Ronald Elizondo Sr.
USPTA Elite Pro Certified since 2002/USPTA Pickleball Pro 2023
I was introduced to the game of tennis in 1988 by Dr. Shelby Torrance. I was walking around the park barefooted and without a shirt at 13 years old. I fell in love with the game of tennis. I played for Hamlin middle school and Roy Miller high schoo, and had a very successful high school career. My junior year I was district runner up. During my time as a juinor tennis player, I competed all over the state of Texas. I was coached by many great instructors; Susan Torrance, Steve Denton, Bob Mapes, Susan Mapes, coach Ophelia Castro, Joe Pino, and Dave Moriarty. Dr. Shelby Torrance, whom I give all the credit, because I would never have played tennis without her. If it wasn't for her talking to and recruiting me from the park where I lived across the street from the tennis center, I would've never played tennis. In 2000 I started a very successful nonprofit for the under-privileged kids that could not afford tennis lessons from poor neighborhoods and schools. This free program was successful and produced over eight kids that are teaching around the U.S as tennis professionals. I taught for 16½ years tennis at heb tennis center. In 2019 I came back home to the tennis center where I started playing and became the director of tennis. In 2020 I was able to add pickleball courts with portable nets and in 2022 we added 10 dedicated pickleball courts.
Contact Ronald: (361) 548-5619 / Elizondotennis@gmail.com
Jennifer Ryon
Jen is a native Texan and has lived in Corpus Christi for just over 10 years with her husband, Billie, and their 2 children. From a young age, Jen always showed an interest in playing competitive games and sports. She played everything from volleyball to golf. She received her bachelor’s degree in business administration in 2004 from Texas Tech University, and then later, in 2008, she became a certified Texas school teacher. She’s always had a passion for sharing knowledge to help others succeed, but when she discovered pickleball, a whole new can of worms was opened. After spending the last 3+ years improving (and obsessing over) her own pickleball game, she realized she wanted to share that journey and joy with others. She pursued and obtained an official pickleball coaching certification through the Professional Pickleball Registry (PPR). (The PPR is the official education & certification partner of USA Pickleball, which is the governing body of pickleball). Now, with her background in sports and education, she can bring the game to you! Come find the joy and start your pickleball journey with Jen! Contact Jennifer: (432) 889-9756 / jbpickleball@outlook.com
Billie Ryon
Billie is the husband to Jen, who is currently our Head Pickleball Instructor, under Director Ronald Elizondo, here at Al Kruse. Billie is originally from Midland, Texas, where he and Jen met, but has been living in Corpus Christi for the last 10+ years with her and their two children.
Growing up, Billie played a wide range of sports. His passion was soccer, which he played at the club level into high school. He became a certified referee to be on the pitch even when he was not playing himself. Due to various challenges, namely life, soccer fell onto the back burner; however, that passion for sports never left him.
As an adult, he picked up beach volleyball. It was fellow volleyballers that led him and his wife to the amazing sport of pickleball. Like Jen, he quickly became just as obsessed. He has been playing for over 3+ years with a strong desire to continue improving his skills. Alongside Jen, he decided to become a certified coach, so that he could be on the court, even when he was not playing, to spread his passion with others who are just beginning their pickleball journey! Contact Billie: (432) 528-1172 / jbpickleball@outlook.com
Paul Cass
I was first introduced to tennis by Don Fuller, the Tivy tennis coach when I was in 9th grade. I played tennis through high school and while attending Texas A&M I played on the freshmen tennis team, then competed in intramural sports until graduation. I started my coaching career at L.D. Bell High School in Hurst, Texas, in 1970. That year my team won district and I had a boy win the 4A State title in Boy’s Singles. The next year I applied with the Corpus Christi Independent School District where there were four openings for tennis coaching positions. My background in tennis was just one year of coaching at L.D. Bell. I must have made a good impression on Bob Mapes and Ron Woods, two of the prominent tennis people in Corpus Christi. They recommended me for the opening at King High School. I got the job and I coached tennis there until 1992 when I retired from coaching high school tennis. I continued at King as a health teacher until retiring from the system in May of 2004. During my time as a tennis coach, my teams won 22 consecutive district titles, 19 regional titles, and 9 state titles. I coached 33 Regional Champions and 16 State Champions. My teams were 148 – 3 in district matches in 22 years. King High School was ranked # 1 in Texas in 1973. All of my teams were ranked in the top 10 statewide, several times finishing in the top 3. I had the pleasure of coaching over 100 All-District players, 22 All-State players, and 14 All-Americans. Many of these students went on to play college tennis. As a player, I have reached a high of #1 in age division singles, #1 in men’s doubles, husband-wife doubles, and father-son doubles in Texas. Number 8 in National Age division singles. Along with my daughter Julie, I have won the National Father-Daughter Grass Court Championships in Boston a record 13 times. My son Brian and I won 2 Bronze balls at the Father-Son Grass Court Championships. I won a Bronze Ball in Singles at the 2023 National 75 Indoors. I’ve played on Texas’s Super Senior Team winning a National Title in 2009 and 2013, also finishing second once and third twice. I also represented the winning USA team against Canada for the Gordon Cup in 2018. In 2012 I was inducted into the Texas Tennis Coaches Hall of Fame. The Cass Family was named USTA Texas Family of the Year for 2016. Daughter Julie Cass was inducted into the Texas Tennis Hall of Fame, Class of 2016. I am the 2020 Inductee for the Texas Tennis Hall of Fame. In 2015 I competed in the Senior Games in San Antonio. I won a gold medal in 65 singles and then finished second in the 50 and 100-meter dash.
Contact Coach Cass: pctennis1@aol.com