USPTA HEAD PROFESSIONAL
​JEREMY ELLERBY

Although Jeremy got a late start into the tennis world at the age of 14, it didn’t take long for his love of the sport to grow. Born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Jeremy attended Marion High School and graduated in 2014. Through his high school years, he attended lessons and clinics at Westfield Tennis Club, which is now Smithfield Tennis and Pickleball Center. He then attended Wartburg College and got his Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering Science. Jeremy played four years of varsity tennis at Wartburg and graduated in 2018. After college, he was a teaching professional at Elmcrest Country Club where he taught for five years. During that time, Jeremy’s passion and love for the sport only grew stronger, as he went on to become a United States Professional Tennis Association certified professional. As the first Head Professional at Smithfield Tennis & Pickleball Center, Jeremy is excited to introduce his students to the premiere, brand-new, state-of-the-art tennis & pickleball facility in Iowa. Jeremy aims to grow the programs and provide an energetic and inclusive environment for players of all skill levels. In his role as Head Professional, Jeremy will oversee the direction of all tennis and pickleball private and group lessons. He is excited to create a robust, vibrant, welcoming and fun place for our members to learn and improve their games. He can’t wait to begin to forge long-lasting positive relationships with all of you! If you would like to contact Jeremy, he can be reached at Lessons@SmithfieldTPC.com. 

IFP & PPR CERTIFIED HEAD PICKLEBALL PROFESSIONAL
​PAOLO SANTONOCITO

Paolo has been playing pickleball since 2014. Having played baseball and tennis, pickleball was an easy sell. Over the past decade, he has been active in growing and strengthening the pickleball community in and around his hometown in Connecticut. As an IFP and PPR certified instructor and experienced tournament player, he has taught lessons and clinics in partnership with local Parks & Rec programs. Before pickleball, Paolo worked in development and fundraising consulting for nonprofits. He has a BA in philosophy from Fordham University and a JD from Loyola University Chicago. Paolo and his wife, Emily, recently relocated to Cedar Rapids from Connecticut to be closer to his wife’s family. Paolo has already had the pleasure of meeting and playing with some of the Smithfield TPC members during prior visits to Cedar Rapids and he looks forward to much more time on the court with the Smithfield TPC community. 

USPTA ASSISTANT PROFESSIONAL TENNIS & PICKLEBALL PROFESSIONAL
​ELIOTT KUCHERA
​
​Born and raised in Waterloo, IA, Eliott Kuchera first became a lover of tennis at 4 years old while watching his older brother and sister take lessons at Byrnes Park. After playing for Waterloo Columbus, he joined the Wartburg Knights tennis team in 2015 where his appreciation for the sport and the people it attracted grew even further. It was at this same time that his roommate introduced him to the world of competitive pickleball, and the two would practice and compete together for the next four years. After graduating with his Bachelor’s of Music Education, Eliott taught 5-12 band for three years in Clinton, IA while also being the head boys tennis coach for Clinton High as well as teaching tennis and pickleball at the River Cities Tennis and Pickleball Club. Combining his love and experiences of teaching with his passion and knowledge of tennis and pickleball, Eliott desires to create lifelong enjoyers of both sports and hopes to see you on court soon!

​PPR ROFESSIONAL PICKLEBALL INSTRUCTOR
​KRIS DIEHL
​  
She started playing pickleball tournaments in May of 2022, and Pro tournaments shortly thereafter. Her career high ranking is #28 DUPR for Singles and #75 WPR for Mixed Doubles, and she has posted some competitive results with many of the top players in the game. Diehl became certified as a PPR Pro Instructor in the Fall of 2022. Kris will appear as a contestant on Season One of Pickleball Kingdom's Paddle Paddle Reality TV Show later this year.  Kris is an NCAA Triathlon Coach at Coe College as well and has served in this role since the program was added in 2019.  An Iowa City native, her on-court achievements earned her a tennis scholarship to Northern Illinois University.  As a Huskie, Diehl also donned a soccer jersey her senior year, making her one of an elite group of individuals to have competed and earned a varsity letter in two sports at the Division I level. Diehl graduated Magna Cum Laude from NIU with a major in Finance, minor in Communications and an emphasis in Accounting.  Diehl then attended graduate school at the University of Iowa, obtaining her law degree in 2005 and Masters in Business Administration, with distinction, in 2006.  Kris resides in Cedar Rapids with her husband, teenage daughter and 3 dogs. She loves to camp in National Parks, walk dogs, swim, read, write, boat and visit and spend time with extended family and friends. 

​PICKLEBALL INSTRUCTOR
​MIKE EVANS
​
Mike has been playing Pickleball since 2019, He was a lifelong tennis player who attend Truman State University on a tennis scholarship; played number one singles and qualified for the NCAA National Tennis Tournament as a junior and again as a senior reaching the quarter finals his junior year. After college he was the tennis pro at Westfield Tennis Club for several years and was the head Tennis coach at Cornell and Coe College. Since picking up Pickleball he has been giving private and group pickleball lessens at Smithfield. He is a member of the Linn County Pickleball Club as an advisor helping to grow the sport of Pickleball in the Cedar Rapids area. He has also participated in Pickleball tournaments around the country, winning the PPA National Championships in Minneapolis and the PPA Kansas City Open which has qualified him for the USA Pickleball National Championship in Dallas.