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Robert Salcedo
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Spartans’ No. 1 player; qualified for state
Robert Salcedo was 5 and his brother Bryant was 7 when they got tennis racquets as a gift from their parents.
“We went downstairs and started hitting against the wall,” he said.
Tennis lessons followed, then tennis tournaments and, of course, tennis success.
Both played baseball until about age 12, and Robert took a slight break from tennis from age 12-14. He began taking it seriously at 14, training year-round to improve his skills. By the time he was a freshman at Boardman High, he was already one of the team’s best players.
The Salcedos placed third in the state in Division I doubles two years ago. Robert also finished third last year in doubles playing with Scott Warden and was a state doubles qualifier as a freshman playing with Chris Leson.
This year, however, he decided to stick with singles in the postseason. He won his first 22 matches as Boardman’s No. 1, capturing a sectional title and earning a berth in the state tournament.
“When I went down to state, there was a lot of added pressure,” said Salcedo, who routinely plays in high-level tournaments but doesn’t have the added attention of playing for his school. “Even distant family members call before state.”
Salcedo won his first match, then lost in the second round. But he has no regrets, and considers his state tournament experiences to be the highlight of his career.
“Especially the second day, when everyone has a chance to win it,” he said, referring to the final four round. “It’s intense and a lot of fun.”
Salcedo will play at Dayton next year, where he plans to major in a business field.
When asked to name his goals, he said, “Get my game better overall, go to the NCAAs as a team and as an individual, if possible.”