Lexi Chappel can trace her passion for tennis back to when she joined the Butler Junior Tennis Association 15 years ago.

The 2020 Butler High School graduate, an incoming junior on the Grove City College women’s team, is now the head coach of the club that fostered her love of the sport.

“I was involved with it every summer growing up and built a number of lasting friendships,” she said. “The matches we played really helped me get to where I’m at.”

One of those traditions will be renewed when BJT’s annual singles tournament is held Wednesday at the Butler High School courts.

Play will begin at 3 p.m. If inclement weather forces a postponement of the tournament, it will be held July 20.

This summer, the club includes 45 players ages five to 18, though the tournament will involve players ages 11 to 17.

“We will have a varsity and junior varsity bracket and those will be based on both age and skill level,” said Mary Jo Chappel, president of Butler Junior Tennis. “The first- and second-place players in both divisions will receive a medal.”

Ninety percent of the club’s players are from the Butler Area School District, but Mary Jo stressed that any youth in the county can join, pointing out that there are current players from both Seneca Valley and Knoch.

BJT’s season begins each June and runs through early August. Practices are held each Tuesday and Thursday while matches against other tennis clubs in the region, including Treesdale, Sewickley, Wildwood and Butler Country Club, among others, are held each Wednesday and Friday.

The West Penn doubles tournament is scheduled for Aug. 6.

Lexi Chappel became an assistant coach for BJT while still in high school and took over as head coach two years ago.

“I enjoy working with kids and I love coaching,” she said. “I believe it’s helped me as a player. I can tell a player something that they’re doing wrong and then realize I’m making a similar mistake in my own game.

“I want to give back to the program that gave so much to me.”

For further information, visit butlertennis.org.