Rod Horton, Director of Tennis

USPTA Certified, P-1 Professional

Rod Horton has over 25 years of teaching experience.  He has a long and distinguished tennis career including playing high-level junior tennis and a successful college career at Weber State on scholarship.  While at Weber he was Team Captain in both his Junior and Senior years and the team won conference championships 3 out of the 4 years Rod was there.  Rod’s coaching career started with the University of Utah Women’s tennis program as an assistant coach.  He has spent much of his career mentoring aspiring junior players to achieve a higher level of success, not to mention numerous adult teams that have gone on to sectional and national playoffs.  Rod is the recipient of Utah Tennis Association’s 2003 David L. Freed Award for achievement in the tennis industry, and has headed up several fundraising and charity events throughout his career.  Rod enjoys coaching and appreciates the effect he can have on others, while helping create a lifelong work ethic that is brought about by the diligence it takes to do things right!  Rod believes teaching correct technique from the beginning is the basis for accomplishing a high level of performance in all that we do, he says ‘it is for this reason that I focus so hard on the correct technique and love helping others to do it right as well.  This releases the burden of how and allows us to move our mind and body to new heights physically and mentally.  How fun can it get when you are performing and doing things the way you see yourself wanting to do them and integrating that into social or competitive environments!’

 

Jane Waterstradt, QuickStart Tennis Director.

PTR Certified Tennis Professional.

Jane Waterstradt has many credentials as a coach, umpire, and athlete. She is a specialized QuickStart Tennis teaching professional and 10 & Under QuickStart Tennis trainer. In 2009 Jane helped coach the Brighton High School Boys 5A tennis team to a Utah State Championship, sweeping all event.  As a tennis teaching professional, Jane has 8 years of experience, including 5 years of high school coaching experience at Olathe South High School in Kansas as well as Brighton High School and Judge Memorial Catholic High School in Salt Lake City.  As an athlete, Jane has national playing experience.  She played Division 1 collegiate volleyball and soccer at California Polytechnic University at Pomona.  She also has 10 years of national experience as a competitive swimmer as a breastroker, backstroker and sprint freestyler.  Jane is a United States Tennis Association (USTA) Tennis Service Representative for Utah, a USTA-certified tennis umpire, and a Professional Tennis Registry (PTR)-certified teaching professional.  Jane loves the sport of tennis and says ‘ I teach because I enjoy having a positive impact on kids’ lives.  I know that I can make a difference in them as people, while teaching them a sport for a lifetime.  I believe in playing “high-percentage” tennis and the importance of having a strong mental game.’

 

Zach Rideout, Director of Junior Tennis

USPTA Certified, P-2 Professional

Zach Rideout has over 10 years of experience.  He was a successful junior player and was rewarded with a scholarship at Weber State University.  Whilst playing for Weber he was the recipient of their Community Service Award for two years. He moved on to be the Assistant Women’s Tennis Coach at Weber State and then the Head Coach for Woods Cross High School for 2 years.  He held the position of Junior Tennis Director at Eagleridge Tennis and Swim for 5 years.  Zach says of his time as coach, “I have really enjoyed teaching positioning and strategy both for singles and doubles.  This has come to be one of my favorite things to teach in the past few years.  My other favorite is that of technique.  To see a student struggle with an aspect of a stroke and to be able to fix that aspect is truly a great feeling.”
 

Mike Trabert, Tennis Professional

USPTA Certified, P-1 Professional

Mike Trabert is former Director of Tennis for Pebble Beach Company, Carmel Valley Ranch, and Salt Lake Swimming & Tennis Club.  He is a USA High Performance coach and has over 30 years teaching experience.  Trabert was 1999 United States Tennis Association (USPTA) Northern California Pro of the Year, and 1998 USTA Northern California Senior Player of the Year.  He was nationally ranked from 1992-1998, ranking #5 in Men’s 35 Doubles in 1992 and #7 in Men’s 40 Doubles in 1998.  He also served as USPTA Regional Director Northern California-Monterey Bay.  Most recently in 2009, he received the David L. Freed Award and in 2010 was honored with the USPTA Intermountain Division Industry Excellence Award. Mike says, “I love teaching technique and stroke production but my true passion lies in helping people with the mental side of the game as well as with singles and doubles strategy.  Helping students improve shot selection, teaching how to eliminate unforced errors, and teaching proper court positioning are some of my favorite things to do.  I also enjoy playing and being a hitting partner for high level players.”

 

Karen Jeppson, Tennis Professional

USPTA certification pending

Karen brings over 30 years of experience to the club.  She was a member of the United States Junior Federation Team, ranking in the top 10 Women Collegiate players and she was voted All-American Collegiate!  As a junior and adult she has been ranked #1 in Singles and #1 in Doubles in both Utah and Intermountain.  She has coached the Utah-Moscow Youth Games and the kids love that she’s featured in ‘Top Spin’, the Xbox Tennis Game!  Karen most enjoys teaching and coaching professionally when students get excited about learning to play tennis!  She says ‘It’s wonderful to see a student start with a certain skill level, work hard over a period of time, developing their technique and mindset.  What an accomplishment to see them reach their goals!’

 

Ric Foulger, Tennis Professional

Ric has over 40 years of tennis teaching and coaching experience. He started teaching at the Seattle Tennis Club in 1970. In 1971, after a one-year apprenticeship with Don Leary and Jody Rush, Ric earned his USPTA P-1 certification. In 1976, Ric became Director of Tennis at the Pacific-West Tennis Club in Seattle. Ric moved to Salt Lake City in 1982. In 1988, Ric was ranked #1 in Utah in Men’s Open singles and #1 in Intermountain in Men’s 35s doubles. His students have won national, state, and professional titles as well as college scholarships.

 

Erin Monson, Tennis Professional

USPTA certification pending

Erin has accomplished much in her short career having reached top junior player in Intermountain.  She has played at the University of Utah, who were ranked amongst the top 50 National teams, at the time.

She loves working and helping kids improve on and off the court.  Erin says ‘I enjoy building relationships along with helping people understand the game of tennis.  My strengths would be in the physical and mental aspect of the game and I understand the importance of working hard to improve movement and getting in better shape.’  Her coaching strengths include doubles positioning, constructing points and having a positive attitude.

 

Lave Toli, Tennis Professional

Level 1, 2 ITF (International Tennis Federation) Certification, Fiji

Lave Lave has been teaching and coaching tennis for over 25 years. His accomplishments include the esteemed positions of Head Coach for the America Samoa National Junior Team, American Samoa National Adult Team, and Tonga National Team. Lave also served as a development officer for the Oceania Tennis Federation and Head Coach for the East Pacific Tennis Team. Lave loves working on the technical aspects of the game and exhibits strengths in all levels, from 10 & Under Tennis to very accomplished juniors and adults. The Lave Toli family is Utah Tennis Association’s 2012 Family of the Year.

 

Alexandra Johncock, Tennis Professional

USPTA Certified, P-3 Professional

At 18 Alexandra was internationally ranked in Europe.  She played division 1 college tennis at Weber State University and was team captain in her senior year.  Alex received the ‘All Conference’ award in her sophomore year.  She has worked at Van Der Meer Tennis and Carmel Tennis Club as a Tennis Pro and enjoys the mental part of the game.  Alex believes being mentally fit is more important than having a beautiful stroke.   She says ‘It all boils down to mental toughness and being able to think while under pressure.’  She enjoys both singles and doubles play.