Bio

Known as one of the hardest working, most well respected players in the history of the Cowley College men’s tennis program, Pablo Mayorga will be inducted into the Tiger Athletic Hall of Fame.

Mayorga was born and raised in Bogota, Colombia. He began playing tennis at age 7 and competed nationally and internationally as a junior representing Colombia. He won national tournaments in the junior circuit and attended saint Thomas Aquinas High School.

Mayorga developed an incredible work ethic at an early age. He would wake up at 4 a.m., eat breakfast, and then ride the subway into Colombia to take tennis lessons before school. After school, he would again take tennis lessons before returning home late at night.

Orlando Martinez, who was a national champion at No. 1 doubles for the Tiger tennis team in 1995, informed then head coach Larry Grose that he had a friend in Colombia that wanted to play tennis at Cowley. That player turned out to be Pablo Mayorga.

“Cowley was a great place for me to be at for two years since it allowed me to improve my English and coach Grose took amazing care of me on and off the court,” Mayorga said. “Playing for coach Grose was an honor. From day one he earned my respect and trust.”

At Cowley, Mayorga was a national champion doubles player for the Tiger tennis team. He was named the NJCAA National Player of the Year during the 1997 season after teaming with Richard Winter to capture the No. 1 doubles title and also finish as the national runner-up at No. 2 singles.

“When I went to college at Cowley I still had some big dreams as a tennis player so I was very disciplined and driven to accomplish things,” Mayorga said.

That drive made quite an impression on his coach. “He had a work ethic and commitment to the sport that I had never witnessed before,” Grose said. “There was never a player in my 20 years of coaching that worked as hard as Pablo.”

After earning a degree in Liberal Arts from Cowley, Mayorga went on to have success playing tennis at Rockhurst University in Kansas City, MO.

Following his playing days, Mayorga has stayed involved with tennis traveling all over the world attempting to help young players break into the professional game.

“I have had the privilege of coaching some of the best tennis players in the world,” Mayorga said.

He currently resides in Bradenton, FL.

“I am proud of all the things Pablo has done to promote the game with his profession,” Grose said. “He exemplified everything a coach would want from a student-athlete. He was the leader of our team and his sportsmanship was beyond reproach. No player I coached is more deserving for this honor than Pablo.”

Mayorga last stepped foot on the Cowley College campus in 2002 and is looking forward to returning to Arkansas City to accept this prestigious honor.

“I am very humble and honored by the nomination,” Mayorga said. “Arkansas City has a big place in my heart.”