Active Kids Around Pottstown

There are a number of ways your kids can get active around Pottstown in the coming months. Here's a look at some of them.

-- Two special children's roller skating parties open to the public will be held at Ringing Rocks Skating Rink on Wednesday, Oct. 8 and Wednesday, Oct. 15.

Both are from 6 to 8 p.m.

The Oct. 8 party is for students in 4K through second grade.

The Oct. 15 party is for students in third through fifth grades.

The cost is only $2 in advance or $2.50 at the door and skate rentals are only $1.

Admission for parents is free and children should be picked up for 8:15 p.m.

Advance Tickets are available at the Pottstown Parks and Recreation Department office in Borough Hall, 100 E. High St.

-- PAL Youth Wrestling Registration will be held Saturday, Oct. 18 and Saturday, Nov. 1 from 9 to 11 a.m. at the field house at the Pottstown High School's Grigg Memorial Stadium.

It is open to all Pottstown-area residents ages 5 to 13 years old.

Registration is $35 and a copy of the child's birth certificate and insurance information is required.

Matches will be held on Saturdays in December, January and February.

Call Rich and Kim Deppen (coaches) at 610-476-7089; or Aram and Donna Ecker (president and coach) at 610-326-5011.

-- The Greater Pottstown Tennis Association will conduct a free 10 and under tennis clinic over the winter months.

It will be held indoors at the YMCA, 724 N. Adams St. and racquets will be available to use for free.

The first session will be from Nov. 2 to Dec. 23. The second session will be from Jan. 2 to Feb. 27.

For both sessions, ages 8 to 10 will be from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sundays; ages 3 to 5 will be on Tuesdays from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. and ages 5 to 7 will be Fridays from 6 to 7 p.m.

To register, e-mail your child's name and address and age to Maryellen@gptatennis.com

Send questions to Kerriann@gptatennis.com

Tennis Anyone?

Best on the Courts

Members of the Greater Pottstown Tennis Association, front from left: Administrator and coach Maryellen Wilson; Director of Operations and coach Kerriann Herdelin; Preisdent Margie Neiswender; member and webmaster Indrani Pandey. Rear, from left; Coach Chris Herdelin; Vice President Dave Faulkner; board member Dick Geiger; Coach Josh Geiger; Coach David Himes; Coach, Ira Watts, Coach.

BLOGGER'S NOTE: My son received tennis lessons through this organization for several summers and this winter, practiced ever Saturday as well at The Hill School through this program.Not only is it free and awesome, it also builds interest into the kind of activity you can continue throughout your entire life. After all, how many 60-year-olds do you see playing football? 

Congrats to all involved, both on the award and your phenomenal growth. No doubt, those you've taught will be instrumental in re-building Pottstown High School's tennis team, which will begin again this spring after nearly a decade of inactivity.

Greater Pottstown Tennis Association (GPTA) has been named Community Tennis Association of the Year by the United States Tennis Association (USTA) for all of Middle States.

 GPTA is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to promote, encourage and foster the development and growth of the sport of tennis for all age groups in Pottstown and its surrounding communities.

GPTA serves players throughout the greater Pottstown area in Berks, Chester and Montgomery counties.
In 2012, GPTA became part of the USTA National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL) network when it formed Greater Pottstown Tennis and Learning (GPTL).

This second organization is focused on delivering educational and tennis programming to underserved populations in the Pottstown School District.

GPTA & GPTL run year round low-cost tennis programs including clinics, leagues, USTA Jr. Team Tennis, tournaments, US Open Bus Trip and special events.  GPTL also runs a free after school program for Pottstown Middle School students provided by a grant from Pottstown Health and Wellness.

This tennis program focuses on nutrition, fitness and life skills. GPTL also sponsors a free winter clinic for Pottstown students from grades 6th-12th to encourage participation on the Pottstown High School Tennis Team.

Free tutoring is offered to any GPTL participants by The Hill School’s students.

GPTA/GPTL has grown over 700 percent in the last two years and intends to implement more free and low cost after school programs for future years.

GPTA and GPTL are made up of a Board of Professionals from the community who volunteer their experience and expertise to ensure that low-cost tennis programs are provided.

The daily operations are run by Kerriann Herdelin, Director and Maryellen Wilson, Administrator.  GPTA and GPTL have many talented and experienced coaches.  Visit www.gptatennis.com for more information on year round tennis programs.

Tennis Anyone?

The Greater Pottstown Tennis Association will host a free "Play Day" for children ages 10 and younger on Sunday, June 10 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Hill School tennis courts off Beech Street. 


According to the U.S. Tennis Association web site, "A 2-3 hour Play Day allows kids to have multiple matches with and against a variety of players."

Play Days are designed for various levels of players to participate in a fun, low pressure, yet competitive setting.

They provide an informal yet competitive setting without the threat of elimination.

The GPTA offers Summer Clinics and Camps every year serving Pottstown and its surrounding areas.

Clinics and camps are held at different locations and at different times of the day, and is designed to cater the needs of all ages and skill level

The clinics usually run for 8 to 10 weeks from June to August, and the Camps are usually for 5 days, Mon-Fri, from 9AM-12noon.


For a schedule of clinics and camps, click here.

Clinics will be held outdoors at following locations:  Hill School, Limerick Township, Pottsgrove HS, Kenilworth Park, Kimberton Park



For clinic registration information, click here.

Camps will be held outdoors at following locations: Hill School, Pottsgrove HS, Kenilworth Park


For tennis camp registration information, click here.


The GPTA will also hold an adult mixer at The Hill School on Saturday, June 9 at 5 p.m. 

It is a social evening of mixed doubles and players will have matches scheduled in a round robin format. Advanced beginners to advanced players are welcome to participate.

To register, click here.

And on June 22 through 24, the Pottstown Tennis Classic will be held at The Hill School and proceeds will benefit Pottstown youth. (Entries close June 15).

It is the first annual sanctioned USTA Tournament and there is $500 in total prize money.

There will be men’s singles, doubles and mixed divisions and the entry fee is $33 singles and $18 doubles (per player).

This tournament is a single elimination tournament (best 2 of 3 sets) for adult and junior players.
Optional back draw is offered to those eliminated in the first round for additional play opportunities.

You can register by clicking here.