Spotlight on the Scranton Tennis Community
Scranton's tennis community is shaped by an unusually strong concentration of competitive high school programs. The Lackawanna Conference, the regional high school athletic conference centered in Scranton and the surrounding NEPA counties, has produced two of Pennsylvania's most consistently dominant girls' tennis programs over the past decade. That high school depth feeds into and is sustained by an active club, indoor, and college tennis ecosystem that gives the Scranton metro a year-round tennis culture punching well above what NEPA's population would suggest. Many Scranton-area players compete in tournaments and doubles leagues organized through Tennis Circuits®.
The Lackawanna Conference Tennis Dynasties
What sets Scranton-area tennis genuinely apart from the rest of Pennsylvania is the sustained dominance of two girls' high school tennis programs that share the same conference and play their district championships at the same Wilkes-Barre site each fall.
Abington Heights, the public high school in Clarks Summit just north of Scranton, has won seven consecutive PIAA District 2 Class 3A team titles heading into the most recent district tournament — unbeaten in district tournament play since a 2017 final loss to Hazleton Area. That is one of the most dominant continuous runs of any girls' high school tennis program in Pennsylvania.
Scranton Preparatory School, the Jesuit independent school in Scranton, has won three consecutive PIAA District 2 Class 2A team titles in girls' tennis and captured the 2023 PIAA Class 2A state team championship. The Cavaliers have repeatedly outlasted Wyoming Seminary, the powerful Wilkes-Barre-area independent school whose own program has produced multiple PIAA singles state champions, in the Class 2A district final.
The result is a regional tennis ecosystem where two schools from the same conference, in two different PIAA classifications, have both been multi-year reigning district champions at the same time — with one of them defending a state title in the same year. That kind of concentrated, sustained excellence is rare in Pennsylvania and gives Scranton-area junior tennis an unusually deep development environment.
Notable Tennis Programs and Institutions Associated with Scranton
Scranton anchors a tennis community that combines elite high school programs, two college tennis teams within the city, and an active network of private and indoor clubs that spans the broader NEPA region.
Program / Institution
Affiliation
Level
Highlight
Home Facility
Abington Heights Comets
Abington Heights HS (Clarks Summit)
PIAA District 2 Class 3A
Seven consecutive PIAA District 2 Class 3A girls' team titles; unbeaten in district tournament play since 2017
Clarks Summit, PA
Scranton Prep Cavaliers
Scranton Preparatory School
PIAA District 2 Class 2A
Three consecutive PIAA District 2 Class 2A girls' team titles; 2023 PIAA Class 2A state team champion
Scranton, PA
Scranton Tennis Club
Private Tennis Club
Adult / Junior Programming
Six Har-Tru clay courts, member play groups, clinics, and pro instruction
Scranton, PA
Birchwood Racquet Club
Private Indoor Club
Year-round Indoor Tennis
Seven indoor Nova Hard tennis courts; one of NEPA's premier indoor tennis facilities
Clarks Summit, PA
University of Scranton Royals
University of Scranton
NCAA Division III, Landmark Conference
Jesuit university with NCAA Division III men's and women's tennis programs in the Landmark Conference
Scranton, PA
Marywood University Pacers
Marywood University
NCAA Division III, Atlantic East
Catholic university with NCAA Division III tennis; six outdoor courts on the 115-acre campus
Scranton, PA
USTA Middle States Pocono District
USTA Middle States Affiliate
Adult & Junior
Coordinates leagues, junior programs, and tournaments across Northeastern Pennsylvania, with Scranton as one of its anchor cities
NEPA Region
High School Tennis Programs in the Scranton Area
The Scranton-area high school tennis scene is one of the most concentrated and competitive in the state, with virtually all local schools competing in the Lackawanna Conference and PIAA District 2. The district championships are held annually at Kirby Park in Wilkes-Barre.
