Eric Esterline
Eric Esterline, an Indianapolis native, attended Butler University for his bachelor’s degree in Telecommunication and Education. He attended Indiana University for his master’s degree in Informatics and New Media. Soon after, Eric worked in sports radio and journalism in Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Florida, and Washington D.C.
In 2015, Esterline made the move to Gainesville to become the Director of Sports Journalism and Communication at the University of Florida and a lecturer for the College of Journalism and Communications.
Sports began for Esterline about the age of 5 and continued throughout middle school with basketball and soccer. His passion for tennis began when he picked up a racket at age 10 and continued until his first year of college. Throughout Esterline's education pursuit, life got in the way of participating in the sport and by the time he moved to Gainesville, it had been 20 years since he had played tennis in any capacity.
“I had been playing for so many years that by the time I reached college, I was so exhausted and burnt out from tennis — I couldn’t find a good balance anymore.”
Esterline's son plays soccer recreationally at Jonesville Park and in an academy. Upon seeing tennis courts nearby, Esterline felt inspired to pick up the sport again. Five years ago, he joined a clinic at Jonesville to resume tennis. Getting married and starting a family put his physical health on the back burner. However, when he started to think about getting healthier, tennis came to mind. He said he dislikes running or jogging and knew tennis was something he always enjoyed and was good at.
After meeting people from the clinic, they began asking if he was interested in joining the USTA League to play more competitively. Esterline has been with the league ever since. When he joined, he was placed in the 4.0 (Intermediate/Advanced) level, which in tennis, means players have dependable shots on both forehands and backhands, as well as some ability to use lobs, overheads, approach shots and volleys. He participates in both singles and doubles, as well as frequenting the National Tennis Rating Program, the official system for determining the levels of competition for the USTA Adult Leagues Tournaments.
Sports provide an opportunity to take a break from everyday life and do something that we enjoy, Esterline said. It also gives us a chance to bond with other people and form social relationships. Being part of a team or group can also provide a sense of support and community. Esterline has always been introverted, he said, so tennis was a buffer zone where he could build friendships and put himself out there.
“Having a family or friend join you can some times make you feel more comfortable and willing to start into something new. With anything, from working out to playing a sport, you have to start something, slow burn into it, start meeting people and working your way up, just jump in and do it.”
Esterline says not being active in one way or another is a health concern. To prove his point, he managed to lose more than 50 pounds after getting back into tennis. He plays two to three times a week to maintain his health. He also says being more active has helped him mentally, giving him an opportunity and outlet to be social, he said.
