Message from Lindsey Hoffman, Red Lodge Coach

When I accepted the opportunity to lead the Red Lodge High School tennis program six years ago, I knew I was taking on a relatively new program with limited resources, but I also saw incredible potential. Over the past several seasons, we’ve worked hard to build enthusiasm for tennis, increase participation, and create a positive team culture. While we’ve made tremendous progress, we’ve faced significant challenges along the way. Our school program was on a probation and a trial phase for two years and provided limited support for the program, our travel budget has recently been eliminated, and we have very little funding available for equipment, player development, or additional training opportunities. Being a rural community also means our athletes have limited access to equipment, indoor facilities, private instruction, and year-round competitive opportunities that many larger programs take for granted.  We spend a significant amount of time traveling to locations to compete, missing school and taking the girls away from their academics. 

Tennis in Red Lodge is not always recognized as a traditional sports, and as a result, our athletes often compete without the same level of visibility and support. Until our new facility is built, we don’t have a true home venue, making it difficult for families, students, and community members to attend matches and celebrate our athletes’ accomplishments. Our players work incredibly hard, balancing demanding practices, academics, and competition, and they deserve to have their achievements recognized alongside those of every other athletic program. Our hope is simply for equal encouragement, appreciation, and community pride for all student-athletes, regardless of the sport they choose.

Our program also continues to face several barriers that limit opportunities for student-athletes. We have not yet been able to establish a middle school program or a boys’ tennis team, despite growing interest in both. Each year, I must request special approval for 8th graders to participate at the high school level because there is no middle school program. While I appreciate that this option exists, the annual approval process is time-consuming and can be intimidating for young athletes and their families. These barriers make it more difficult to build a consistent player pipeline and continue growing the sport.

Facility access has been another ongoing challenge. Living in the mountains also creates unique obstacles. Snow and cold weather often delay our outdoor season by several weeks, putting us behind other teams in match preparation. I have personally spent many early mornings snow blowing the courts to make them playable so our athletes can practice and compete.

Transportation presents yet another hurdle. With limited school buses, vehicles, and available drivers, we have occasionally been forced to drive athletes ourselves or cancel competitions altogether. Despite these challenges, our players continue to show resilience, enthusiasm, and a genuine love for the sport. They deserve the same opportunities as athletes in larger or better-resourced programs, and we remain committed to removing these barriers and building a stronger future for tennis in our community.

Beyond that, one of our greatest challenges is simply having enough court space. Although our existing courts were recently resurfaced, the addition of pickleball has reduced our available practice space to approximately one and a half courts for a team of 15–20 athletes. This makes it extremely difficult to provide quality practices, develop skills, and prepare students for competition. Despite these obstacles, participation continues to grow. I have found that tennis attracts many students who don’t always find their place in traditional sports. For many of these young women, tennis becomes their opportunity to build confidence, develop resilience, form lasting friendships, and discover strengths they didn’t know they had.

Looking ahead, like I mentioned our greatest need is the completion of the new Red Lodge Tennis Complex. A community group is actively fundraising to build four new public courts near the High School that will serve our high school program while expanding access for youth camps, lessons, leagues, tournaments, and public play. This facility will not only provide our athletes with the space and resources they deserve but will also create opportunities for future generations throughout our rural community. While the challenges have been significant, they have only strengthened our determination. We believe every student deserves the opportunity to experience the lifelong benefits of tennis, and we are committed to making that vision a reality.