Wearing a skull imprinted sweatshirt, basketball shorts and plenty of headgear, he enters the racquetball courts on campus. With his racquet in hand, he introduces himself to the class and begins to mingle with his classmates.
Thomas Rocchi, an avid racquetball player, isn’t the typical student. The 64-year-old local resident has been utilizing the racquetball courts on campus since 1950. And in his third semester enrolled in Physical Education 232, the racquetball course, it will be his final since, after this semester, EC plans to tear down the courts Rocchi readily played on throughout the years and replace it with a brand new track and field facility.
“I’ve always been into tennis, squash, racquetball, paddleball—all paddle sports,” Rocchi said. “The challenge of racquetball is what really appeals to me. I encourage everyone to continue challenging our minds along with our bodies and souls.”
Rocchi began playing racquetball in 1965 and he was one of the first students to enroll in the racquetball course at EC when it first began in the ‘60s. Fifty year later, he will be one of the students to participate in the final class.
“I’m a die hard, I love the game,” he said.
Racquetball became very popular in the ‘70s when the “fitness boom” hit America, according to USA Racquetball (USAR), but there has been a steady decline in popularity since then. The college felt the effects when some years the racquetball course had zero enrollment, Eugene Engle, racquetball instructor said, who has been instructing since 1982.
Rocchi has continued playing the indoor sport all along. Up until four years ago when he was diagnosed with a medical condition that hindered his game and almost took his life.
“I had a brain aneurysm four years ago and pretty much died, but I woke up from a coma after one week permanently blind,” Rocchi said. “I’ve had four operations on my eyes, seven operations total and seven months of physical therapy and I’m back!”
Engle said he was initially hesitant to let Rocchi play again this semester after hearing of his condition, but with medical clearance and protective gear including a specialized helmet and goggles, he is back on the courts.
Rocchi said his love of the game makes wearing the gear worthwhile.
Rocchi stresses the importance of getting medical treatment for any reason, but he said if people experience frequent extreme headaches there might be something more serious going on.
“My message to people is, if you have a headache of any kind, don’t take it for granted. There’s always a reason for a headache,” he said.
Instructing Rocchi for the past three semesters, Engle said he is a model student and admires his passion, despite the odds he has overcome.
“Here’s a guy in his mid-sixties still being active and loving it,” Engle, said. “He’s been really good at helping out and teaching other students, especially the beginning students.”
Many racquetball participants said Rocchi is known in the class for helping other students improve their game.
“He helped me with my racquet position,” Maria Geter, a student and former competitive racquetball circuit player, said.
Rocchi also often does magic tricks and entertains students with his comedy routines during class.
In his off time, he enjoys drumming, photography, jewelry design, gardening and spending time with his family.
For students interested in continuing the sport, racquetball courts are available in several fitness clubs including South End Racquet and Health Club and various local LA Fitness clubs.
