Linda Hitchcock’s Second Start Has Aptos Girls Tennis Going Strong
By Michael Oppenheimer
In her late 30s, Linda Hitchcock’s life was going along just fine. She had a family, enjoyed the work she did as an educator in the state park system and was active in recreational athletic activities.
Then her husband, John Buchanan, got her a birthday present: a new tennis racket.
“I hadn’t played [tennis] since Jr. High and High School,” Hitchcock said. “I’ve always been active in sports, but after high school I focused on other sports, schoolwork, family, etc.”
But it wasn’t long before she realized she had a new passion.
In the last 11-plus years, Hitchcock has gone from not playing tennis since her teens to joining the USTA with her husband, coaching elementary-level tennis in the spring, joining Aptos High as the junior varsity coach and finally, three years ago, taking over as the varsity coach.
“It seems like it all happened so fast,” Hitchcock said. “I was away from tennis for nearly two decades, and now I’m coaching a strong, successful high school varsity team. Life’s good!”
Hitchcock, always an educator, started coaching soon after she rediscovered her love for tennis. She joined Seascape Sports Club tennis pro Brian Cory in his after-school program teaching tennis to elementary students at Rio Del Mar, Mar Vista, Bradley and Valencia.
Also participating in the program was Marc Godoy, a retired PE teacher from Soledad who’s lived in Aptos since 1985, and Laura Alioto, both of who became good friends and all of whom continue to participate in the spring program.
“We’ve been friends along time now,” Hitchcock said. “When I became the head coach here at Aptos High, it was natural to bring them along.”
When Hitchcock was promoted to varsity coach three years ago, she brought Godoy and Alioto into the fold, asking Alioto to take over the junior varsity and Godoy to work as her assistant on varsity.
The three are also involved in a Sunday elementary-age tennis class at Soquel High school.
Hitchcock was hired as the junior varsity coach six years ago, under another Rick Kepler, another former Seascape pro. When Kepler got a job as the Maui Country Club Director of Tennis, there was no question about handing over the reigns to the girls tennis program to Hitchcock.
“I’ve been involved in USTA all this time, so I know a lot of the parents of these kids from there,” Hitchcock said. “Also, I keep recruiting parents who haven’t started yet. I like spreading the joy of tennis as far and wide as I can.”
She also does that with her team, drawing players from as “far and wide” as she can.
“I’m always encouraging girls to come out and try tennis,” she said. “I get freshmen from soccer, cheer, swimming, track, volleyball, basketball … wherever I can. A lot of them are afraid to try something new, but they come to tennis and eventually they make varsity.”
With junior standouts Teagan Knight, Kelly McMinn and Sanika Kshirsagar (singles 1-3 respectively), freshman Lindsey Mott, senior doubles teams Jamie Ferrel/Melinda Faulk (No. 1) and Julia Fuller/Melissa Tao (No. 3) and “The Tennis Angels” (Soph No. 2 team Ella Arnerich/Maddy Miller), Hitchcock is confident that her team will challenge for a third-straight SCCAL title.
“We’re looking up at undefeated St. Francis [after starting 5-2 in league], but I know they’re going to stay strong.” Hitchcock said.
Regardless of how the season turns out, with Hitchcock’s energy and enthusiasm, the team will always have fun.