CAYCE, S. C. – Nearly 500 USTA Junior Team Tennis players will gather in the Columbia, S. C. area over the next two weekends to compete for a national title at the 2016 USTA Junior Team Tennis National Championships, taking place at the Cayce Tennis and Fitness Center in Cayce, S. C.

The 2016 USTA Junior Team Tennis 14U National Championships will bring together the top 28 teams (225 players) at intermediate and advanced levels from various USTA Sections throughout the country Oct. 14-16, while the 18U National Championships will boast the top 32 teams (250 players) at intermediate and advanced levels the following weekend, Oct. 21-23.

The National Championships serves as the crown jewel of USTA Junior Team Tennis as the nation’s top teams compete for the title. Each year the USTA crowns a national champion in two age divisions (14U and 18U) in both the Intermediate and Advanced play divisions. 

Established in 1991, USTA Junior Team Tennis provides youth with all of the health and social benefits of tennis in a co-ed, fun and competitive team environment, and allows participants to compete with and against individuals of similar skill and age levels. It promotes social skills and important values by fostering a spirit of cooperation and unity, as well as individual self-growth. USTA Junior Team Tennis is also a fun environment for kids to learn that succeeding is really more about how they play the game—win or lose.

“The National Championships is a yearly capstone event where every team has had a similar yet different path to make it to the event through their respective sections,” said Matt Barnhart, National Manager for USTA Junior Team Tennis. “The players really enjoy the competition aspect as well as getting the chance to bond with other players from all over the country on and off the court.”

This is the fifth year that the Cayce Tennis Center will host to the USTA Junior Team Tennis National Championships. Recently, the Cayce Tennis Center was named the 2013 Featured Facility Award winner, the USTA’s highest tennis facility honor. In addition, a second tennis facility, the Lexington County Tennis Complex, also will be utilized, to serve the hundreds of players competing each weekend.

“Every year we look forward to these accomplished young people and their families coming to our international award-winning tennis and fitness facility in Cayce,” said Cayce Mayor Elise Partin. “Many of our Cayce residents and residents across the Midlands use this facility on a daily basis, and we couldn’t be happier to share it and our Cayce hospitality with players and families from around the country for the National Championships.”

With more than 99,000  players competing nationwide, USTA Junior Team Tennis brings players together to enjoy camaraderie and teamwork, providing a fun environment for kids to learn that succeeding is really more about how they play the game—win or lose.

Visit the USTA Junior Team Tennis website at ustajtt.com for complete results, stories and photos.