When Michael Polasek took on the job as the director of tennis at El Gancho Fitness, Swim and Racquetball Club, his appraisal of tennis at his new place of employment was grim.

"It was almost nonexistent," Polasek says.

In less than two years, Polasek has helped make the sport a visible — and valuable — piece of the club. And progress can be measured by the bodies that occupy some of the nine outdoor tennis courts and two indoor courts, as well as in new tennis surfaces recently laid at El Gancho.

Two of the outdoor courts were recently resurfaced with post-tension concrete, which Polasek and El Gancho club director Kelly Cisneros say will prevent the cracking that asphalt surfaces usually suffer from normal wear and from the changes in temperature throughout the year.

The total cost to resurface the courts was $130,000, but they are designed to last about
50 years, Cisneros says. That is longer than the normal 10- to 15-year longevity most asphalt courts get.

"The elements here — freeze and thaw and the heat changes — really pushed us to find the absolute, perfect answer for this environment," Cisneros says.

Cisneros also believes Polasek is the right person to help fuel the growth of tennis in the Santa Fe area. Cisneros felt that the popularity of the sport in Santa Fe had waned over time, and he was motivated to hire Polasek because of his passion for the sport along with his credentials.

Polasek played on two Mountain West Conference championship teams for The University of New Mexico and was a four-time All-MWC performer. He also was South Africa's junior national champion.

"It needed a shot in the arm," Cisneros says. "And Michael was that shot of adrenaline."

But the credit goes beyond Polasek. The three tennis professionals at El Gancho also bring a wealth of experience.

Bo Gray, who was involved in the beginners program, has been an instructor for more than 20 years, while Jeff English trained under famed coach Nick Bollettieri and was a part of two championship teams at Tyler (Texas) Junior College.

He has incorporated Tai Chi into his tennis instruction.

The newest member of the group is Kyle Russell, a teammate of Polasek at UNM who was hired earlier this year.

He has coached at the Air Force Academy and at the College of Santa Fe and currently works with the juniors program that has attracted players from St. Michael's and Santa Fe high schools as well as those from Albuquerque and Los Alamos.

Collectively, they have helped raise the participation level at the club significantly.

"On a good week, especially in the summer, we are anywhere from 250 to 300 people who come here," Polasek says. "I don't think any club can come close to that."

Polasek wants to continue the momentum the club is riding, and his biggest goal is to bring a professional tournament to El Gancho. He also gave a nod to the club's past, which was filled with big events and a lively atmosphere.

"These things used to happen here," Polasek says. "We used to have professional tournaments here and we used to have great exhibitions. I believe that the town has a tennis community that wants to see these things and it would benefit the community entirely, to have an international sporting event."