Tennis program called for double fault

The Fullerton College men's tennis program was forced to forfeit six of its matches after it was discovered that a member of the team was declared ineligible for competition.

Luis Perez, 27, was a member of the Association of Tennis Professionals Tour in Europe before enrolling at FC. The ATP is the main circuit for professional players worldwide, and gives individuals the opportunity to win money in tournaments.

Perez was born and raised in Spain and played on the ATP for seven years. The 27-year-old placed in several professional tournaments, earning money, thus discrediting his amateur status and making him ineligible to play at the collegiate level.

"The rule says in California community colleges if you take any money for any tournament it makes you a professional," said Roger See, head tennis coach.

See, who has coached at FC for 12 years, has had only two international players, the second being Perez. He claims that the situation was merely a misinterpretation of the rule.

"I had no idea he made any money," See said. "He didn't decide to deceive us in any way. It's just a misinterpretation of the rules on the Spanish side and us not knowing what he had done on that side of the pond."

Perez made $118 dollars professionally in 2007. According to See, Perez's international coach was under the belief that professional money made in Europe could only be used to pay for college expenses in the states as long as he was not on scholarship.

Because the state of California does not award community college athletes with full-scholarships, Perez believed he could use his professional earnings to pay for school and other expenses.

Perez encountered problems during a match with Orange Empire Conference rival Saddleback College, last Tuesday. Gaucho tennis coach Alec Horton engaged in a conversation with Perez prior to his individual match.

"[Horton] is not supposed to do that," See said. "Luis just told him that he played in Spain and in tournaments. He didn't let me self-comply or self-report. It's not proper, it's just poor form."

Horton reported Perez to the California Community College Commission On Athletics, thus leading to the forfeiture.

"My kid was in the wrong situation," See said. "Luis is a great kid and great player."

From a team perspective, FC is losing its most-experienced player in one of the most competitive leagues in the state.

Perez was unavailable for comment, but See stated the situation could have been prevented with proper communication between the two sides.

"I guess if you want to point fingers you can find somebody to point it at," See said. "You can point it at everybody. I trusted his coach, I trusted him and he trusted his coach. His coach just didn't know the rule. It was just a misinterpretation."