February 18, 2010
Personal best: Ed Perpetua
By Danny Colvin - February 18, 2010, 4:08PM
Staten Island Advance file photo by Bill Lyons.
Ed Perpetua was named the Staten Island Advance's History Award recipient in 2009.
There's never been a doubt about Ed Perpetua's desire to achieve. A skinny kid from Dongan Hills, he didn't let roadblocks or challenges dishearten him and he eventually perservered.
Now, at age 49, the Castleton Corners resident has become the wily veteran with a storied history and ascension to Staten Island's tennis elite.
The self-made tennis champion has won the Island's top net prizes – Staten Island men's singles and doubles and mixed – a total of 55 times and even becoming a new dad hasn't altered his course. At least that much.
"Yuriko Cali – born six months ago – has been my good-luck charm," the reigning men's doubles and mixed doubles champion said of his first child who witnessed daddy score two big wins in his initial crack at the USTA Eastern Sectionals 50-Over.
Perpetua toppled top-ranked Bob Bull of Westchester twice, first in the final of the sectional at Jericho, L.I. and then in the North Shore (L.I.) championship to move into the Eastern Sectional's No. 1 spot.
"I guess coming into an age group as the youngest guy helps," admitted Perpetua, the long-time coach at Wagner College and now a teaching pro who also runs a seasonal tennis academy. "I've been able to maintain my strength. My serving and timing were on and I hit well. I had never been able to beat Bob before."
An Advance History Award winner in June, Perpetua has had success on the national level, winning a 35-over doubles crown but losing in the 35 singles final and the 40-over doubles championship.
"I would like to play in one (there are four in such places as Portland, Ore., Ft. Lauderdale, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia) of the (50-over) nationals, but the timing is off for me," says Perpetua, who will be inducted into the S.I. Sports Hall of Fame on Feb. 27.
"Locally, you have the men's singles and doubles conflicting and now I have Yuriko Cali as well.
"This might be my best shot at a title. I'm in shape and playing well. It's a matter of getting my priorities in order and hoping it all works out."
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