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John Spoerl

Male

Citrus Heights, CA

United States

Profile Information:

I am a:: Tennis Fan, Tournament or League Player, Teaching Pro or Coach, Playing Pro, Racquet Stringer
Neighborhood or other helpful location info:: Citrus Heights / Gold River / Natomas
Random things about me (hobbies, occupation, tennis history, favorite band, etc.):: baseline to baseline rallys when I was 4. Decent Jr. rankings. Played NHSTAA (national HS team tennis all american) tournament frosh/soph years. My Junior year was spent figuring out how to play left handed. I WAS SERVING LEFT HANDED BUT PLAYING THE REST OF MY GAME RIGHT HANDED. My backhand was legit (bc its the way a lefty holds a baseball bat), but I could never do anything on my forehand side. 1h/2h/2hswitch, nothing. + I was starting to serve harder and running out of time to get the racquet back into my right hand. I wish I had received better coaching when I was young, but restarting this game is when I fell in love with it. I limped onto the Highschool team and returned to Jr. Open's my Senior year. I didn't have the game to play anywhere right out of highschool so I took a semester off. I hired a kinesiologist and got pretty serious. In 06 I played #1 for Diablo Valley college. I was conference MVP, our team won the conference title. My doubles partner and I won the conference doubles title and went on to win the norcal title. In 08 I was #1 for American River College. Athlete of the month. "most dominant singles player AR has had in the last decade" Norcal doubles final again with a different partner to make my 3rd state appearance overall. 3 Finals and 1 Semi-final showings at the ITA pre-season.
YEAR END MEN'S OPEN DOUBLES RANKINGS: 06' #84 (3-8); 07' #14 (9-8); 08' #15 (9-4); 09-#4 (9-4, 3 of them to gherety/stanly); 2010 #14 (5-1)

I am currently teaching at Natomas Racquet Club. My clients range from a 30 yr/old who lost 50lbs and moved from a 3.5 to a 4.5 in under 2 yrs. A 12 yr old who made it to the semi's of the world championship after winning the national title in the czech republic. I teach junior clinics at NRC Mon-Thur. As far as competition, I cashed 3 of my last 4 opens. Most of my success comes in doubles. No ATP points to report, but a world ranking is my goal.
Our 09 Natomas 5.0 team won districts and I played all the singles. (5-0) regular season. The next yr we won districts and lost in the finals of sections, I was 8-1..
I won my first 7 matches on clay this season but lost in the semi's. I won the yuba city open and sac open doubles titles this yr with Jeff Shin. Those were good for some $$$
Favorite pro tennis player(s):: Collin Dibley, Lou Hoad, Owen Davidson, Rod Laver, Pat Rafter, Sampras, Agassi, Johnny Mac.
My tennis skill (please check your NTRP if you know it):: Im a pro
On the court, I am a:: lefty, serve-n-volleyer
My favorite local courts:: I used to work at Gold River Racquet club, I still teach at the indoors, and Natomas Racquet club.
Relationship status:: Single
Favorite website:: http://www.ustanorcal.com

Comment Wall:

Mark / The Mayor

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M

Dec 19, 2009
Lonnie Nielson

playing a bit at Broadstone...how's it going for you?

Dec 16, 2010
Tim Prapong

Like that chip in charge backhand in your video. You really lean in on it.

Dec 16, 2010
Decker

Finally!!! I am finding better players...I needed to push a few buttons before players came out of the wood-work....Yes...I am a player.... But only as good as the players I hit with.... I need better players to prepare me for 2011 tournaments.... I recently found a really good 5.5 player and he got hurt....sucks!!!!! If you want to hit after the New Year, I am up for it.....Doubles is my game too. I played in college... won titles.....I am playing well now.....

Dec 17, 2010
Mark / The Mayor

Thumbs Up

Dec 20, 2010
Tim Prapong

Merry Xmas and a Happy New Years 2011!

Dec 25, 2010
Mark / The Mayor

Hey John,

As you know, the contest for the free MM apparrel ends tonight at Midnight (no coincidence) Eastern Standard Time, so get active on the site if you are battling for the top 5 slots.

http://tennisopolis.com/profiles/blogs/new-leaderboards-contest

Good luck,

M

Dec 26, 2010
Tim Prapong

No, I was a racquetball player for ten years and won 3 out of 4 tournaments. I just started hitting tennis alot in the last three years and want to enter tournaments in the 40 age bracket. I've hit with challenger players and college players and won doubles matches. I'll be 40 in May.

Jan 31, 2011
Tim Prapong

Hey, where do you get videos with Lew Hoad and Collin Dibley? I've only seen very little of Hoad.

Jan 31, 2011
Mark T.

Good luck with the remainder of your tournament, thanks for accepting my friendship request.

Feb 4, 2011
Emily Ottsen

I have won rounds of the tournments-- and working on my WTA points

Feb 4, 2011
Emily Ottsen

yes Futures Tournaments

Feb 4, 2011
Lera

Hey John,
Well I don't really need a training. I just would like to find people to play tennis with on weekends. I'm not really interested in classes. I'm not sure if this is a trial run to see if I'd be interested in signing up for classes, because I wouldn't since my income in a lil low right now. But thank you for the generous offer !

Feb 9, 2011
La Dawn

thx just trying to make friends to hit the ball around with

Feb 13, 2011
CoachV - William Vazquez

Make Them Bleed!

Mar 13, 2011
Sara Fuess

How did the match go this morning? HOpe there were enough margaritas, you played hard, and heat wasn't too bad! Cheers, Saralee

Apr 2, 2011
Sara Fuess

Hey you got to play some great tennis, get a "sick" shot in, and hopefully finished with a margarita. Now thats a great Saturday. I rallyed with a very solid young player yesterday, he ran me all over the court and I totally overworked my knee. (Injury from last year). Had a great time, but really have to play smarter. I am not one to hold back, so it will be very hard. Must rest and try again next week. It was so great to play.... no substitute for a hard workout!

