Measuring the impact those closest to you have on your life – and yours on theirs – can be difficult. For Austin Tennis Academy alumnus Brent Werbeck, that reciprocal impact is not only front and center, it is foundational and defining. Brent’s story so far is a braid of bright, personal values, a peer-group bonded like brothers, and a bold community of coaches and parents around them.

From growing up in Austin around ATA, to college-tennis at Boise State, and now back here with his growing family and business, the backbone of Brent’s story is consistency – yes, between the lines, but more with his steady workman-like approach to life, his ability to lean on those closest to him, and his priority on offering himself back to them in service. And, yes – he’s really good at tennis as well.

“My Dad first put a racket in my hand when I was 5 years old,” Brent said. “He was my coach up until about  6th-7th grade when I started working with Jack and Eric [Schmidhauser].  From there I never really considered doing anything else.”

Brent credits his early tennis development largely to Coach Newman, who handled the bulk of his private lessons. But, the expertise of Coach Doug Davis, and the alternative approach, played a big role is his progress as well.

“The different coaching styles and areas of expertise between Jack and Doug made it possible for me to progress at a much faster rate,” Brent said. “Looking back, I believe they both really understood how to get the best out of me.”

Shortly after joining Coach Newman, Brent found through ATA what would later be coined PENTA – a peer-group of five friends who would push each other in the sport, while growing up supporting each other around it.

Brent met his wife, ATA alum Jen Wencel, through this peer group. The groomsmen in his wedding came from this peer group. The godfather of his two boys is from this peer group. He’s been employed by parents of this peer group and has employed siblings of this peer group.  

“How much more can I say?” Brent said. “Some of the most important connections/relationships in my life have come out of this peer group. Yes, my peer group hands down made me a better tennis player but that pales in comparison to all the other ways they’ve been a part of my life.”

PENTA echoed Brent’s sentiments about the group generally. They also, though, revealed much of the unique attributes that Brent brought to the group.

Brent, Santiago, Adam, Ryan, and Brandon; or, PENTA

“Brent is a savage competitor on and off the court. He is the kind of guy you want in the trenches with you,” said Adam Slagter.

“Brent has always been very clear on the goals he has set in any part of his life and attacks them,” said Brandon Davis.

“Brent leans on hard work and smartly focusing on his strengths,” Santiago Montoya said. “He was more of a quiet leader type, yet he also developed an ability to communicate and inspire others.”

According to his long-time coach, this spirit and competitive edge grew out of personal experience. When Brent was a freshman in high-school, his mother was diagnosed with breast cancer.

“Going through Brent’s moms’ fight with breast cancer gave him a unique perspective on tennis,” Coach Jack Newman said. “It was a release.  He felt very little pressure about winning and losing.”

Brent’s mother, Esmeralda Werbeck,  ultimately lived many years beyond what was projected by the doctors. When she passed, Brent organized the 1st Esmeralda’s Run, a 5K run put on to help raise money to pay for the enormous medical bills that piled up over her years of fighting cancer. The 1st event was held just a few short days after her death.

Brent speaks to the group at the first ever Ralda’s Run

“My mom was a fighter,” Brent said.

I remember the entire ATA community rally to support me and our family during this really dark time. It was over Thanksgiving and I remember several ATA families canceling their Thanksgiving travel plans to come to this event.  

It was my peer group at the ATA that helped me get through this really tough time.

Just know that everyone had my back, supported me and cared for me enough to help me keep it together.

I never felt alone or like I had to deal with it by myself.  All of this is a big reason why these same people are still so important to me.”

In subsequent years, Esmeralda’s Run raised money for other local non-profits and other families in the ATA that experienced great tragedies.

As Coach Newman said, this experience had a unique impact on Brent. Also, though, Brent credits some regular occurrences embedded into the ATA program that have served him valuably. Most notably, the regular opportunities for each student to speak in front of a group, like after a successful tournament.

“I routinely think back to those early powerful moments of speaking in front of my peers at the ATA that shaped who I am today and the confidence that I bring to my work and everyday life.”

One of the key values around ATA over the years is the goal to create citizens of significance not just accomplishment. For Brent, growing into a citizen of significance has taken different forms. What hasn’t changed, though, is how it has inspired him to relentlessly pursue happiness.

“I say this because I don’t think it is possible to do or be something of significance without first being or pursuing happiness,” Brent said. “The ATA is different because it is so much more than tennis.  It really is about being significant and being/pursuing something greater than tennis excellence.

I want to be a good husband and significant in my wife’s life.  

I want to be a great father and significant in the lives of our two boys.  

My wife – our kids -our family – this is what brings me happiness.  

By pursuing and doing things that allow me to spend time with my family, I continue to find happiness and put myself in a position to be and do things that are significant.

I don’t think I would have that kind of clarity or perspective without the ATA and Jack.

That makes the ATA different.”

Today, Brent lives in Austin with his wife and their two boys, Levi and Lex (6 and 4). After spending a few years at Google and a few startups around Austin, Brent started his own business about a year and half ago called Get More Reviews. They work with small to medium-sized businesses that want to get more online reviews on places like Google, Facebook and Yelp.

“I have an amazing and beautiful wife who loves me and takes care of me and 2 boys who are growing up really fast. They’re both really getting into sports and starting to really love tennis as well.

“Life is absolutely amazing right now. I’m happy and couldn’t ask for more.”