-The tennis courts at Camas High School just might become available year round if the school and a partnership with the United States Tennis Association Pacific Northwest works out to repurpose the courts to be an indoor facility. Photo by Paul Valencia — The tennis courts at Camas High School just might become available year round if the school and a partnership with the United States Tennis Association Pacific Northwest works out to repurpose the courts to be an indoor facility. Photo by Paul Valencia

Courts to be used year-round would be available to students and the community

Tennis is a year-round sport in the Northwest, provided there are enough facilities to allow the game to be played indoors.

The United States Tennis Association Pacific Northwest and Camas High School are hoping to add to the existing facilities in the area, to allow for tennis players to keep up their skills even during the long rainy season.

The USTA PNW and Camas High School have announced the exploration of a partnership. This potential collaboration would repurpose the existing outdoor tennis courts at the school, turning them into a year-round indoor tennis facility that would serve high school athletes and the broader community.

The proposed project, currently in its development, permitting, and planning stages, envisions covering the outdoor courts. When the courts are not in use by the school district, they would be available for public use, hosting programs and recreational play. If all goes to plan, the project is expected to be completed by the fall of 2025.

“The game of tennis is a vehicle that can transform lives; tennis promotes life-long fitness and wellness while instilling leadership and sportsmanship. The game also teaches teamwork, life skills, and builds strong families and healthier communities,” said USTA PNW CEO and Executive Director Matthew Warren. “We are overjoyed at the possibility of widening access for both high school students and the public in Camas to be able to play tennis and promote active lifestyles.”

The Fieldhouse at Camas High School, for indoor athletic training and storage, was built next to the school’s tennis courts. Those courts just might become indoor courts, too, if an indoor facility is built on campus there. Photo by Paul Valencia

Tennis is a lifelong, no-cut sport that offers unique social, mental, and physical benefits — according to a recent Mayo Clinic study, playing tennis can increase life expectancy by an average of 9.7 years.

“This is an amazing opportunity for our students and community,” said Stephen Baranowski, an assistant principal and the athletic director at Camas High School. “Tennis is one of our most popular sports, with over 90 girls participating in our program last year. The sport’s inclusivity, welcoming all skill levels, combined with our region’s wet weather, often limits our athletes’ opportunities to practice and compete. We are thrilled about the investment USTA PNW is proposing to make in our community. This would be a great way to get even more students of all levels involved, and at the same time, support our varsity teams that have won four state championships in the past three years.”

In Southwest Washington, the high school boys tennis regular season is held in the fall. The girls’ season is in the spring. State championships for both sports are held in May. A typical rainy spring season can wreak havoc on a schedule. In 2023, for example, there were only 12 “playable” days in the spring season for outdoor courts.

“As a high school principal, a partnership with the USTA PNW is the best of both worlds,” said Kelly O’Rourke, the school’s principal. “An indoor facility, especially given our beautiful but damp climate, makes tennis accessible to many of my students year-round. Additionally, the opportunity to provide a community resource solidifies the importance of bringing partners together for the benefit of kids.”

Camas Public Schools Superintendent John Anzalone is also on board with the plan.

“Teaming up with a trusted organization like the USTA PNW can open the door to lasting change in our community,” Anzalone said.