Tennis-loving couple a perfect match

By Derek J. LaRiviere, Times Correspondent
In print: Tuesday, May 13, 2008

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BROOKSVILLE

For 35 years, Aurora and Tom Rice have been two peas in a pod.

From the time they met in Washington, D.C., when both were serving in the military, to today, when both devote time to being active in the tennis community, there has never been a moment when they haven't supported each other.

In 1973, Aurora was working for Navy intelligence and met Tom, who had a job with the Department of Defense. They have been together ever since. One thing the couple realized was that they share an innate love for sports.

"I am a real competitive person," Aurora said. "My husband is the same way."

The couple stayed active in softball leagues and other recreational sports, but from 1989 to 1994, when they were stationed in Saudi Arabia, Aurora and Tom began to get very serious about tennis.

With a good deal of free time on their hands, tennis gave the couple an outlet — an outlet they wanted to pass on to others. This is when the Rices became certified instructors.

After that, they served out the remainder of their time in the military before settling down in Brooksville in 1998. Almost immediately, they began checking out the local tennis community. Things were far different at that point.

"Back then, we would go to school team matches and have infrequent lessons on private courts," Tom said. "Now, I can go to a public court on any Tuesday night and see people playing."

Part of that boom is due to the work of Aurora and Tom.

The two have been instructing local players of all ages for nine years now, and the fruits of their work are obvious. One case rings more memorable than the others for Aurora.

When asked about her biggest accomplishment on the court, Aurora, who plays in competitive leagues against players nearly 20 years younger, didn't speak about her own wins or losses. She pointed out a brother and sister duo she and Tom began teaching in 2002.

Jessica Debusk, now a college student, was the No. 1 player on the Springstead tennis team two seasons ago. Debusk, who cannot speak or hear, had no experience on the court before her encounter with Aurora and Tom Rice. After meeting Debusk, her brother Jared and her father, Richard, the Rices began to teach the youths during one-on-one sessions at the private court that Richard Debusk built for his daughter.

"There is nothing more amazing than the feeling you get when you see someone like Jessica striking the ball from things you taught her," Aurora said. "It's a real joy."

Aurora's competitive tennis team, Sugarmill Woods, finished second at a major tournament in Daytona Beach in January, but much of her time has been occupied since she was elected president of the Hernando County Philippine-American Association. Because of her added responsibilities, Tom takes on much of the instructing load now.

"I help her out with what she needs for the (HCPAA)," Tom said, "but I also make sure that wherever I go, I bring our business cards and mention the possibility of playing tennis to people playing other sports."

And neither one of them has shown any signs of slowing down, certainly not Aurora.

"As long as I can move and run and jump, I am going to be out there."

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