| Program |
League / District |
Program Notes |
Abington Heights Comets
PIAA 3A · Lackawanna Conference
|
Abington Heights School District |
Seven consecutive PIAA District 2 Class 3A girls' tennis team titles; unbeaten in district tournament play since 2017. One of the most dominant girls' high school tennis dynasties in Pennsylvania. |
Scranton Prep Cavaliers
PIAA 2A · Lackawanna Conference
|
Scranton Preparatory School (Jesuit) |
Three consecutive PIAA District 2 Class 2A girls' tennis team titles; captured the 2023 PIAA Class 2A state team championship. Among the most successful prep school tennis programs in the state. |
Scranton Knights
PIAA 3A · Lackawanna Conference
|
Scranton School District |
Scranton High School, the city's flagship public high school, fielding PIAA Class 3A tennis programs in District 2. |
West Scranton Invaders
PIAA 3A · Lackawanna Conference
|
Scranton School District |
West Scranton High School, the second flagship public high school in the city, with PIAA District 2 tennis representation. |
Wallenpaupack Buckhorns
PIAA 3A · Lackawanna Conference
|
Wallenpaupack Area School District |
Active PIAA Class 3A program in Wayne and Pike counties east of Scranton; recent District 2 Class 3A finalist against Abington Heights. |
Delaware Valley Warriors
PIAA 3A · Lackawanna Conference
|
Delaware Valley School District |
PIAA Class 3A program in the Pocono Mountains east of Scranton; consistent District 2 representation in tennis. |
Valley View Cougars
PIAA 3A · Lackawanna Conference
|
Valley View School District |
PIAA Class 3A program in Lackawanna County, with regular District 2 tennis representation. |
North Pocono Trojans
PIAA 3A · Lackawanna Conference
|
North Pocono School District |
PIAA Class 3A program in the Pocono foothills east of Scranton, with active Lackawanna Conference and District 2 tennis representation. |
Collegiate Tennis Programs in the Scranton Area
Scranton has two NCAA Division III college tennis programs within the city, supported by additional small-college tennis programs in Wilkes-Barre and the surrounding Northeastern PA region.
Program
Division & Conference
Location
Notes
Team Links
University of Scranton Royals
NCAA Division III — Landmark
Scranton, PA
Jesuit university tennis program in the Landmark Conference; Royal Courts on campus
Marywood Pacers
NCAA Division III — Atlantic East
Scranton, PA
Catholic university tennis program in the Atlantic East Conference; six outdoor tennis courts on a 115-acre campus
Wilkes Colonels
NCAA Division III — MAC Freedom
Wilkes-Barre, PA (~20 mi. southwest)
Wilkes University tennis program in MAC Freedom; one of NEPA's traditional small-college tennis programs
King's Monarchs
NCAA Division III — MAC Freedom
Wilkes-Barre, PA (~20 mi. southwest)
King's College tennis program in MAC Freedom; cross-town rival of Wilkes
Misericordia Cougars
NCAA Division III — MAC Freedom
Dallas, PA (~25 mi. southwest)
Misericordia University tennis program in the Back Mountain west of Wilkes-Barre
East Stroudsburg Warriors
NCAA Division II — PSAC
East Stroudsburg, PA (~40 mi. south)
Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Division II tennis program in the Poconos
Together, these programs give Scranton-area student-athletes meaningful pathways across NCAA Division II and Division III tennis throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania.
Tennis Across Lackawanna County and Northeastern Pennsylvania
Scranton sits at the heart of Lackawanna County and anchors the broader Northeastern Pennsylvania (NEPA) tennis region, with players from across the metro and surrounding counties intersecting at clubs, public courts, and PIAA District 2 high school competition.
- Clarks Summit & The Abingtons — The northern Scranton suburbs, home to the Birchwood Racquet Club and the Abington Heights High School tennis dynasty.
- Dunmore, Olyphant & The Mid Valley — Eastern Lackawanna County mining-era boroughs along the Lackawanna River, with active high school tennis programs feeding the District 2 calendar.
- Wilkes-Barre & Kingston — The other half of the Scranton-Wilkes-Barre metropolitan statistical area, about 20 miles south, home to Wyoming Seminary tennis, Wilkes University, and King's College, and the host of the District 2 tennis championships at Kirby Park.
- The Pocono Mountains — East of Scranton, including Stroudsburg, East Stroudsburg, and the Wallenpaupack region, with active Lackawanna Conference high school tennis and ESU Division II tennis.
