On Mother’s Day we thank our mothers for what they have taught us. My mother taught me how manage my curly hair, shop for bargains and appreciate the beauty of every sunset. She also taught me and my three sisters how to play tennis, and she did it better than any mother I know because she does so for a living. It is her career as a tennis coach of which I am most proud and admire the most about her.
My mother never had a mother nor a coach who taught her how to play tennis as she did for me. She taught herself to play on Marine Corps bases alongside her brothers, and paid for her own tournament entry fees until she was good enough to get a partial scholarship to play Division I college tennis. And while she was playing college tennis and earning her business degree, she worked several part-time jobs, including as a fast-food restaurant cashier, to help pay tuition and fees. It is the same hard work and commitment she displayed then that she still has as a tennis coach.
Today, my mother is a collegiate women’s tennis coach, and with more than 500 wins, she leads the most successful athletic program in the university’s history. Her teams are consistently ranked among the best in the country and she has produced numerous all-Americans, scholar-athletes and national champions. But more than being a coach to all those women, she has been a mother to them, too. So I asked some of her tennis players, past and current, to help me out in saying thank you this Mother’s Day.
“Moms encourage you to be your best, and I credit your mom for instilling in me, instilling in all of us, not only a desire to be our best and play our best, but to be confident in ourselves and strive for a skill level that allowed us to play tennis under any condition. I fully believe that I would not have been given the opportunities I’ve had if it wasn’t for the life lessons your mom has taught me, and I am forever grateful for that.” — Lindsay Wilburn
“Conchie is like a second mom to me and so many of my teammates. She’s a shoulder to cry on and a sage always giving us good advice.” — Connor Thomas
“Conchie has always treated me like I was one of her own. She always had my back no matter the circumstance and pushed me to be the best I could be on and off the court.” — Michelle Flume
“Conchie — whether in practice, during matches or on the road, you truly served as my second mom through your unwavering love and friendship. When my forehand inevitably broke down, you spent countless hours working with me to get my rhythm and confidence back. You were always there for advice, constant laughs and instinctively went above and beyond for me, and continue to be there for me today. — Anne Garland
“Conchie, you were such a huge part of my college experience! I will be forever grateful to you for being a part of my life and being my Sewanee mother.” — Laura Szyperski
“Some things in life are too perfect to be luck, and playing for you was one of them — thanks for being with me through the wins and the losses, and teaching me a thing or two about life along the way!” — Jenny Liles
Thank you, mom for teaching me, Sadie, Michaela and Tessa how to play tennis and your dedication to coaching tennis to so many others. More importantly, thank you for teaching me to work hard in everything I do and be kind and compassionate toward others. You’re the best mom in the world; happy Mother’s Day!
