Portland men's tennis head coach Aaron Gross will be reaching out to alumni of the program with a running question-and-answer feature for PortlandPilots.com throughout the summer. Coach Gross recently caught up with Jackson Martin from the class of 2013.
 
"I know I have said this about a few players on the Alumni Corner feature, but Jackson is the type of player/person that has been the foundation of our program through the years," Gross noted. "What I mean is that the junior players who grow up in the PNW are usually under the radar or they are not highly nationally ranked nor well-travelled outside of the section. Schools from outside the region usually don't recognize these players and we are able to grab them. It started with Jeff Nunnenkamp, followed by the Tostenrude brothers, Quang Nguyen, and carried to Colby Jager, Scott Kennel and to Bryan Thorp and Jackson Martin – and I apologize in knowing I missed a lot of names along the way, but these are just a few examples. The traits they all have in common is work ethic and a very good balance of understanding the athletic and academic balance that is constantly required to succeed at the Division I level.
 
"Jackson's career was a perfect microcosm of life. He would take two steps forward at times and then one step back. Jackson is an extremely hard worker and would get frustrated with the 'step back,' but I know at the end of his career he had become a vital cog in the wheel of the UP culture. He mentioned winning in singles in doubles against a highly ranked Ole Miss team that we played in his senior year. I think that was one match on a streak of nine consecutive wins in that stretch for Jackson, which is a remarkable achievement from when he came into the program four years earlier. As you can see by Jackson's responses, he is right up there in the sense of humor 'rankings' in program history too. His ability to connect with everyone on the team is such an undervalued asset to a program. Jackson mentioned that in his responses, as well when speaking of how being an athlete has helped him in his current position. I wish I could take some credit for Jackson's humor (well, maybe not) or his ability to make everyone around him feel comfortable when in his presence, but that is all of from his incredibly supportive mom and dad. It's true- I do jab at Salem sometimes as being small and not as progressive as Portland, but some of the very best human beings I have had the pleasure of having in our program are from Salem."

Which years did you compete at the University of Portland?
 
I was a student-athlete at UP from 2009-13, but will be a Pilot for life.
 
What was your major in school?
 
Psychology, with a minor in Spanish. But, no Spanish courses could help me comprehend what Henry and Alejandro Ferrero were saying to each other during practice or matches.

What would you like people to know about your family at this point in your life?

To everyone's surprise, probably, I'm not yet married and don't have any children. But when the time comes for children, I want former Pilot Ratan Gill to deliver the babies.

What is your current occupation?

I currently work in the Student-Athlete Development Department at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville as an Assistant Coordinator of Student-Athlete Development. In short, I assist with the personal, professional, and career development of student-athletes at UT.

What is your fondest tennis memory at UP?

There's one victory against Ole Miss during my senior year that sticks with me through the years. The team's effort that day was inspiring. We didn't play scared, but kept our composure and battled on every court. Even though, on paper, I had the slimmest of chances to win singles and doubles, I stayed confident and was able to get two wins on that day. Funny enough, my singles opponent clinched their match two days later against my current employer at the ITA National Indoor Team Championships.

What is your fondest memory about UP in general?

My fondest memories definitely revolve around the tennis team and the camaraderie we shared. In retrospect, the "insignificant" moments like hang-outs at The Commons and car rides to the airport turned out to be the most impactful. These times are special because the bonds that I share with my former teammates were born in these moments. These teammates are some of my best friends that I constantly wish were closer to Knoxville. Luckily, Geoff Hernandez, UP legend, is a few hours down the road in Nashville coaching at Lipscomb University.

What do you miss most about your college tennis experience?

I miss the collective pursuit of excellence that my teammates and I shared on the court day in and day out. Looking back, those mid-day two and half hours on court were the greatest reprieve from external pressures. Every player came to the Louisiana-Pacific Tennis Center ready to grind and give it their all, and we all wanted each other to succeed. I vividly remember Aaron poking fun at Nick Wales' and my "Salem-style" warm-up which consisted of about 30 minutes of mini tennis. Like I've said, it's moments like these that I look back on fondly.
 
If you could give advice to an 18-year-old entering the University of Portland as a tennis player now, what would it be?
 
I'm pretty sure Fil Zivkovic, former teammate and current Assistant Coach for the UP women's tennis team, started college at age 24 so I'll try to make my answer inclusive to all college freshmen. Based on my experience, I would encourage anyone entering college to focus "on the process" and developing professionally and personally in all aspects of their lives. College is a fantastic place where you can build your identity and determine your future, but can also make a few mistakes along the way without (too much) consequence. You have a fantastic support team in the UP staff and administration that want nothing else than for you to achieve your dreams. So, utilize your support system and continue to press forward on court, in the classroom, and with your internships/extracurricular activities. Also, alter your perspective from time-to-time and realize your growth and accomplishments during your four or five years. It's remarkable how fast it goes by.


Are there aspects of your professional life that your experiences as a Division I athlete differentiate you? Maybe give you an advantage over someone who didn't compete at that level as an athlete?
 
This is funny, but I think playing on such a diverse team has really made it easy for me to assimilate into the workplace, particularly when working with professionals of different ages, ethnicities, and education levels. We had such a ragtag bunch during my four years that brought such a breadth of worldly experience. There was Michel Hu Kwo, who moved from China to the states without speaking a word of English, Daniel Coelho, future president of Brazil, and Bryan Thorp, from Kent, Washington.

Do you have a story that you can share that you and your ex-teammates still talk about and laugh when you get together?
 
This story has been discussed before on the Alumni Corner, but I have to mention the time that Men's Tennis team won the athletics talent show by performing a medley of rock songs. I threw down on the drums, Geoff Hernandez sang, and Daniel Coelho shredded so hard on the guitar that six people fainted in the audience. But, the real heroes were the on-stage dancers, Michel Hu Kwo, Justin Guay, and Alex Ferrero. Their coordination and routine were so precise and added an extra element to our performance. The UP athletic department stopped holding a student-athlete show after that year and I secretly think it's because they knew that the level would never be that high again.

Any final thoughts?

It's important to reiterate the impact that playing on the tennis team at UP has had on my life and will continue to have. I am now blessed to work in collegiate athletics and assist student-athletes in their own journeys. I now realize how special The Bluff is and how fortunate UP student-athletes are to receive such fantastic athletic, academic and professional opportunities. Go Pilots!