Meet the Member: Mike Espinosa

Where are you from and what brought you to the Reno/Tahoe area? 

I was born and raised in a little town called Hobbs, New Mexico in the southeast corner of the state near Roswell, but haven’t seen any UFOS.  I graduated from New Mexico State University and moved to Lake Tahoe for the summer in 1998 and never left!

How long have you been a member of WTC? 

Let’s see… I lived in Zephyr Cove for 14 years and moved to Reno in the fall of 2012, so 12 years already!

What WTC or USTA activities do you participate in? 

I play USTA leagues, bump doubles, tournaments and the ladder.  Pretty much as many as I can that my schedule allows. I really enjoyed the mixed compass tournament they used to do at WTC.

What’s your tennis story? How did you get started and what keeps you going?

My friends and I were inspired by Andre Agassi to pick up a racquet in the early 90s, rock-n-roll tennis!  I started playing my junior year at 17 and became addicted. I’m still playing as much as I can at 50.

What are your tennis goals for 2024?

To finally learn to hit a backhand down the line instead of running around it.  Also, to try and make it to the US Open in New York or AO in Melbourne next January.  Vamos!

What is another favorite hobby other than tennis? 

Always tennis and more tennis.  I enjoy hiking the Tahoe Rim Trail, swimming in Tahoe, snowboarding in Tahoe, and just being in Tahoe in general. I also love a good murder, cult or cooking show on TV, especially if it’s a murder cult cooking mystery!  

Would you like to share anything about your family, occupation, pets?

My wife Mallory and I consider Kauai to be the most beautiful place on the planet and we are going back in just a few more weeks! We have been together 13 years this winter and married 5 years this fall. She’s my entire world.  We have a googley-eyed gremlin dog named Gizmo!

I’ve been lucky to still be working for almost half of my life on the M.S. Dixie II paddlewheeler cruising lake tahoe at Sunset all summer.  Serving, bartending and managing.  It’s pretty much the best job in the area and each day is an adventure.

Any fun plans for the upcoming summer season? 

Save up enough to take my Mom and Dad to Hawaii!

Any other fun information you would like to share about yourself?

I believe in Peace and Love and I love the Beatles.  All you need is love. Give peace a chance.  Pretty much the meaning of life.

Also, just a shout out to Pilot Jim and Brian and all the “old crew” at WTC who are in their late 70s, 80s, and even NINETIES and still playing great tennis.  They are definite inspirations to me and everyone.  My dream is to play Agassi in the finals in the 90s division USTA in 2063, maybe by then I can get a point or two off of him.  Vamos!