The National Junior Tennis League has once again named Augusta's MACH Academy as a top youth program.
"We were named the Southern Section Chapter of the Year," said Betty Jones, MACH Academy's executive director. "It's geared at chapters showing strong growth academically as well as in tennis."
MACH Academy, which is headquartered at the Fleming Tennis Center off Peach Orchard Road, also was the chapter of the year in 2003 and 2006.
2008 was a good year for MACH Academy, according to Ms. Jones.
The building the organization uses for its after-school tutoring programs and fitness room got 900 square feet larger. Construction on the building, which was previously about 1,500 square feet, was completed in October.
Three tennis courts were added at the end of 2007, but the lighting wasn't installed until March.
Ms. Jones said the new tennis courts are well-used. About 70 children participate in tennis programs each week. The academy plays host to two tournaments a year.
The site is the backup for events at the Newman Tennis Center, and several area high schools use it for their tennis programs.
Funding for the new courts came from sales tax money and United States Tennis Association grants.
About 20 youths participate in after-school programs; about a dozen are involved in the character-education program; and about 20 take part in advanced tennis programs. An outreach program is the newest addition.
"We can't get everyone here because of transportation, so we are taking the program out to them," Ms. Jones said.
In the Quick Start program, tennis equipment is taken to day-care centers and recreation centers to give children who have never played the sport a chance to get acquainted with it.
It's been popular, Ms. Jones said. MACH Academy volunteers took it to three sites the week before Christmas, and she expects it to be offered at one site a week beginning this month.
Reach Charmain Brackett at charmain.brackett@augustachronicle.com.
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