Alex Martin, a 2003 Linfield graduate, was a four-year letterwinner in tennis. He was a member of Linfield’s consecutive Northwest Conference title teams in 2002 and 2003. He remained at Linfield as an assistant men's and women's tennis coach for two years.

What are you doing these days?
I am currently the head professional at West Hills Racquet & Fitness Club in Portland, Ore. I run the Junior Development Program and work with some of the top junior tennis players in the Pacific Northwest Section. My wife, Tracy, (Linfield '07) and I live in Beaverton where we just had our first child on Tuesday, Oct. 27. Her name is Avery Estelle Martin and she was 9 pounds, 2 ounces at birth.

How did Linfield prepare you for a career teaching others about the sport you love?
I was really lucky to have two great coaches while I was at Linfield. Pat Dreves really brought the program back to life, and Carl Swanson has done a great job of maintaining the high standard that Pat set before him. I would say that it was amazing to be a part of something at the ground level and see it all the way to completion (back-to-back NWC championships). It really taught me that with a clear plan, hard work, and undying faith you can really achieve anything you want.

Tell us about your fondest memory competing in tennis at Linfield.
I would say that my fondest memory was beating PLU for the conference championship in 2002. Our team had split its dual matches during the regular season, and we really came together in crunch time at the conference tournament to pull a total team victory. It was the first conference title in many, many years at Linfield and we got to go to the NCAAs because of it. It was a great group of guys, and we really pulled together to accomplish so many great things. It was the culmination of everything that Pat and I had talked about during my recruitment, and it was so worth it. I will never forget holding that trophy.

In what ways did Linfield make you a better person?
My wife wants me to say that I met her there and that is why I am a better person, but on top of that I think that I really grew up during my time at Linfield. When you start college, you never really know who or what you are going to be when you are done. Along the way you meet great people who help mold that final product (friends, coaches, professors, etc.), and that is what makes Linfield so great. It is a place full of people who want to help make you a better person.

What would you say to a prospective student who might be considering competing in athletics at Linfield?
Linfield is the best of every world. It is close to the beach, mountains, and the city. It has an incredible athletic tradition (regardless of the sport), which is nice because it makes it easy to pull for every sport. One of the things that I loved most about Linfield was the way that EVERYONE pulled for EVERYONE. It wasn't just a "football" school, but it was an "athletic" school. When you get an atmosphere where people from different sports share in each other's successes, then that breeds more success. That is what Linfield athletics are all about.