Towpath Tennis Center: Northeast Ohio's First Indoor Tennis Facility
In the late fall of 1967, a small group of men broke ground on a plot of land along Akron-Peninsula Road in the Cuyahoga Valley. Their project, the Towpath Racquet Club, was to be the first indoor tennis facility in Northeast Ohio. The club opened that same winter with three indoor courts under a single bubble. As a pioneer for the sport of tennis in Akron, the person most responsible for growing the game was Towpath's original owner and head professional, Frank Marias.
The club grew to nine indoor courts under four bubbles with two outdoor courts before a devastating Cuyahoga River flood on September 14, 1979 collapsed the bubbles and shut the facility down for a month. Ownership changed to Dallas and Nancy Aleman in 1984. Nearly 25 years later, the river flooded Towpath again in 2003 and a second time just ten months later in 2004. After deep consideration and repeated requests from members to stay in the valley, the owners decided to rebuild at a raised elevation. Ground-breaking on the new Towpath site came in June 2006, and the club's name was officially changed from Towpath Racquet Club to Towpath Tennis Center. Three courts in a new steel structure opened in spring 2007, with three additional courts completed in fall 2010. In 2020 -- amid the COVID-19 pandemic and a two-month business shutdown -- Towpath completed a new 10,000 sq ft green clubhouse. Today, Towpath runs men's, women's, combo, mixed, and fusion USTA leagues spring-summer-fall, with 2.5-level and higher teams. Twelve Towpath adult USTA teams have qualified for the USTA National Championships.
Competitive Adult Tennis in the Akron / Canton / Youngstown Region
Adult competitive tennis across the three-metro I-76/I-77 corridor is coordinated by NEOTA (the Northeastern Ohio Tennis Association), the USTA Midwest district that also governs play in Greater Cleveland. USTA league play runs at NTRP levels from 2.5 through 5.0, including men's, women's, mixed doubles, combo doubles, and age-group divisions (18 & Over, 40 & Over, 55 & Over, 65 & Over), with teams advancing through NEOTA District Championships to the USTA Midwest Section Championships and national competition. The Towpath Tennis Center, LaTuchie Tennis Center, Springside Athletic Club, North Canton Racquet Club, and Boardman Tennis Center host the majority of the region's USTA league teams, alongside a strong private country-club circuit.
For current WTN and USTA rankings for Northeast Ohio adult players, visit the USTA Northeastern Ohio Adult League page.
Junior Tennis Development in the Akron / Canton / Youngstown Region
Junior tennis development across the three-metro corridor benefits from a dense network of indoor facilities and USPTA/PTR-certified teaching professionals, plus an active regional Youngstown Swim League summer tennis circuit connecting Boardman, Canfield, Applewood, Logan, Poland, and several country clubs. The region has a well-established pipeline into NCAA Division I tennis (Youngstown State), Division II (Walsh, Malone), and Division III (Mount Union) programs.
Junior Programs & Training Facilities
Towpath Tennis Center
Akron / Cuyahoga Valley
Northeast Ohio's first indoor tennis facility (1967). Full junior programming with a dedicated development ladder; strong USTA JTT participation. 6 indoor courts plus 2 outdoor courts, new 10,000 sq ft clubhouse.
LaTuchie Tennis Center
Stow, OH
6 indoor courts plus 2 outdoor Har-Tru courts -- one of the few Har-Tru offerings in Northeast Ohio. Full junior tennis programming alongside adult USTA league play.
Springside Athletic Club
Akron, OH
Multi-sport club with indoor and outdoor tennis courts alongside pickleball, racquetball, and wallyball. Popular junior tennis clinics with veteran tennis professionals.
North Canton Racquet Club
North Canton, OH
6 indoor courts. Full-service public indoor tennis facility with locker rooms, showers, and a first-level pro shop with stringing services. Lessons, leagues, and drills for all ages and levels. Hosts Walsh University inclement-weather matches.
Boardman Tennis Center
Youngstown, OH
8 indoor courts plus 7 outdoor lighted courts -- the Mahoning Valley's largest tennis facility. Ideal for junior tennis development with a wide range of clinics, lessons, and ladder play.
