|
Interview with Coach Castillo, Girls Tennis
By Sandra (not Sandy) Medina
1. How many
years have you been coaching the girls tennis team(s)?
I've been coaching the girls team
since the fall of 2004. (Currently in my 4th year)
2. When and how did you start getting interested in tennis?
I started getting interested in
tennis when I saw John McEnroe's TV commercials for Bic razors, but what really got it going was a couple of young tennis
pros named Andre Agassi & Michael Chang. I really liked the idea that here were two young teenagers
in the pros that really challenged the status quo of the tennis establishment. Both went on to have incredible
careers full of many hall-of-fame-worthy accomplishments. At the same time, my cousin and I found some
old rackets in a closet at our church and we just started playing. I enjoyed it and seemed to pick it up
right away. Since many of my friends were playing for my high school team, I decided to leave baseball
& I tried out and made the varsity team that same year.
3. Has the tennis team gotten better since you've been coaching?
Absolutely!
These girls are so dedicated to getting better and helping to establish Banning as a legitimate tennis program, not
just in the Marine League, but also in the L.A. CIF City Section. The first year I coached the girls, the
team finished with only 3 wins and 10 losses. The team is now on track for its 3rd consecutive winning
season and, in all likelihood, its 2nd straight trip to the playoffs! These girls are awesome.
4. Who is the most competitive high school?
In the Marine League, it is without a doubt Carson. They are on track to now be 90-0 in their last 9
years of league play without any serious challengers. Every year they are among the top contenders for
the city championship along with Palisades & Granada Hills.
5. Who is your #1 player? Do you think she will continue playing tennis beyond high school?
Currently the team's #1 player is Nancy Melgoza. She is a 4-year starter and has always been either
#1 or #2 during those 4 years. In addition to being the team's MVP in 2005, she has also been selected for the L.A. CIF
City Section Individual Playoffs in Doubles two years in a row. With her partner, Margaret Young,
she advanced to the Round of 32 in 2005, and this past June she made it to the quarterfinals of the L.A.-Watts Summer Games
with her current partner, and #2 player on the team, Cinthya Monroy.
I certainly hope that she does continue to play tennis beyond high school. She
has the talent and the ability to continue to improve. She recently mentioned the idea of perhaps playing
for CSU Dominguez Hills next year.
6. Who
is your most improved player?
Currently, that is a difficult question to answer.
Last year's Most Improved Player award went to Veronica Trujillo. However, there are many players
who have improved tremendously since last year, as well as during the course of this current season.
7. Who was your favorite coach and why?
I
had two coaches in high school, but my favorite was definitely Coach Tooley. He believed in me and was able to recognize my
potential. I did not receive any formal tennis training going into high school, but after my first year
on the team, he was able to get me a scholarship at a private tennis club. It helped a lot and I always
appreciated him for that. I also respected and admired his mild manner with the team.
8. At what age did you begin playing? How many years
have you been playing? I was 15 years old when I first really picked up a tennis racket with my cousin,
as I stated earlier. I played 3 years of varsity tennis in high school and I played a little bit while
in college at Cal. I've been playing off and on since then, obviously more consistently for the past
4 years.
9. In high school, were you #1?
Not by a long shot. Even by my senior year, I was only as high as #5 on my team.
So that's why I continue to be amazed by how good so many of our players have gotten.
10. Are you proud of your tennis team?
Absolutely!
These girls make me proud every day. The commitment, determination, and heart that they show every
day makes me proud of them. Aside from the obvious improvements that the team has made, I am more proud
of how these young ladies have grown and matured into confident, responsible & respectable young women. I
am also so proud of how they get along and take care of each other, as well as the incredible sports-woman-ship they show,
regardless of whether they win or lose.
11.
Are you on steroids like Barry Bonds?
Both Barry Bonds and I are tired of these allegations.
We both believe in the democratic principle that a person is innocent until proven guilty. We are
both tired of jealous people throwing out these accusations in an effort to try to taint our respective MVP awards as well
as our other accomplishments. We know that in time people will come to appreciate what we have contributed
to our respective sports and that we will eventually receive the recognition that we deserve.
|
