MOUNT VERNON, Ohio — For Steve Tier, Tennis Director for the city of Mount Vernon, the tennis court is home. 

What You Need To Know

  • A $5,000 grant from the United States Tennis Association helped provide tennis rackets for Mount Vernon kindergarten and first-grade students
  • Tennis director Steve Tier and others said they will instruct 166 students this summer

  • Tier dedicates his summer to implementing and organizing tennis instruction for kids age five through 18

Tier, who has also been an elementary school reading teacher for the district for nearly four decades, continues to dedicate his summer to implementing and organizing tennis instruction for kids age five through 18. 

“When I was in college, I taught lessons at this very court and we had a class of ladies, most of whom were teachers or principals. I think one thing that's great about it is it is a sport you can play your whole life. It's not something you have to give up when your body kinda starts to not be able to do it,” Tier said. 

A $5,000 grant from the United States Tennis Association made it possible to provide tennis rackets for every kindergarten and first-grade student in the Mount Vernon School District. 

Tier, an Ohio State University graduate, is joined by several volunteers, fellow coaches and Mount Vernon High School graduates as they instruct 166 students this summer, their best turnout ever. 

“In the past, we're not a real successful tennis program because we really don't get anyone to play tennis before they reach the high school level. So seeing these come out is gonna be amazing for our program,” said Jeff Jarosz, a Mount Vernon High School tennis coach and math teacher.

“I've been away from this for a while, but I really love the sport, obviously, and I really like to teach, so this is a perfect combo. The kids are really great,” says Mount Vernon High School Alum Katey Durbin. 

Tier said he hopes to continue the program for years to come and his goal goes well beyond footwork and fundamentals. 

“Our goal here is to have them leave the lessons with a smile on their face and know that tennis exists as a sport. It's one of their options of many sports they can choose from. That makes me very happy to know that they at least know it's out there and that they're having an enjoyable time with it,” Tier said.