Apr 2, 2011
Sara Fuess

I definately work too hard, most of the shots I had to run for just cleared the net and were at sharp angles. I was definately hitting both sides just running across the court constantly . My control like everything else, needs practice. I would barely return the ball and my opponent was putting it wherever he wanted. It's a game of catch up right now. I think part of it is I need to see look at the whole picture and be more patient instead of trying to rush everything. What do you think?

Apr 2, 2011
Sara Fuess

Maniac (that's a LOT of pushups) !

Apr 8, 2011
Sara Fuess

I think I see youtube potential here. You could have an online competition ... see who else, if anyone else, can actually do 100 pushups in 2 minutes. Hmm...

Apr 11, 2011
Sara Fuess

How are the pushups coming?

I took last week off (had too much work), but my knee seems much stronger this week than last week. I am also cleaning up my footwork, definately saves a lot of effort. Working more on consistant strokes and playing smart.

Apr 18, 2011
jose nardin

Hi John
Cool site I'm gonna give it a try!

Apr 26, 2011
Sara Fuess

Wow, check out your time on those push ups! Grrr.

Thanks for the tips on footwork, trying to watch more tennis too and see how the pros move. Little by little. Have a good day.

Apr 28, 2011
Katie

Fantastic- I actually live in St. Pete but have played in Tampa and know of some courts we can use.. I can meet you anytime after 6 pm.

Katie

May 5, 2011
Sara Fuess

Pushup update please....

Just kidding. Just hi, hope the court is treating you well.

May 9, 2011
Katie

Hope you had a good cruise... hitting sounds good, there is a place not too far from channelside that has about 8 courts with lights... the address is 4000 Watrous Ave. Do you want to meet at the courts?

May 12, 2011
Katie

I work until 5 so the earliest I could probably get there is around 5:45/6 since I am coming from St. Pete. Hopefully there will not be too much traffic on the bridge...

May 12, 2011
Katie

So I googled courts in east tampa and 3 places came up but they only have 2 courts at those locations... it gets pretty busy in the evening and we would probably have to wait for a court...

I actually have to drive 30 minutes to the courts in tampa and it may take longer since its rush hour - if you do not mind, I think the courts that I gave you the address for is our best bet.

May 12, 2011
Sara Fuess

John-

Hope you enjoyed your cruise. I have a hard time seeing you relaxing with mai tais for a week, but who knows? I hear there are tons of things to do on the ship or in port. Glad for you, probably a fun change from the normal schedule.

Things are fine here, just sticking to playing against the back board. I just want to focus on strokes without the running. I played mixed doubles the other week and overdid it. Just gotta take is slower. I am riding a bike to build up muscles around the knee; it is making a difference. I guess it's a good lesson in patience.

Also reading the book, Mastery by George Leonard. Very interesting, lots of great info about really developing a skill, enjoying the practice and focusing on the long term goal. He says " To learn is to change". Well said.

Take it easy.

May 14, 2011
Katie

Excited to hear you played well yesterday! I had a great time playing with you and it definitely made me realize how much I miss playing doubles... The bike ride was pretty sweet- probably my best ride so far. We biked 150 miles over the weekend and today finished 75 miles in 3 hours and 40 minutes...

May 15, 2011
Hal Wagner

John, are going to play any of the Futures tourneys up there, my college buddy is coming to play the qualies....

May 16, 2011
Hal Wagner

I wouldn't be playing, but may come up and watch my buddy, he just finished season at Tulane..out touring and visiting his sister.

May 16, 2011
Mark / The Mayor

Congrats! You are currently in the top 20 on the Leaderboard. Make your way to the top 5 for the month and win free tennis gear from The-Tennis-Store.com! Check out the Leaderboard Rewards contest, and then track your progress up the boards here:

leaders for the month

leaders for the week

leaders for the day

Good luck!

May 21, 2011
Mark / The Mayor

You love to watch pro tennis and there is no better way to do it than when you have your pride on the line. Fill out a bracket in our French Open Pick-em and prove to everyone your tennis superiority!
Just fill out the bracket here (be sure to pick Tennisopolis as your team).

May 21, 2011
CoachV - William Vazquez

im a eastern Section guy now in the Southern Section since 2008. no where else. presently.

May 22, 2011
Sara Fuess

The Clay SIngles video was quite a match! You are a very dynamic player. I haven't seen anyone use every muscle in their body to play tennis, I think that means you can skip yoga. You also have amazing placement. The game is still very fast on clay, do you prefer it to hard courts? (Where was this game? Clay is not orange???? or maybe that is just on international courts.) Good luck on future matches, if you are ever near Bakersfield, drop me a line. It would be fun to watch one of your matches. Cheers, Saralee

May 23, 2011
Joseph

last name irrelevant. i just know i'm guaranteed a good singles match playing against you, bar tab i know i'll pick up in exchange for paying your per hour private rate. :-)

May 23, 2011
Katie

congrats on the win... enjoyed the video- you had some nice winners up the line. Life is good in the sunshine state. I am excited for my triathlon season to get going- but am also finding time to play some tennis (and work on that forehand)... keep me updated on your tennis adventures- I'm sure it will all be good news :)

May 23, 2011
Mark / The Mayor

Congrats John! You placed 3rd!

http://tennisopolis.com/forum/topics/leaderboard-rewards-sponsored

I'll be in touch to let you know how to claim your prize.

Mark

Jun 1, 2011