Ed Perpetua
Ed's philosophy of fundamental stroke production, concentration and self-discipline not only teaches "the game for a life time" but develops the mind, body and spirit of each player on and off the court.
There's never been a doubt about Ed Perpetua's desire to achieve. A skinny kid from New Drop, he didn't let roadblocks or challenges dishearten him and he eventually persevered.
Now, at age 50, the Castleton Corners resident has become the wily veteran with a storied history and ascension to Staten Island's tennis elite.
Ed Perpetua taught himself to play tennis by watching Jimmy Connors and John McEnroe on television, carried his own net to the courts on his bicycle, and spent one grueling year on the sectional circuit -- 62 events, 50 first-round losses -- learning how to compete.
Since then, all he's done is win -- 12 Staten Island singles titles, 22 in doubles, and 21 in mixed doubles -- more than anybody who ever picked up a racquet in this neighborhood.
Over the years, when he wasn't coaching the men's and women's teams at Wagner College, Perpetua won the National Indoor 35-and-over Doubles and was a finalist in Singles, beat a couple world-ranked players, and hit with an up-and-comer named Andre Agassi, who revealed in his recent autobiography that he hated the game almost as much as Perpetua has loved it.
The self-made tennis champion has won the Island's top net prizes – Staten Island men's singles and doubles and mixed – a total of 55 times and even becoming a new dad hasn't altered his course. At least that much.
He won the Staten Island triple crown -- singles, doubles, mixed doubles in the same year -- a record eight times, and won doubles titles with 14 different partners, including his wife Mayuko.
"Yuriko Cali – born six months ago – has been my good-luck charm," the reigning men's doubles and mixed doubles champion said of his first child who witnessed daddy score two big wins in his initial crack at the USTA Eastern Sectionals 50-Over.
Perpetua toppled top-ranked Bob Bull of Westchester twice, first in the final of the sectional at Jericho, L.I. and then in the North Shore (L.I.) championship to move into the Eastern Sectional's No. 1 spot.
Achievements'........
- Returns for his 26th year running the Spring and Summer outdoor classes (21 years at Wagner College and has finished his 4th season at the campus of Staten Island Academy).
- Also, Returns to The Club at Woodbridge for his 19th year as Head Pro.
- Head coach of the Wagner College men's and women's tennis teams from 1989-2009
- Head pro at the Club at Woodbridge, New Jersey since 1996.
- Is a U.S.P.T.R. certified professional and has 30 years teaching experience.
- Played 5 years on the pro circuit and has wins over players in the top 200 in the world.
- Had an award winning instructional tennis television series.
- Won the U.S. national doubles championships and has been ranked #1 in the east, top 10 in the United States and #38 in the world rankings in the 30 and 35 and over divisions.
- Won 12 Staten Island's men's singles titles, 22 Staten Island's men's doubles titles and 21 Staten Island mixed doubles titles.