Motorists headed south on Route 15 may be unaware of the change as they begin their ascent up the Bald Eagle Mountain. While a new sign adorns the entrance, the familiar building looks the same as it always has, but inside its doors, a whole new vibe is underway.

Previously known as the West Branch Tennis Club, the facility has been under new management since February 1 and has taken on a new identity as the Central PA Tennis Center under the leadership of owner Karen Hooker.

“I began playing tennis about nine years ago. In that time, I gradually found that everything I was doing was somehow related to tennis,” Hooker explained. “Whether it was playing the game, my social life, or coaching at Williamsport High School, I was spending a lot of time here. My husband and I saw a natural fit. We knew the facility was for sale, so we followed through with the purchase and became the owners on February 1.”

“We decided to change the name to the Central PA Tennis Center for a couple of reasons. It was important for us to represent our entire region. We are the only indoor facility for at least 75 miles around here. It used to be a club, and some people still refer to us as a tennis club. But we wanted this to be open to everyone, so we took the word ‘club’ out and replaced it with ‘center.’ The previous owners, Steve and Laurie Wilson, were very organized and trained us when we made the purchase. This has made for a very smooth transition. We are truly a tennis center, and everyone is welcome.”

In making the change, the existing staff remains intact, Hooker added. “They know the members. They know tennis, and they know the community, but we did make one valuable addition, bringing in Maria Weisser as our operations manager.”

Weisser is no stranger to the local sports scene. In her playing days, the former Maria Pioli was a standout athlete at Montoursville High School. She went on to a successful basketball career at Elizabethtown College where she played center on the school’s 1989 national championship team.

“I am a huge tennis fan. I have gone to the U.S. Open many times and have always had a love for the sport. I am not a big player but greatly enjoy tennis in general”, Weisser said.

“I’m responsible for the day-to-day operations: checking guests in, signing up new members, promoting the facility, organizing the various events we have here, and working with the staff to make sure everything is running smooth. This facility is open to the public, and we want to make sure that everyone is aware of what we have to offer. We want to build upon what was already in place and to make it bigger and better and encourage more people to get involved with tennis, especially the younger generation.”

Figures provided by the Tennis Industry Association reveals 5.3 million Americans are frequent tennis players (defined as playing 21 or more times a year). Twenty-eight million more play less frequently each year on what is estimated to be 220,000 courts across the country.

“I think interest in tennis locally is on the rise. With our women’s summer tennis league, the numbers are growing. Brandon Park has redone their tennis courts this spring, and South Williamsport put in brand new courts last year,” added Weisser.

“I’ve had three children that have gone through playing sports at the high school and college level. I think playing multiple sports is a good idea. By narrowing your sports involvement at a young age, you never know if that is truly what you wanted or what you could excel at. I see that more and more. The great thing about tennis is it is a sport you can play until you’re well into late in life. We have several members into their 80s that come here to play and enjoying the sport. That says a lot and emphasizes that tennis can be a lifetime sport and social outlet.”

The recent success of rising youth tennis standouts gives credence to the sports increasing local popularity.

“We have phenomenal athletes in our area that we can celebrate that calls attention to tennis,” Hooker points out. Olivia Dorner was third in the state last year as a freshman at South Williamsport and is currently ranked 55th in the nation for college recruits among rising sophomores. She is the number two ranked player in PA for USTA. When folks learn about someone from our area who is accomplishing good things, it says a lot about what we are doing here. It puts us on the national radar screen. And Olivia is not the only one. David Lindsay from the Lock Haven and Kase Schinnerer from Lewisburg are competing successfully with USTA. Katie Savage, of Loyalsock, placed 4th in the state last season as a freshman. They all play and practice at our facility.”

“We are open to everyone and provide a great opportunity for people of all ages to come in and learn the game. Our head tennis Pro, John Dorner, provides instruction and lessons. We also run clinics for all ages beginning at five years old. If someone is interested in tennis but doesn’t have someone to play with that shouldn’t impede anyone from coming here. There are a lot of opportunities to join in with the clinics and camps we provide. We also will match individuals with other players if they don’t have someone to play with. And, of course, we have tennis leagues that are open to anyone to join.”

The Tennis Center now also serves as Bucknell University’s home court.

“Bucknell was looking for a home court. They do not have one on their campus. They do have outside courts but were looking for a tennis facility that could be used as their home court. So we reached an agreement with Bucknell for this to be their home court and practice facility. It has been a wonderful relationship. We are open to all high schools and colleges, and many of them do use our facility during the winter months,” Hooker added.

The Tennis Center is open Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m., Saturday & Sunday 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Monthly membership for adults over 21 is $21.00 a month. For youth up to 21 or a college student with ID is $8.25 a month. Additional information can be obtained by contacting the Center at http://www.centralpatenniscenter.com or by phone 570-326-2828.

“I view this as more than just a place to play tennis. It is a gathering place for people who want to spend time together on the court, to watch & talk about tennis or just enjoy the social experience. We are also exploring other opportunities like Pickleball. There is a growing number of people in the community who want to learn the game. We are going to offer that here. Tennis is a social game that encourages fitness, integrity, and strategy, and it is a lifetime sport,” Hooker said.

“Regardless of their tennis knowledge or age, the Tennis Center provides year-round programs that can be tailored to fit throughout the year. We encourage folks to stop by and learn what we are all about.”