José Angulo didn’t know it, but he was about to be named captain of the Allan Hancock College men’s tennis team. He’d come pretty far from his early days as an athlete. In fact, he didn’t have any early days as an athlete.
In high school, the Orcutt resident broke his hand during his freshman year and had to refrain from half of his P.E. classes. He only got partial credit for the year, so he went out for a school sports team to make up for the missed units. At more than 300 pounds, he didn’t make any team, from football to cross country. Finally, one sport welcomed him.
“Tennis was short a guy and took me in,” he said.
At first, he was embarrassed to tell people he played tennis. He was on the court only because he had to be. But then he learned how grueling the sport can be, and his competitive drive kicked in. He wanted to improve. He played his senior year, and now credits the sport for shaping him into who he is today, figuratively and literally. The 22-year-old learned to strategize and control his mind on the court—and he lost about 100 pounds. He went on to practice with the Hancock team when he started college, and has since gone on to compete.
He gives credit to everyone around him for his success: his coaches, his athletic trainers at school and Gold’s Gym, his girlfriend.
“I don’t think any guy that’s not in shape could survive three sets out here,” he said on the Hancock tennis courts.
The sophomore, who’s studying social science, applied to Cal Poly, but hasn’t heard yet whether he can attend. Angulo doesn’t think he’ll play tennis competitively, but he’ll certainly continue for his health and recreation.
“It’s something you can do until you’re old,” he said.
Hancock Tennis Director David Dantzer said Angulo plays “at the top of the ladder.”
“He’s very dedicated, and he absolutely loves the sport,” Dantzer said.
Through it all, Angulo even learned to string racquets. In fact, he keeps the whole team’s racquets in fine form.
“[He’s] probably, in my estimation, the best stringer in town,” Dantzer said
This article appears in Feb 19-26, 2009.
