Loss of RYTAC hurts Sault's most serious tennis players

It appears that Sault Ste. Marie’s top tennis players will be especially hard hit by the closure of RYTAC, announced this morning by the YMCA.

RYTAC facilities include six outdoor tennis courts the players have enjoyed using during the warm months for several seasons.

The Y has operated RYTAC on a riverfront site - on the south side of Queen Street just west of Pine Street - owned by the Downtown Rotary Club.

Tennis enthusiasts Deon Slabbert, Doloras Biron and  Karen Bernhardt  - “on behalf of a large number of Sault Ste. Marie/RYTAC tennis players” - have written to Rotary and Y officials hoping a way might be found to ensure access to the courts.

The players say they used all of the RYTAC courts to practice for competitions, including participation in United States Tennis Association leagues.

Two outdoor courts at Algoma University’s George Leach Centre could have eased the situation but they won’t be available due to on-campus dormitory construction.

Courts in city parks aren’t of high enough quality to meet the needs of the community’s most serious tennis players.

The original St. Mary's River Boat Club was established in 1902 and featured events all summer long.