- Wayne & Susquehanna Counties — The rural NEPA counties to the north and northeast, connected to Scranton through the USTA Pocono District calendar.
- Hazleton — To the southwest in Luzerne County, historically competitive in PIAA District 2 tennis (last team to beat Abington Heights in a district final, in 2017).
Frequently Asked Questions About Tennis in Scranton, PA
Where can I play tennis in Scranton?
Scranton has a strong tennis community anchored by the Scranton Tennis Club (six Har-Tru clay courts), the Birchwood Racquet Club in nearby Clarks Summit (seven indoor Nova Hard tennis courts), the tennis facilities at the University of Scranton and Marywood University (six outdoor courts), and a network of public courts across Lackawanna County. The USTA Middle States Pocono District coordinates leagues, tournaments, and organized play across the broader Northeastern Pennsylvania (NEPA) region.
Why is Scranton an unusually strong high school tennis market?
The Lackawanna Conference produces some of Pennsylvania's most consistently dominant high school tennis programs. Abington Heights has won seven consecutive PIAA District 2 Class 3A girls' tennis championships, with no district tournament loss since 2017. Scranton Prep has won three consecutive PIAA District 2 Class 2A girls' tennis championships and won the 2023 PIAA Class 2A state team title. Wyoming Seminary, while based in Wilkes-Barre, also competes in the same district and has produced multiple PIAA singles champions. The result is an unusually deep concentration of state-tournament-caliber high school tennis in the Scranton-Wilkes-Barre region.
Does Scranton have USTA leagues or junior tennis programs?
Yes. Scranton is part of the USTA Middle States Pocono District, which covers Northeastern Pennsylvania including Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, and Wayne counties. Adult leagues, junior development programs, and tournaments run year-round, with the Birchwood Racquet Club's seven indoor courts in Clarks Summit sustaining play through NEPA's long winters. Clubs organize doubles leagues, tournaments, and private lessons through Tennis Circuits®.
What colleges in Scranton have tennis programs?
Scranton is home to two NCAA Division III college tennis programs within the city limits: the University of Scranton Royals (NCAA Division III, Landmark Conference) and the Marywood University Pacers (NCAA Division III, Atlantic East Conference). Marywood's outdoor tennis facility features six courts, while the University of Scranton plays at its Royal Courts. Both schools provide a steady college tennis presence supporting the local junior tennis pipeline.
What makes Scranton tennis unique compared to other Pennsylvania cities?
Scranton anchors the Northeastern Pennsylvania (NEPA) tennis region, an area with its own distinct identity, climate, and competitive culture separate from eastern, central, and western PA. The city is the seat of Lackawanna County and home to the Lackawanna Conference, which produces some of the most dominant high school tennis programs in Pennsylvania — Abington Heights and Scranton Prep are both multi-year reigning PIAA District 2 champions, with Scranton Prep also a recent state champion. Combined with a strong network of indoor and outdoor clubs, two college tennis programs in the city, and an active USTA Pocono District, Scranton offers a tennis ecosystem that punches well above what its population would suggest.
Are there tennis lessons or camps available in Scranton?
Yes. Scranton-area tennis clubs and college facilities offer private and group lessons, seasonal camps, and clinics for players of all ages and skill levels. The Scranton Tennis Club offers tennis instruction and clinics, while the Birchwood Racquet Club in Clarks Summit runs a variety of tennis programs for adults and juniors. Tennis Circuits® Summer Camps and Clinics are also available through tenniscircuits.com, providing structured junior and adult programming for the Lackawanna County and Northeastern PA community throughout the year.
Are the clubs listed affiliated with Tennis Circuits®?
This directory lists publicly available information about tennis clubs in Scranton, PA. Some clubs on this list use the Tennis Circuits® software platform, which provides clubs with the ability to run Tournaments, Doubles Leagues, Match Play, Summer Camps, Clinics, Lessons, JTT, Leagues, and Tennis Circuits® Club Edition. Tennis Circuits® is an official USTA Connect Partner — View Press Release (PDF).
Official USTA Connect Partner —
View press release
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