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, but soon fell in love with the game of tennis. I played for Hamlin middle school and Roy Miller high school, and had a very successful high school career. My junior year I was district runner up. During my time as a junior 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. However, I give all of the credit to Dr. Shelby Torrance 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 tennis program 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
I am a native Texan and have lived in Corpus Christi for just over 10 years with my husband, Billie, and our 2 children. From a young age, I always showed an interest in playing competitive games and sports. I played everything from volleyball to golf. I was even offered a scholarship to play college golf.
I received my bachelor’s degree in business administration in 2004 from Texas Tech University, and then later, in 2008, I became a certified Texas school teacher. I’ve always had a passion for sharing knowledge to help others succeed, but when I discovered pickleball, it reawakened my dream of becoming a coach.
After spending the last 3+ years improving (and obsessing over) my own pickleball game, I realized I wanted to share that journey and joy with others. I convinced Billie that we should pursue and obtain our pickleball coaching certifications at the end of 2023. Now, over a year later, we are loving what we do. So, “drop” everything and join us in finding the joy, adding some new skills, or starting your own pickleball journey today!
Contact Jen Ryon: jbpickleball@outlook.com
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Billie
Ryon
Growing up, sports were always a large part of my life. Soccer was my passion, which I played on a competitive level. I lived, breathed, ate, and slept soccer. Eventually life got in the way, and injuries kept me away.
It was not until I met my wife that I realized the emptiness of not playing sports had created in my life. She was equally passionate about sports. Some volleyball friends introduced us to pickleball, and we were obsessed immediately. After 3 years of playing, we decided to become coaches so we could spend all of our time on the courts. As a PPR level II certified coach it has been a blessing to share my passion with other picklers. Come on out, and let's begin your pickleball journey together!
Contact Jen Ryon: jbpickleball@outlook.com
Hello, everyone. I am Matt Maher, the new pickleball coach for Al Kruse Tennis Center. I played three years of high-level high school tennis for Veterans Memorial, ranking as high as #11 in Texas as a team. I tore my ACL after high school, and since then, I've picked up pickleball and haven't looked back. I've played for four years now and am eager to share my knowledge and help the game in Corpus grow!
Contact Coach Maher: 361-742-1341 / matthewimaher@gmail.com
Matthew Maher
Hello, my name is Rebecca Pina and I am thrilled to introduce myself to the Corpus Christi tennis & pickleball community. With over 10 years of coaching experience, I have dedicated my career to nurturing and developing tennis talent. I have had the privilege of coaching players of all ages and skill levels, from beginners to advanced competitors. My coaching philosophy centers around fostering a love for the game while emphasizing technique, strategy, and sportsmanship. I believe in creating a positive and supportive environment where players can thrive and reach their full potential. Outside of tennis, I enjoy spending time with my family, exploring the beautiful Texas coastline, and staying active with various outdoor activities. I am excited to bring my expertise and enthusiasm to the local tennis scene and look forward to meeting and working with many of you. Let's make this an incredible journey together!
Contact Coach Rebecca: 361-774-9093 / pina.rebecca.m@gmail.com
Rebecca
Pina
Chris has coached tennis of all levels from beginners to touring professionals. Chris joins us with 15+ years of coaching experience. Chris played college tennis at UNCW for four years and then played professionally for three years. He reached a career high of #900 ATP in singles and doubles.
Contact Coach Chris: 720-840-8617 / chriscooprider0@gmail.com