Rick Kepler loves the challenge of helping people of all ages and abilities improve at the game of tennis, to which he has devoted more than 20 years.
A member of the USPTA, Rick graduated from the University of Southern California in 1989 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication. Shortly after managing Seascape Sports Club for two years, he decided to teach full time because of his love of the game. He is now the Tennis Director at Seascape Sports Club in beautiful Aptos, Calif.
Rick has won twelve national doubles titles since he started playing senior events in 1994, ten with longtime partner Brian Cory and two in mixed with Erika Smith. Rick has been ranked No.1 in the nation in Men's 35 doubles individually four years and most recently for two years in the Men's 40s for a total of six years running. He also has been top ten in the nation in singles consistently in his respective age groups. In 2007, Rick was selected to represent the United States in the World Team Championships which takes only four of the top players in the nation. He has also been considered several other times including this year for the World Championships in April located in Mexico. He and his son Jordan were ranked No. 4 in the nation in the father-son division for 2007 and was player/captain of his own national championship Open-level USTA League Tennis team. Most recently he and his son, Jordan, reached the finals of the 69 team field at the Level One National Father/Son Hardcourt Championships at La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club. This should put them in the top two in the Nation in Father/Son for 2009 in the United States.
Rick also has been the tournament director and continues to assist in the success of the $75,000 Comerica Challenger, the longest running men's challenger in the United States. In past years, the tournament, held at Seascape Sports Club, has drawn players such as Andy Murray, Patrick Rafter, Michael Chang, Mardy Fish, and James Blake. Over the past several years, this tournament has raised more than $100,000 for Easter Seals of Central California. Since 2000, it raised over $50,000 for the Alzheimer's Association.
As Tennis Director at Seascape Sports Club, Rick runs monthly Free Tennis Lessons for adults and children. USTA League Tennis is very active at Seascape with multiple teams fielded at every level that reach regional playoffs year after year.
Committed to introducing people in the community to the game of tennis, Rick was a member of the USTA Board in Norcal for eight out nine years from 2001-2009 and is president and CEO of a non-profit community tennis association called the Monterey Peninsula Tennis Association. He has worked with more than a dozen schools throughout Santa Cruz County, introducing tennis to every child at the schools and putting it into their after-school programs. In addition to running year-round junior tennis programs at his club, he manages junior teams that travel and play. He is also involved in coaching the Aptos High School Girls' Varsity and Junior Varsity teams where last year they have implemented a 'No-Cut' policy and kept 37 girls last year. He also volunteers as the Coordinator for the USTA Santa Cruz Junior Team Tennis League.
Rick, who is 42 years old, owes much of his success and dedication to Lisa, his understanding and beautiful wife of more than 19 years. Together they are raising three wonderful children - son Jordan, 18; daughter, Haley, 15; and son Devan, who is 11. All three of his kids love tennis.
