Board Members Ladson Fishburne, Michelle Strickland, and Eileen Burke accept the donation of equipment from the University of South Carolina Salkehatchie Dean April Cone and Athletic Director Chris Brown.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Walterboro Tennis Association Relaunches to Expand Tennis Opportunities in the Community

Walterboro, SC — February 2026 —Walterboro Tennis Association is proud to announce its official relaunch, bringing expanded tennis programs to the Walterboro community. The local leadership is ready to serve players of all ages and skill levels, after acquiring grant funding for startup costs through the United States Tennis Association. WTA is a registered Community Tennis Association with USTA South Carolina, which provides a wealth of resources and grants to help grow the sport of tennis. The City of Walterboro has generously partnered with WTA, granting access to the Forest Hills Tennis Center for upcoming programs.

“I grew up playing tennis in Walterboro,” said Michelle Strickland, board president. “I have continued to play as an adult and have fond memories of a thriving tennis community here over the years. I think it’s time to bring that back. It became a high priority goal of mine now that I have children. I want to make sure the youth of this community have an opportunity to learn this lifelong sport.”

The newly re-formed WTA Board consists of Michelle Strickland, president, Eileen Burke, secretary/treasurer, Ladson Fishburne, Dr. Trent Cannon and Tamara McIntire.

“I am thrilled to see the successfully reorganized and re-energized the WTA,” Wiliam Snead, former WTA president, said. “The city and the county are really the beneficiaries of a healthy tennis association.” 

Snead was happy to hand pass the reigns to Strickland, as local play had really fallen off after the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“USTA South Carolina is proud to welcome back the Walterboro Tennis Association to its community tennis network,” said Sheryl McAlister, USTA SC Senior Director of Advocacy & Community Development. “The South Carolina Lowcountry is a critical region for tennis players and is a vital part of the growth strategy for our organization. Walterboro Tennis Association joins the Lowcountry Tennis Association, Lowcountry Youth Tennis Association and St. George Tennis Association as active partners, offering tennis programs as well as recreational and league play for thousands of tennis players.”

Certified Coaches and Local Sponsors
Strickland, Fishburne, Cannon, and Keyari McDonald recently received Developmental Coaching Badges through USTA National Training and are certified to teach. Fishburne is also the coach for the Colleton Prep Academy girls’ tennis team. Cannon, retired physician from Walterboro OBGYN and a longstanding community member, has also coached the CPA tennis teams over the years, and continues to actively play tennis. McIntire, former division three college player, brings her many years of experience coaching youth and adults. 

The University of South Carolina Salkehatchie assisted WTA in securing rackets, balls, nets and hoppers to ensure the program could get started. Strickland said the athletic program has also offered to extend its discounted purchasing program should WTA need more equipment in the future.

"USC Salkehatchie is proud to support the Walterboro Tennis Association and its mission to keep our local residents active and engaged," said Dean Dr. April Cone. "By providing essential equipment like racquets, balls, and carts, we hope to remove barriers to the sport and invest in the well-being of our community”

Youth & School Programs                                                                                                   

Strickland says conversations have already begun with Colleton County School District Athletic Department and Colleton County High School Tennis Coach Kendrae Heirs for future programming. Heirs, also the Northside Elementary Physical Education teacher, is among the first elementary school teachers sponsored by WTA to receive the USTA Southern tennis equipment package. This program is available to all elementary schools in the region with the support of a sponsoring Community Tennis Association. WTA certified coaches are available to assist PE teachers in implementing the curriculum. Dr. Chris Meyers, Executive Director of Athletic Operations at CCSD, has endorsed the program and will be assisting in the roll out. 

“We are in full support of the WTC's efforts to get tennis into our Elementary schools. Elementary PE is often the first place students get introduced to sports and sport specific skills. One of our initiatives is to facilitate club sports for grades 6th and under, so this is a major step in the right direction” he said.

If you are interested in getting an equipment package and supporting materials for your school, or you want to get involved in any capacity, contact walterborotennis843@gmail.com find them on facebook @walterborotennisassociation, or visit the website playtennis.usta.com/walterborotennisassociation.

Upcoming Events                                                                                                                             

Plans for both adult and youth league startups as well as youth summer camp are in the works, according to Strickland. In the mean time mark your calendars for a Community Tennis Day, April 18^th, and a Colleton County Rice Festival Tournament on April 26^th, both at Forest Hills Tennis Courts. 

About Walterboro Tennis Association                                                                                          

Walterboro Tennis Association is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting tennis for all ages and skill levels in the Walterboro community. Through partnerships, certified coaching, and school programs, WTA strives to make tennis accessible, fun, and inclusive.

About USTA – SC                                                                                                                           

The mission of the United States Tennis Association of South Carolina is to improve lives and build healthier communities in South Carolina by growing and promoting tennis as a lifelong sport.