Youngstown Swim League
Mahoning Valley
Regional summer tennis league connecting Boardman Tennis & Swim Club, Canfield Swim & Tennis Club, Applewood Swim & Tennis Club, Logan Swim & Tennis Club, Poland Swim Club, Squaw Creek Country Club, Tippecanoe Country Club, and Pearson. Competitive junior tennis all summer long.
For current USTA junior tournament results and standings, visit the USTA Midwest tournaments page.
High School Tennis Programs in the Akron / Canton / Youngstown Region
High school tennis in Central Ohio is governed by the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) across two divisions (Divisions I and II). In Ohio, High School Girls Tennis is a fall sport and High School Boys Tennis is a spring sport. Hudson in the Akron suburbs has been a consistent Division I state tournament participant, North Canton Hoover and Jackson lead the Stark County pipeline, and Canfield leads the Mahoning Valley scene.
- Hudson Explorers (Hudson) -- OHSAA D1, SL -- Northeast Ohio's top girls Division I program. Regular state tournament qualifiers in singles and doubles. Emma Liu recent D1 state tournament competitor.
- Stow-Munroe Falls Bulldogs (Stow) -- OHSAA D1, SL -- Consistent Division I competitor in the Suburban League.
- Revere Minutemen (Bath Twp) -- OHSAA D1, SL -- Competitive D1 program in the Akron suburbs.
- Copley Indians (Copley) -- OHSAA D1, SL -- Active Suburban League tennis program.
- Firestone Falcons (Akron) -- OHSAA D1, CVC -- Akron city schools Division I tennis.
- North Canton Hoover Vikings (North Canton) -- OHSAA D1, FED -- Stark County's flagship Division I program. Regular state tournament qualifiers. Addison Sheil recent D1 state tournament competitor.
- Jackson Polar Bears (Massillon) -- OHSAA D1, FED -- Strong Stark County program. Produced Mount Union tennis player Megan Reese.
- Canton Central Catholic Crusaders (Canton) -- OHSAA D2, SBC -- Division II private Catholic school. Isabel Lombardi recent state competitor.
- Massillon Jackson (Massillon) -- OHSAA D1, FED -- Regular D1 state tournament qualifier. Claire Williams recent D1 competitor.
- GlenOak Golden Eagles (Plain Twp) -- OHSAA D1, FED -- Stark County Division I public school.
- Canfield Cardinals (Canfield) -- OHSAA D1, AAC -- Mahoning Valley's flagship girls tennis program. Produced multiple Mount Union recruits including Amelia Francisco. Hadley Moser recent state competitor.
- Boardman Spartans (Boardman) -- OHSAA D1, AAC -- Mahoning County Division I public school with strong tennis tradition.
- Poland Seminary Bulldogs (Poland) -- OHSAA D2, AAC -- Division II Mahoning County school.
- Youngstown Ursuline Irish (Youngstown) -- OHSAA D2, MVAC -- All-girls Catholic school with strong tennis tradition. Produced Mount Union player Emma Thornton.
- Cardinal Mooney Cardinals (Youngstown) -- OHSAA D2, MVAC -- Youngstown Catholic school with varsity tennis.
- Howland Tigers (Warren/Howland) -- OHSAA D1, AAC -- Trumbull County Division I program.
High School Tennis Governing Body: OHSAA Tennis governs Boys and Girls high school tennis, Divisions I & II. The OHSAA state tournament is held annually at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason.
Collegiate Tennis in the Akron / Canton / Youngstown Region
The region's collegiate tennis landscape features three active multi-division programs -- from Division I at Youngstown State, to Division II at Walsh in North Canton, to Division III at Mount Union in Alliance. Note: the University of Akron (D-I MAC) and Kent State University (D-I MAC) do not sponsor varsity tennis programs.
Youngstown State University
Horizon
NCAA Division I, Horizon League. Both men's and women's tennis active. Home facility: the YSU Indoor Tennis Center. The men's team won the Horizon League North Division title in 2026 with a 7-0 sweep of NKU, earning a semifinal bye in the HL Championships.
G-MAC
NCAA Division II, Great Midwest Athletic Conference. Located in North Canton. Both men's and women's tennis active. Home: Klekotka Tennis Complex (6 outdoor courts at Hoover Park behind Washington Square). In inclement weather, matches move indoors to the North Canton Racquet Club.
