Player Profiles: Marina Ohlmuller and Mark Parsons

November 29, 2018

Player Profile - Marina Ohlmuller

Ohlmuller has two APTA Mixed Nationals titles (with Mark Johnson) and two APTA Husband/Wife Nationals championships with her husband Dave.

Q: Hometown:
A: Lake Bluff, IL

Q: Occupation:
A: Director of Racquet Sports at Briarwood Country Club in Deerfield, IL

Q: Spouse/Children:
A: Dave/Gunnar,13 and Marshall,27

Q: Did you play college tennis or other sports?
A: I played lacrosse.

Q: How long have you played platform tennis/how were you introduced to the game?
A: I’ve been playing since 1996.

Q: When you started, what were the biggest adjustments you had to make as a tennis player?
A: I had to learn not to rely on power and be patient.

Q: How do you make practicing fun?
A: We make bets.

Q: Where is your favorite place to play?
A: At Indian Trail Club in NJ.

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: Highlights are that I won two Mixed National Championships, two Husband/Wife Nationals, and the Charlotte Lee award. My most memorable match was when David Kjeldsen and I beat Danny Galves and his wife in the Shelter Harbor Mixed in 2000. David Kjeldsen was ON FIRE—he played out of his mind and took over the match!

Q: What is your trick/mental fix to use when you feel pressure in a match?
A: I take one point at a time and breathe.

Q; Who do you wish was watching you at your best match?
A: ESPN

Q: List any other favorite hobbies you have:
A: Pickleball
Q: What is your favorite vacation spot?
A: Nantucket

Q: Do you have a favorite sports movie?
A: Rudy

Q: Please finish this sentence "You'd be surprised to know that I…"
A: Love Gangster Rap.

Q: What is your pre-match warm up/routine?
A: Coffee

Q: What is your favorite shot?
A: The lob.

Q: What is your favorite part of playing doubles and the best part of competing?
A: All of the friendships I’ve made through this sport.

Player Profile - Mark Parsons

Parsons owns three APTA National Championships (two with Johan du Randt and one with Mike Stulac), has held the year-end number one ranking four times (with du Randt), and has two APTA Husband/Wife National titles with wife Dana.

Q: Hometown:
A: Weston, CT

Q: Occupation:
A; Director of Racquets at Siwanoy Country Club in Bronxville, NY

Q: Spouse/Children:
A: Dana Parsons/Maddox and McKenzie

Q: Did you play college tennis?
A: I played tennis at University of Tennessee.

Q: Describe any international tennis you participated in:
A: I played on the ITF Junior World Tour before college and the ATP Tour post-college.

Q: How long have you played platform tennis/how were you introduced to the game?
A: I’ve played for ten years. Steve Baird (APTA Hall of Famer) introduced me to paddle.

Q: When you started, what were the biggest adjustments you had to make as a tennis player?
A; I had to learn that paddle is not a game of hitting winners.

Q: How do you make practicing fun?
A: Mike Gillespie and I used to play A LOT of singles to improve our games.

Q: Where is your favorite place to play?
A: Dan Englander's backyard (court 1).

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 Husband/Wife Nationals twice.

Q: What is your trick/mental fix to use when you feel pressure in a match?
A: I focus on my breathing.

Q: List any other favorite hobbies you have:
A: I love to fish.

Q: What is your favorite vacation spot?
A: Nicaragua

Q: Do you have a favorite sports movie?
A: Hoosiers

Q: Please finish this sentence "You'd be surprised to know that I…"
A: Do not know how to hit a forehand.

Q: What is your favorite shot?
A: Backhand

Q: What is your favorite part of playing doubles and the best part of competing?
A: Trying to figure out how to beat each specific team on a given day.