics should be able to serve, rally at a basic level, and play a match. These clinics will include instruction, drills, conditioning, and competition in singles and doubles all supervised by qualified and certified USPTA/USPTR professionals. Each session is ability-grouped by age and experience. Participants should also try to play in local tournaments on a regular basis. Tournament experience is crucial to building competitive confidence and skills.
Beginner Elementary and Middle School Tennis Clinics
These clinics are for children entering kindergarten to 8th grade. They are for beginning players who are interested in learning tennis in a group setting through games, drills and instruction. This is the perfect clinic for players that have never played tennis before or are not yet ready to play matches. One adult site director supervises each site with more student instructors based on the number of participants. The players will be divided into groups based on age and ability. The purpose of this program is to introduce more juniors to tennis and to encourage their participation in competitive tennis. Beginner clinics will be offered at Rose-Hulman, Honey Creek, West Vigo, and Woodrow Wilson tennis courts. Each location will be limited to the first 50 sign-ups. Please sign-up online for the location you plan to attend. Sites may be combined depending on total sign-ups.