Heather Alexander, Club Manager

Heather has joined the Aspen Racquet Club staff as the Club Manager. Previously Heather worked at Ashland University as the Assistant Athletic Director/Director of Internal Operations/Senior Women Administrator. She is a graduate of North Alabama University and resides in Ashland with her daughters, Mikayla and Lacey.

Kent Smith, Adult Tennis Coordinator

Kent spent the past 38 years working in education, 27 of which he was the athletic director for Orrville City Schools. He is an avid tennis player, whose success in the sport began at Orrville High School and continued while he studied at the University of Akron. Kent has spent over 30 years as the head coach for Orrville’s boys’ and girls’ tennis teams. He has served as an official at both the state boys’ and girls’ tennis tournaments for 25 years. Kent is also on the Northeastern Ohio Tennis Organization board and continues to play year-round in USTA adult leagues.

Adam Slomski, Head Pro

Adam is a USPTA-certified professional who specializes in technical player development. He has developed and worked with players at the USTA Midwest/national level. He has developed and worked with players at the high school district and state level. He is a former varsity high school head coach for Hawken Upper School boys and girls and a varsity assistant for North Royalton boys and girls. On top of being a USTA 5.0-rated player, he is also a former high school state qualifier for Brunswick High School. Adam’s goal is to help grow the modern game of tennis for all ages.

Justin Crooks, Junior Tennis Coordinator

Justin started playing tennis very early in his life and has continued playing and loving the sport to this day.  Justin grew up in Ashland, OH, and played tennis for Ashland High School.  He then went on to play at the collegiate level for Indiana Wesleyan University. He is a USPTA-certified professional with over 15 years of teaching experience. Justin is the Coach for the Wooster High School Boys Tennis Team. Justin also plays in the Aspen men’s singles and doubles leagues.  Other than tennis, his interests include fitness and golf.  He resides in Wooster with his wife Sara and two children.

Jim Nelson, Ambassador & Tennis Pro

Jim has had a distinguished career in tennis including serving as the Director of Tennis at Aspen Racquet Club from its inception until his retirement in 2020. A Wooster High School and College of Wooster graduate, Jim has dedicated many years to playing and promoting the game of tennis with endless passion. He is an Elite Tennis Professional, which is the highest teaching level awarded by the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA). For the past 20 years, Nelson has been an executive board member of the Northeastern Ohio chapter of the United States Tennis Association (USTA). Developing junior players is one of Jim’s strengths.

Amy Behrman, Tennis Pro

Amy heads up the women’s tennis program at The College of Wooster after serving as an assistant for both the men’s and women’s teams. Before coming to Wooster, she was the interim head women’s coach at NCAA Div. I Ball State University near her hometown of Daleville, Indiana. Behrman completed her bachelor’s degree at Catawba in 2004 while double-majoring in physical education and sports/recreation management with a coaching minor.

Jeff Roberts, Certified Pickleball Instructor

Jeff has been a lifelong Wooster tennis player who started playing pickleball around 2012.  He has played in several pickleball tournaments, mostly in Ohio.  He has been teaching pickleball since 2018 and has a Level 1 Coaching Certificate from Pickleball Coaching International.  He teaches beginner’s clinics as well as advanced skills clinics.  His students have ranged from ages 9 to 79, as pickleball is a game for all age groups.  If you are ready to learn the game or if you want to improve your game, call and schedule a private or group lesson.