Take a few minutes to get to know the tennis staff we have here at Wembley!
Ben Slade
Ben is also a four-year former Cleveland State tennis player. He was a two time conference champion, along with a 2 time NCAA participant. He was nationally ranked 75th in Division 1. He was a former hitting partner in the Australian summer tennis circuit for players such as, Rafa Nadal, Kei Nishikori, Milos Raonic, along with several top ten WTA players. Ben has almost 10 years of coaching experience in both Australia, and the United States, which includes coaching in the Cleveland area for four years. The enthusiasm Ben brings is loved by all of our members and juniors!
Austin Barr
As a tennis player, Austin was ranked in the top 40 nationally in his class in juniors, ranked top 8 nationally in Division III tennis at Williams College, and has experience coaching across all age groups and levels! Austin is excited to take on his teaching roll, as well as an administrative roll in the main office!
Robert Golsmith, USPTA Certified Pro
Robert Golsmith is a certified PTR & USPTA Tennis Pro with 30+ years of professional teaching experience. As a junior player, he attended the famed Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy and the Billie Jean Tennis Camp. During his college days Robert played #1 singles and #1 doubles for division III Thiel College.
In 1995, Robert was ranked in top 20 of the USTA Middle States Men’s Open Singles division (PA, NJ, & DE). As a professional teaching pro, Robert was the Director of Tennis at the renowned Oakmont Country Club in Pittsburgh (8 years) and Director of Tennis of the Oakwood Club in Cleveland Heights (18 years). In 2013, Robert was honored with the Distinguished Achievement in Leadership Award by Boardroom Magazine. In addition to teaching at Wembley, Robert runs the summer tennis program at the Chagrin Valley Country Club.
Katie Allan
Katie was born and raised in Northeast Ohio, in Ashtabula County. She grew up playing tennis, learning first from her mother Jennifer, then through years of coaching. She was a 4-year varsity player at Lakeside High School, where she captained her team her junior and senior year, and even has a school record in doubles. After high school, she continued her tennis career at the Division II college, Edinboro University, where she played 1st Doubles, and 4th Singles. Now, she plays socially at the club, along with playing USTA as a 4.5.
Katie has spent years teaching and coaching tennis. She has helped coach junior high and high school teams, and given private lessons as well. Katie loves teaching people of all ages and levels! She teaches in adult and kid’s clinics, as well as private lessons. When she is not on court teaching, she spends most of her time running tournaments, social events, and many other things around the club as Wembley’s Club Coordinator.
Now that you have gotten to know our tennis staff, head over to our Tennis Page to learn how to get involved!
Also, check out our YouTube and Blog page! Our tennis staff is always posting new content!