Hubbard Middle School proudly announces that physical education teacher Rodney Lehman achieved an exciting milestone this summer by winning a national tennis tournament in the 55+ division.
Lehman’s passion for tennis began as a personal challenge. After joining the United States Tennis Association (USTA) at 35, he started competing in national tournaments. In his first USTA tournament, he faced a tough opponent from Florida and lost 6-0, 6-0 in just 58 minutes. This summer, in a story of perseverance, Lehman faced that same opponent in the West Virginia Open in Wheeling, WV, and after nearly four hours of play, emerged victorious.
Lehman has competed in USTA tournaments across West Virginia, Kentucky, and Connecticut, and his previous high finish was in 2021, when he placed third in a Louisville, Kentucky, tournament. Locally, he won the Sharon Open this past summer.
As a self-taught tennis player, Lehman’s determination and drive are evident both on the court and in the classroom. His commitment to helping every student improve, regardless of their ability, makes him a valuable member of the Hubbard Middle School community.
Lehman’s athletic journey is one of resilience and passion. Although he only began playing tennis at the age of 35, his early years were dominated by soccer. A multi-sport athlete at Hyndman High School in Bedford County, PA, Lehman still holds the single season scoring record at his alma mater. His talent earned him a tryout with the Chicago Sting of the Major Indoor Soccer League at the age of 18. Out of 150 players, Lehman was one of 25 to make it to the final days of tryouts. Although he wasn’t selected, the coaching staff encouraged him to try out for Team USA, where he secured a spot on the roster. Leading the USA East team in scoring, Lehman traveled to Europe for a 3-month tour with the team.
Ten years later, Lehman had another shot at professional soccer, this time with the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer. However, having bulked up from weightlifting and accustomed to the indoor game, Lehman knew his endurance wasn’t at the level needed to make the outdoor team. Nonetheless, he was grateful for the opportunity.
Lehman’s soccer career ultimately led him to Hubbard, where he became a physical education teacher and soccer coach.
“During the initial season, my team started the season 0-6 and was outscored 34-4 in their first six games. However, the tide turned the second half of the second and it ended up being one of my most memorable years as a Head Coach,” said Rodney Lehman. “Hubbard finished 2-13-1 in the regular season. They won their first playoff game 9-2 over Maplewood and then upset Ursuline (14-1-1) the number 1 seed in the district tournament 2-1. No other team in the area is known for only winning two regular season games or less and then knock a #1 seed out of a district soccer tournament. In the District semi finals, Hubbard lost 3-2 in double overtime to Lakeview. Lakeview dominated Hubbard in both regular season games 8-0 and 7-1 prior to the district semi final game.”