Rick Kepler (from right) poses for a photo with Canadian playing partner Craig Hiddleston, and semifinal opponents Robert Sjoholm and Gordon Hammond at the Level 2 Wilson World Tennis Classic in Palm Desert, Calif., last week. Kepler and Hiddleston defeated Hammond and Sjoholm 6-3, 6-1. Photo courtesy of Rick Kepler

The Maui News

Rick Kepler of Wailuku scored a bronze ball in the 50s mixed Level 1 Wilson World Tennis Classic National and his first 55s doubles Level 2 title in Palm Desert, Calif., last week at Shadow Mountain Tennis Club.

Kepler, the former tennis, swim and fitness director at Maui Country Club, is now a real estate professional on Maui.

It had been more than 10 years since Kepler, 55, played a senior event — he moved to Maui in 2011.

The competition at the Shadow Mountain Tennis Club involved players from all over the country. The tournament had been postponed from January to April due to COVID-19 concerns.

Kepler teamed with Canadian partner Craig Hiddleston to win the 55s men’s doubles title. The duo lost just 11 games after playing three best-of-three-sets matches. They won the final in a walkover.

Kepler also captured third place and a USTA Bronze Ball in the Level 1 National 50s mixed doubles with partner Dianne Lee of Austin, Texas. The only team they lost to was the eventual winners Paul and Kathryn Settles of Claremont, Calif., the current No. 1-ranked team in the country.

Kepler has accumulated 10 gold balls in men’s 35s and 40s doubles, and two gold balls in mixed doubles and was No. 1 in the country for six years straight with longtime partner Brian Cory of Carmel, Calif.

“I wanted to prove to myself that I could still compete at the highest level in (this) age group,” Kepler said in a news release. “I really didn’t know how everyone else has held up. It was nice to see some new faces and some familiar ones.”

Kepler has a mobile tennis/pickleball teaching business called Velocity Tennis.