Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with Karina Ponce de León

USTA Oklahoma is joining millions of Americans in celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month. The annual event, held between September 15 and October 15, is dedicated to recognizing and appreciating the history, heritage, and contributions of our Hispanic ancestors.

To mark this occasion, we are delighted to highlight one of our adult league tennis players, Karina Ponce De Leon. Karina is from Guadalajara, Mexico, and relocated to Oklahoma more than a decade ago when her husband, Pepe, began teaching at the University of Tulsa. They, along with their 10-year-old daughter, Camila, have made tennis a family affair. All three of them play and call it one of their favorite activities.

Though their families still reside in Mexico, Karina and Pepe try to visit them annually, and stress the importance of maintaining the strong connections to their loved ones and culture. National Hispanic Heritage Month was first observed in 1968, and the theme for this year’s celebration is “Driving Prosperity, Power and Progress in America.”

Q & A with Karina: 

How long have you been playing tennis?

I have been playing tennis for 6 years. I started taking beginners lessons at LF with Peter McCorkle.

Favorite tennis memory?

Making it to nationals twice in the same calendar year. Once with my 3.0 team, and also for Doubles NTRP Nationals with my partner Lilia Sullivan. I have so many great memories from tennis, and I realize the ones I remember the most are related to tough matches. 

Who is your tennis coach?

I have had amazing experiences with the tennis pros from La Fortune, and Carlos Salazar has become family and a mentor to me.