Vision, Generosity Help Create New Tennis Complex

When Ed Boersma (’85) attended Westmont in the 1980s, he competed in track and field yet always loved tennis. A lifelong fan, he played competitively after college in United States Tennis Association (USTA) events and eventually took a special interest in the Warrior tennis program, establishing a generous annual tennis scholarship. He noticed the college upgrading its athletic facilities, including an all-weather track and state-of-the-art grass surface at Thorrington Field. But the tennis team still competed on eight hard courts essentially unchanged since his student days. As the years passed, the avid Warrior supporter and faithful donor wondered how he could help the tennis program level up.

Ed serves as a founding principal of Cubix Asset Management based in Danville, which specializes in self-storage development and property management. He and his wife, Betsy Court Boersma (’87), live in Santa Barbara. Ed’s two sons, Chad and Logan, and his daughter, Kelsey, share his joy in the game of tennis. Ed wanted to make a dramatic difference for the tennis program and approached Westmont with a vision to replace the current courts and create a tennis complex to benefit players and fans.

Working with the college, Ed chose to underwrite architectural plans for what became the Boersma Tennis Complex. He also provided generous seed funding for the facilities. 

As the college shared the tennis complex dream with alums, friends and donors, tennis community stalwart Greg Tebbe emerged as a powerful advocate. He became a bridge to the Santa Barbara Tennis Patrons, a non-profit supporting tennis in the local community. Greg credits the association, the oldest in the state, for developing his game to compete for Harvard University. Now its executive director, he helped the tennis patrons forge a partnership with Westmont allowing the association to hold several annual tournaments at the college.

Greg also inspired benevolent philanthropic support from local tennis enthusiasts. Community members Gerd and Pete Jordano and Lindsay and Laurie Parton made especially generous contributions. An anonymous local philanthropist made a significant gift honoring tennis volunteer Ethel Byers, a local legend. The completed complex will feature a plaque honoring her on a memorial stone.

The work has included renovating all eight courts, completely rebuilding two of them, installing new fencing, new Court 1 stadium seating, and upgraded seating for the other courts. In addition to updated walkways and landscaping, the grounds include a team room, two locker rooms, and equipment storage set around a central plaza.

“Westmont has been the anchor for my faith journey and graciously brought my wife and a collection of dear friends to share life with me,” Ed says. “It’s a privilege to be a supporter and see the new tennis complex completed.”

Athletic Director Rob Ruiz praised Ed and all the donors who made the complex possible. “The caliber of these facilities helps Westmont recruit student-athletes who want to benefit from a Christian liberal arts education and compete in NCAA Division II,” he said. “The Boersma Tennis Complex enhances the competitiveness of Westmont tennis and will benefit our community for years to come. We’re incredibly grateful for the selfless generosity of the individuals who made it possible.”