SpringfieldNewsSun.com

SPRINGFIELD — It appeared as if a giant swarm of insects had descended onto the courts at Wittenberg University's Albright Tennis Complex on Tuesday, June 10.

In reality, what had descended on those courts was hope.

The United States Tennis Association's fledgling QuickStart Tennis Program opened Tuesday evening in Springfield with an expectation-busting 260 participants age 10 and younger. With it came fond memories of Springfield's long-gone glory days of youth tennis — spearheaded by the Snyder Park program run by the late Dr. Howard Dredge — and an excited expectation that those days have returned.

"It's about time for tennis to come back in Springfield," said Michelle Heims, one of the countless mothers on hand and a part of the army of nearly 150 adult volunteers who helped the first night. "I played in Dr. Dredge's program. It was old-school, but everybody loved it."

Heims said there's "a big element" in Springfield longing for those days to return.

"I've just been biting for a chance to get Drew (her 5-year-old son) involved," Heims said.

Apparently so have many other parents.

"It was something different," said Rachael Skelley, mother of three children in the program. "I like it being all on one night."

Neither Skelley nor her husband have any background in tennis, but that didn't matter.

"They like to watch it on TV," she said of her kids. "They are still trying to find their sport."

The program's director, former Shawnee High School and Wittenberg standout Steve Wilson, was shocked and energized by the huge turnout.

"Honestly, I was hoping for 100," Wilson said. "This is giving me an idea of what Springfield is capable of.

"We have reawakened the love for tennis in Springfield."

That's not just good for the sport: "The quicker our kids learn to play tennis, the quicker they build confidence," said Wilson. "That will bolster the community as well."

Many in the community are getting involved, like Young's Dairy, which helped provide ice cream after Tuesday's action, Mike and Rosy's, Simply Delicious, Catabwa Sandwich Shop and David E. Garrett Jewelers. Still, Wilson realizes this is just a strong start.

"We're trying to retain the kids and provide outlets for them to continue," he said. "With me at the base (Wilson is the pro at the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Tennis Club), Greg (Dredge, Howard's son) at the (Springfield) Racquet Club and the Springfield Tennis Patrons, we can make this a hotbed."

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0364 or krowe@coxohio.com.

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