His serve

Mike Sciacca

When it comes to his game of tennis, Aaron Talarico has come full

circle.

A one-time participant of the Laguna Enrichment And Resource

Network -- simply known as, “Learn” -- Talarico has returned to his

roots to oversee its operations and direct its tennis program as well

as its various camps.

The 24-year-old, a 1998 graduate of Laguna Beach High, took over

the program last month from Greg Weiss, the head boys’ and girls’

tennis coach at Laguna Beach High.

Talarico served as a Breakers’ girls’ tennis assistant to Weiss

during the school year.

“It is really interesting that I have come back to Laguna Beach

... and to become the director of Learn, which was the program that

initially got me interested in tennis and eventually resulted in me

taking tennis to the next level,” Talarico said.

“I owe a lot to Greg Weiss for giving me this opportunity, as well

as for being so supportive. I also owe a lot to Gene and Sandy

Gravely for starting the Learn program and getting me involved.”

Gene and Sandy Gravely founded Learn, a nonprofit program, nearly

30 years ago, Talarico said. They also were his neighbors, and

introduced him to a program that included various sports camps,

summer camps and tennis instruction.

“Basically, the program was set up for the youth of Laguna Beach,

encouraging them to get out and become active,” Talarico said.

“That’s where I got my start in tennis. Learn gave me so much

experience when I was involved with their soccer, tennis and summer

camps.”

Talarico turned his modest start in tennis at age eight, to an

outstanding career at both the high school and collegiate levels,

even the professional circuit, of which he was a part for two years.

He was a four-year varsity player at Laguna Beach High, was an

all-league performer and reached the CIF individual singles finals

his senior year, a year in which he was named senior player of the

year in Orange County.

He earned a scholarship to the University of Notre Dame and earned

four letters at the South Bend, Indiana, school.

“It was at Notre Dame where I learned the meaning of being on a

‘tennis team’,” he said. “At Notre Dame, our team competed with the

best. We were an NCAA tournament team each year I attended and had a

win over the national championship team my senior year.

“Individually, I accomplished national collegiate rankings in

singles and doubles, reaching a ranking of sixth in the nation in

doubles.”

After playing two years on the pro circuit and traveling “two,

three” times around the world for tournaments, Talarico, who earned a

bachelor of business administration degree from Notre Dame, returned

to Laguna Beach.

Talarico, whose first tennis coach at Learn was Brad Magers, now

will offer his tennis insights to a new crop of Laguna Beach youth.

He’s been passing out some of the 2,200 flies he has printed up at

local schools, in an effort to encourage youngsters to “get out and

get active.”

“Brad Magers was like an older brother to me and he really helped

me develop as a person,” Talarico said. “I still keep in contact with

him today.

“Overall, Learn is about the kids. I want to make Learn a program

where kids can come and have a great time, while also being active. I

believe that the Learn program can provide the right kind of role

models and examples for the youth of Laguna.”

Noah Michelon is one local youngster who has taken advantage of

the Learn program.

First under the guidance of Weiss, and now under the tutelage of

Talarico, the 14-year-old said he has seen his game grow in the past

few years.

“Coach Weiss and Coach Talarico both have taught me a lot,” said

Michelon, who has reached the 14-and-under division finals of an

on-going Jr. Open tournament in Seal Beach. “Through them, I’ve

learned everything that has to do with competitive tennis, from

strokes to having the right mind set.

“They say that I’ve taken seven years of tennis and crammed it

into three years, by what I have learned. Through both of them, I’ve

taken my game to the next level.”