While many in Southern California’s tennis community have made their mark as players, one man is distinguishing himself as a Tournament Director in the San Diego area. After his playing days, Taremeredzwa (Tare) Mariga embraced coaching and tournament directing. In just four months, he has received rave reviews from players, parents, and USTA SoCal staff for the quality of his events. In recognition of his dedication and impact on junior tennis players and their families, USTA Southern California proudly names Tare Mariga as the Tournament Director of the Month.

Although just recently becoming a Tournament Director this March, Tare’s tennis journey began years ago. Born and raised in Mutare, Zimbabwe, Tare found inspiration within his family, with his brothers and uncle all having passion for the sport. 

“I began playing tennis at the age of four,” stated Tare. “My uncle would take me to the tennis courts every Saturday morning and he and I would go out to play and have fun. My three older brothers also played tennis, and anything they did I wanted to do as well. My uncle, however, was the most influential in getting me started.” 

As Tare grew older, so did his love of the sport. Competing in and winning his first junior tournament in Zimbabwe at the age of 10, Tare realized that he had a future on the court. Prior to and while in high school, his years were filled with junior tennis, competing in many more tournaments in his hometown in addition to enrolling in the Mantas Tennis Academy. Graduating high school and staying close to home, he attended Hillcrest College in Mutare, Zimbabwe, before an opportunity of a lifetime arose in the states. With a scholarship offer on the table at Seward County Community College in Liberal, Kansas, Tare packed his bags and ultimately, changed his life forever.

Redshirting his first year as a Saint, Mare’s impact was felt immediately once he began playing in the fall of 2014, becoming Seward County Community College’s first-ever recipient of the prestigious National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) All-American award. Boasting a 14-2 record while also reaching the final of the NJCAA National Championship, Mariga helped lead his team to their first ever Region VI Championship in 2015. Mariga’s accolades would only grow during his time there, with him also winning the NMMI Invitational Doubles Championship, the Flight 3 Singles and Flight 2 Doubles OKC Collegiate Open Championships, being selected as a 2nd Team NJCAA All-American, and being twice named to the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll. 

With aspirations of transferring to a four-year university in the United States to complete his bachelor’s degree, Mariga was granted the chance to do so, attending both David and Elkins College and Webber International University to round out his collegiate career. Finishing university in 2019 with a bachelors in Business Management – Marketing, Tare knew that he wanted to remain involved in tennis in any way possible. Moving to San Diego in 2021, Tare found work as first a Volunteer Assistant, then Head Coach at West Hills High School. Moving on from that position near the end of 2022, Mariga began working full-time as both a real estate agent and tennis instructor at the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club, to where he still is today. In March of 2024, the now 29 year-old carved out even more time throughout his busy schedule for tennis, taking on the role as a tournament director in San Diego. As a former junior player in his own right, Mariga knows how important it is for children to have opportunities to succeed on court at a young age, as they are able to improve upon their skills, foster relationships and create long lasting memories with friends. Now, Tare is helping ensure that the same opportunities that were once given to him on the court, are continued to be provided to the next generation of talent in his new hometown. 

“I became a tournament director in March of 2024 through the USTA SoCal and the amazing team they have, including Jaycee Cruz who helped with the step by step procedure,” Tare mentioned. “Before that, I had conversations with Conan Lorenzo and USTA SoCal’s Anthony Shirley, who is amazing at running tournaments and he made it look fun to do. I enjoy being able to see tennis players at various levels want to compete, especially the kids, as it takes me back to when I was their age. Being able to fulfill that and give back to the community by hosting tournaments has been amazing.” 

In his short time running tournaments, Tare has helped players succeed on court and continue to enjoy playing tennis by prioritizing sportsmanship, creating a fun environment, and providing the chance for children to compete close to home. 

“To me, sportsmanship means fair and honest play, which is something I value highly as it is an important part of sports that shapes us to be better people off the court,” added Tare. “To ensure sportsmanship at my events, I always make an announcement before play begins, asking players to report good sportsmanship from an opponent if it occurred in a match. In this role, I love being able to give my community the opportunity to play without having to travel far.  I love seeing the friendships that are made on and off the court and meeting people of all walks of life. The  competition itself is amazing here in San Diego.” 

Understanding the significance that junior tennis can have in shaping one’s future, Tare has witnessed first hand the value that working towards a college scholarship can bring. Earning the ability to play at multiple universities on scholarship, Tare is now helping children become aware of the many opportunities that are available to play once they graduate high school. 

“Tennis has allowed me to travel the world, make friends all over and even get a college tennis scholarship,” Tare said. “For those that think they want to play college tennis, they should very much consider it. There are college scholarships out there for all levels of players.” 

Still learning lessons along the way, Tare is finding ways to provide the best experiences for both his players and their parents while sharing tips and tricks he has learned as a player himself to the youth. In enjoying his time as a tournament director, Tare urges those interested in stepping into the role to reach out and sign themselves up. 

“As a tournament director, I have learned to adapt with different situations that will arise no matter how prepared you think you are,  which helps us grow and run the next tournament better,” commented Tare. “Within tennis, the biggest lesson I have learned is to be calm and relaxed even when the situation or score is not in your favor. It is important to play hard, and once it’s all done, you can learn from it and let go. If you have thought about becoming a tournament director, it is time to get a hold of USTA SoCal and sign up. It is an easier process than most think and will be the best decision if it is something you want to do. We definitely need more tournament directors and tournament opportunities here in San Diego.”