Hispanic Heritage Month: Meet Maria Chartier, Hallbrook Country Club teaching pro

Hispanic heritage is richly woven into the fabric of the United States; its cultural impact far-reaching. From Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, the U.S. celebrates National Hispanic Heritage Month by honoring members of the community who have made a lasting impact on American society.

This year, USTA Heart of America highlights the achievements of Maria Chartier, Hallbrook Country Club teaching pro, USTA league participant and former University of Kansas tennis standout, who has found her passion teaching tennis to players of all ages. Originally from Colombia, Chartier started playing tennis when she was 7 years old.

“I started playing in the red ball classes that every little kid does, up to five times a week,” Chartier said. “Then, my parents found tennis academies in Argentina and Chile, and I decided to go to one in Chile. I went for two months and lived with a family there for a year.”

Shortly thereafter, Chartier started playing in international tournaments and found herself ranked 200th in the world. It was at one of these tournaments that a tennis assistant coach at the University of Kansas watched Chartier play against a student he had previously recruited and made a big offer.

“He saw me play against a player he’d recruited, and shortly after I was offered a full-ride scholarship,” Chartier said. “I was 17 when I came to the U.S. to play.”

During her playing career at KU, Chartier saw the program make a big turnaround.

“In my second year, we moved from the bottom of the Big 12 to top 30 in the nation,” she shared. “In my last year, we went to the national championships and ended up in the top 20.”

Shortly after graduating from KU, Chartier found herself drawn to the prospect of teaching tennis as a career.

“Right after college, I got my work visa and needed to find a job,” Chartier said. “My coach knew the owners of Overland Park Racquet Club, so I had an interview and they hired me.”

In the years since, Chartier has moved to teaching at Hallbrook Country Club.

“I love being able to teach and influence people’s lives and help them a little bit at a time,” she shared. “I teach everyone from age 7 or so to those in their 70s and beyond. I like being able to get on the court, figure out who I need to teach and what they need from me, and create that bond with them.”