Harbor High School Girls Tennis Coach Ursula Oberg Takes an Unusual Path
By Michael Oppenheimer
“After eight years as an academic advisor, I just new I had to take a break to spend more time with my young daughter,” Oberg said of leaving UCSC. “My husband agreed with me and so that March I stepped down.”
Oberg not only found time for her family, but she also found more time for the other love of her life: Tennis.
“I had so much time to play tennis that friends joked it was my job now,” she said. “Who knew!”
Oberg had been playing tennis most of her life, including playing with her husband, but joining the USTA seven years ago was the beginning of her current path.
“I’d been a substitute teacher and became a team captain on my USTA team, so teaching high school tennis had crossed my mind before,” Oberg said. “But it wasn’t until I left UCSC that I started focusing on my tennis enough where it became a real possibility.”
Her opportunity came the previous coach, father of the team’s No. 1 singles senior Rachel Handley, announced over the summer that he wouldn’t be able to return as coach. Oberg’s friends in the tennis community thought the time might be right for her to take his place.
“I only found out the job was open in July,” Oberg said. “I was excited though. I know some of the families of these kids, so it’s a perfect fit.”
One thing Oberg likes about the team format is the friendly competition.
“Our top players are really close,” she said. “In fact, they can challenge each other for the team position every couple weeks — it keeps them sharp.”
Handley will likely be challenged frequently by junior Sevanna DeLeon, who has held the No. 1 spot before. Rounding out the singles team is sophomore Phoebe Dlott and junior Sarah Smith. The doubles will be lead by the team of Caitlin Lackey and Reyna Escalante, both seniors.
“We are a growing program, but small,” said Oberg, commenting on the school’s lack of a JV team. “They are a fun, supportive group and this is going to be a fun and exciting year.