University of Mount Union
OAC
NCAA Division III, Ohio Athletic Conference. Located in Alliance, between Canton and Youngstown. Both men's and women's tennis active. The women's team reached the OAC Semifinals in 2024. Strong Canton-area and Mahoning Valley HS pipeline -- recent rosters include Canton South, Jackson, Canfield, and Youngstown Ursuline alumnae.
Frequently Asked Questions About Tennis in the Akron / Canton / Youngstown Region
Where can I play tennis in Akron, Canton, or Youngstown? +
The Towpath Tennis Center (Cuyahoga Valley, 6 indoor + 2 outdoor courts -- NE Ohio's first indoor facility, 1967), LaTuchie Tennis Center (Stow, 6 indoor + 2 outdoor Har-Tru), Springside Athletic Club (Akron, multi-sport with tennis), North Canton Racquet Club (North Canton, 6 indoor), and Boardman Tennis Center (Youngstown, 8 indoor + 7 outdoor lighted) anchor the dedicated-tennis infrastructure. Private country clubs with tennis include Portage, Fairlawn, Shady Hollow, Ohio Prestwick, Glenmoor, Weymouth, Mayfair, and Club Walden in Akron; Tippecanoe (Canfield), Squaw Creek (Vienna), and Trumbull (Warren) in the Mahoning Valley. The Hall of Fame Fitness Center in Canton is one of the nation's largest indoor racquetball and tennis facilities.
What is the oldest indoor tennis facility in Northeast Ohio? +
The Towpath Tennis Center (originally Towpath Racquet Club) in the Cuyahoga Valley along Akron-Peninsula Road opened in late 1967 with three indoor courts under one bubble, making it the first indoor tennis facility in Northeast Ohio. Founder and head pro Frank Marias is credited as the person most responsible for growing tennis in the Akron market. Today's facility has 6 indoor courts in a steel structure plus 2 outdoor courts and a new 10,000 sq ft clubhouse completed in 2020.
Does the University of Akron have a tennis program? +
No. The University of Akron discontinued women's tennis effective at the end of the 2019-20 academic year as part of approximately $4.4 million in athletic department budget reductions driven by the COVID-19 pandemic; men's cross country and men's golf were also cut at the same time. Men's tennis had been dropped earlier. Akron currently sponsors 17 varsity sports -- seven men's and ten women's -- none of which is tennis. Kent State University, located between Akron and Youngstown, similarly does not sponsor varsity tennis; Kent dropped the sport alongside swimming, ice hockey, and men's soccer during the 1980s-90s, and tennis is only available at the club level.
Which colleges in this region have tennis programs? +
Three regional colleges sponsor varsity tennis: Youngstown State University (NCAA Division I, Horizon League) fields both men's and women's tennis at the YSU Indoor Tennis Center, with the men's team winning the HL North Division title in 2026. Walsh University (NCAA Division II, Great Midwest Athletic Conference) in North Canton sponsors both men's and women's tennis at the Klekotka Tennis Complex, using the North Canton Racquet Club for inclement-weather indoor matches. The University of Mount Union (NCAA Division III, Ohio Athletic Conference) in Alliance sponsors both men's and women's tennis; the women's team reached the OAC Semifinals in 2024.
Does the region offer USTA leagues? +
Yes. USTA league play across all three metros (Akron, Canton, Youngstown) is coordinated by
NEOTA (the Northeastern Ohio Tennis Association) -- the same USTA Midwest district that covers Greater Cleveland -- at NTRP levels from 2.5 through 5.0, including men's, women's, mixed doubles, combo, and age-group divisions (18 & Over, 40 & Over, 55 & Over, 65 & Over). Teams advance through NEOTA District Championships to the USTA Midwest Section Championships and national competition. Find
doubles leagues and
match play through
Tennis Circuits®.
Can you play tennis year-round in this region? +
Yes. The Akron-Canton-Youngstown I-76/I-77 corridor has one of the densest clusters of indoor tennis facilities in Ohio with roughly 30+ dedicated indoor courts across the major clubs. Outdoor tennis typically runs May through October. Indoor court access is essential from November through April given Northeast Ohio's winter climate.
Are the clubs listed affiliated with Tennis Circuits®? +
