Player Profiles: Cathy MacKinnon and Scott Estes, Jr.

December 21, 2018

Player Profile - Cathy MacKinnon

MacKinnon and partner Chris Maglocci are ranked 24th in the country.

Q: Hometown:
A: Winnetka, IL

Q: Occupation:
A: CEO of my family :)

Q: Children:
A: Max (21) and Catherine (20)

Q: Did you play college tennis/other sports?
A: I played college tennis at University of Wisconsin, Madison.

Q: Describe any professional tennis you participated in:
A: I played the US satellite circuit.

Q: How long have you played platform tennis/how were you introduced to the game?
A: I’ve been playing for 16 years.  I was introduced to the game by friends and fellow club members.

Q: When you started, what were the biggest adjustments you had to make as a tennis player?
A: Switching to the deuce side since I played the ad side in tennis.

Q: How do you make practicing fun?
A: By mixing it up with different partners and opponents.

Q: Where is your favorite place to play?
A: Anywhere in Chicago.

Q: List one or more highlights of your platform tennis career OR the funniest or best thing that happened to you on a platform tennis court:
A: Reconnecting with so many friends from college and junior tennis is a highlight. During my first experience playing Chicago Charities, Chris (Gilles) Sheldon and I ran into each other having not seen each other for 15 years - since I graduated (a year earlier than Chris). She and I were partners at Wisconsin my junior and senior years. Was so great to reconnect and reminisce! 

Q: What is your trick/mental fix to use when you feel pressure in a match?
A: I try positive self speak - it is definitely a work in progress.

Q: Who do you wish was watching you at your best match?
A: My husband and my kids.

Q: List any other favorite hobbies you have:
A: Golf, running, yoga, Soul Cycle, gardening - anything physically active and mostly outdoors.

Q: What is your favorite vacation spot?
A: Literally the last place we visit, I love variety in travel.

Q: Do you have a favorite sports movie?
A: Many, including Brian’s Song, Rocky, Hoosiers, and We Are Marshall.

Q: Please finish this sentence "You'd be surprised to know that I…"
A: I'm awful at social paddle but love the environment. It's either all or nothing for me.

Q: What is your pre-match warm up/routine?
A: I need to block everything out and get my ADD brain on the court and not socializing.

Q: What is your favorite shot?
A: The backhand groundstroke and/or any volley.

Q: What is your favorite part of playing doubles and the best part of competing?
A: The collaborative effort and the strategic aspect of the game.

Player Profile - Scott Estes, Jr.

Estes, Jr. was a Junior Nationals Champion, and won the 2007 APTA Men’s National Championship with Mike Cochrane and the 2016, 2017, and 2018 Men’s 45+ Nationals with Mike Stulac.

Q: Hometown:
A: Chatham, NJ

Q: Occupation:
A: On Board of Directors for several public companies.

Q: Spouse/Children:
A: Margot/George 19, Will 17, Charlie 14

Q: Did you play college tennis/other sports?
A: Yes at College of William and Mary.

Q: How long have you played platform tennis/how were you introduced to the game?
A: I have played for 35+ years. I started when I was about 10-12 hitting the ball around Noe Pond Club and playing competitively with my dad.

Q: When you started, what were the biggest adjustments you had to make as a tennis player?
A: Reflex volleying and standing one inch from the net.

Q: How do you make practicing fun?
A: By not practicing with Steve DeRose and Jon Lubow.

Q: Where is your favorite place to play?
A: Chicago Charities and Noe Pond Club in Chatham.

Q: List one or more highlights of your platform tennis career OR the funniest or best thing that happened to you on a platform tennis court:
A: Winning Men's Nationals in '07 with Mike Cochrane, winning 15s and 18sJunior Nationals, winning National 45s with Mike Stulac, and getting a national ranking of about 15 with my dad as partner when I was about 16 years old.

Q: What is your trick/mental fix to use when you feel pressure in a match?
A: I go back to a pattern I know has been successful in the past and just work on repeating it.

Q: Who do you wish was watching you at your best match?
A: My parents.

Q: List any other favorite hobbies you have:
A: Tennis, golf, squash, and bowling.

Q: What is your favorite vacation spot?
A: The beach.

Q: Do you have a favorite sports movie?
A: Rocky III.

Q: Please finish this sentence "You'd be surprised to know that I…"
A: Enjoy playing father/son tennis and paddle much more as the father than as the son.

Q: What is your pre-match warm up/routine?
A: Maybe some stretching and some light hitting before getting into a match.

Q: What is your favorite shot?
A: A windshield wiper volley one inch from the net.

Q: What is your favorite part of playing doubles and the best part of competing?
A: Having fun hanging out with everyone off the court.