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Mitch Gornto Tennis Center
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The Palm Beach Atlantic men's and women's tennis teams are blessed to have one of the best NCAA Division II tennis facilities in the Southeast with more courts set to be built in the future. To date the Mitch Gornto Tennis Center boasts 13, fully-lighted courts with shaded seating available in multiple sections of the facility.
The International Tennis Federation (ITF) recently named PBA's courts as a Two-Star recognized facility which is the highest honor a tennis court can earn for its quality and construction. The coloring of the courts matches those seen at Flushing Meadows, home of the U.S. Open in New York. Courts 7-12 along with a championship court with more permanent seating were recently completed, giving the Sailfish greater flexibility in scheduling practices, matches and special tournaments.
The state-of-the-art tennis facility bears the name of celebrated and beloved area tennis pro Mitch Gornto, who passed away Feb. 3, 2009.
Over the course of his more than 50-year career in tennis, Mitch Gornto competed against some of the biggest players of the time: Jack Kramer, Bobby Riggs, Pancho Segura, Johnny Van Ryn. He played at Forest Hills and was part of a tennis exhibition at Yankee Stadium. Yet his greatest legacy to the sport is found in those he taught how to play the game.
The head pro at the Bath & Tennis Club in Palm Beach for 43 years (1955–1998), Gornto served up his special brand of instruction to more than one generation. His philosophy of teaching sometimes drew the skepticism of other pros. “I had the theory that everybody didn’t have to hold the racquet the same way,” he says. “I said give them the basic strokes and go from there and encourage them.”
Paul Van der Grift of First Serve of the Palm Beaches, a longtime friend of Gornto’s, says, “Teaching young people how to be successful through instruction, mentoring and example is how Mitch Gornto did it for generations. All this time we thought Mitch was teaching us about our serve. He was actually teaching us that, in order to be truly successful, we must serve. That’s why he’s the right person to name this tennis center after.”
The Mitch Gornto Tennis Center was being designed by MPA Architects along with world-renowned tennis court designer Sheldon Westervelt.
First Match
Men’s Tennis: Loss, 8-1 vs. Barry (April 14, 2014)
Women’s Tennis: Win. 5-4 vs. Nova Southeastern (April 9, 2014)
First PBA Win
Men’s Tennis: 5-3 vs. Florida Tech (Feb. 6, 2015)
Women’s Tennis: 5-4 vs. Nova Southeastern (April 9, 2014)
Marshall and Vera Lea Rinker Athletic Campus
3401 Parker Ave.
West Palm Beach, FL 33405
DIRECTIONS
DIRECTIONS FROM I-95 (North bound):
1. I-95 to Southern Boulevard (Exit 68).
2. East on Southern Boulevard ~ 0.2 miles to Parker Ave. and turn left.
3. Travel approximately 0.3 miles to the main entrance and turn left into the complex.
DIRECTIONS FROM I-95 (South bound):
1. I-95 to Belvedere Road (Exit 69).
2. East on Belvedere Road ~ 0.2 miles to Parker Ave. and turn right.
3. Travel approximately 0.8 miles to the main entrance and turn right into the complex.
DIRECTIONS FROM FLORIDA's TURNPIKE:
1. Florida Turnpike to Okeechobee Blvd. (Exit 99).
2. East on Okeechobee Blvd. for approximately 5.5 miles to Parker Ave. and turn right.
3. Travel approximately 1.6 miles to the main entrance and turn right into the complex
