Aldo Santiago receiving the honor of Coach of the Year. Photo courtesy of Kate Vavra ’26.
By Kate Vavra ’26
Publisher and Sports Editor
When I was 16 years old, I was determined to play collegiate tennis. As I went through the recruiting process, I toured colleges and met with coaches from around the country. Despite staying open minded and assessing my options, I continuously encountered a similar obstacle: many Division III coaches did not seem completely devoted to their programs.
It seemed commonplace for coaches to only stay at a college for a couple of years before moving on to another, and many coaches treated Division III as a stepping stone to Division I. My childhood coach had pushed back his retirement to help me in the recruitment process, so I understood the importance of having a coach whose top priority is the growth of me and my teammates.
However, Mount Holyoke was different. Head Coach Aldo Santiago and Assistant Coach Eric Cestero had spent almost three decades cultivating a program of success, support and love. It was clear that they were completely devoted to the well-being of their players and positively representing their school. So, I left sunny California and found a new home in Western Massachusetts, where I was mentored and encouraged to thrive by these incredible coaches.
I am 20 years old now. Immediately following the end of my sophomore year, Mount Holyoke College announced that they would cut the tennis program, and that both coaches would be let go. The College says that there is a lack of funding within the Department of Athletics to achieve their goals, and due to their inability to raise the overall budget, they needed to cut a team to redistribute funds. Tennis was selected largely because the College wanted to affect the smallest number of student athletes, and tennis has the smallest roster compared to other varsity teams on campus.
These tennis coaches deserve so much better than the treatment they have received. Just three months ago, Aldo won Mount Holyoke Coach of the Year based on a vote by the staff of the athletics department. There is no question that he earned that award. Aldo and Eric do so much more than just show players how to hit a tennis ball.
Aldo and Eric created a family within the program, going above and beyond in their mentorship and inviting us into a tight-knit community. They took us to their home in Puerto Rico, where we met Aldo’s brother and Eric’s sister; Aldo’s niece’s husband took the team out on a boat and gave us dinner at the restaurant where Aldo’s nephew works. We practiced on the courts of Aldo’s alma mater, Collegio, which has the highest ranked tennis team in Puerto Rico. Aldo’s old college coach invited us into her home, fed us and told us about Aldo’s college days. She even attended our match against Collegio and cheered for us as we beat them.
The College’s decision to eliminate the tennis program has not only ruined the players’ college experience, but also ruined the entire lives of two of the most dedicated and impactful employees that the College has ever employed. Throughout their combined 58 years of service to the College, Aldo Santiago and Eric Cestero have established themselves as models for what Mount Holyoke should represent. The legacy that they have created cannot be taken away, and we will always celebrate them, even in the face of the College’s actions.
