Get to know South Florida tennis player Pamela Rauch

NORTH PALM BEACH, Fla. — When Pam Rauch was growing up in South Florida in the early 1970s, her parents made it clear: there was no question whether she and her two sisters would play a sport – the question was, which one.

“My parents firmly believed that sports are a good way to keep kids out of trouble,” said Rauch. “We all had to choose a sport.”

The family had just moved from Pennsylvania to Lighthouse Point in Broward County. The town built a small public tennis center and hired a local pro. Rauch had watched her parents play tennis when she was young, but she remembers what really drew her to the game.

“Chris Evert made the sport cool for my generation, especially in South Florida. She was only a teenager, but she was such a fierce competitor, and she was competing at the highest level of the sport,” recalls Rauch. “So, I started playing with my family. We spent a lot of time on the court, and I made a lot of friends along the way. I loved it.”

As she got older, Rauch says tennis became much more than just a way to accomplish her parents’ goal of keeping their daughters out of trouble. The game forged her love of competition. It also taught her about adversity, and how to push through it.

“When I was 15 years old, I was really hitting my stride with tennis, starting to see some success,” Rauch remembers.

“I started to have back pain, and nobody really knew what it was. I ultimately ruptured a spinal disc and had to have immediate surgery. Because of the surgery, I was out of school for a semester, and it really set me back in every way. My academics suffered, and my tennis ranking suffered, but the only thing I remember about that time in my life was that I was determined to achieve my goal of playing tennis at a Division One university. I refused to give up!”

Her persistence paid off. Rauch’s senior year in high school, with her younger sister as a teammate, everything clicked at the right time.

“I realized that I loved the team aspect the most,” Rauch explained. “Being the underdog team and going on to win districts for the first time in our school’s history, and then on to become state high school champions in my senior year was one of my most satisfying sports moments. The best part of that success was that we accomplished it as a team and that my younger sister was a big part of that team and its success.”

And not only did Rauch get the opportunity to play tennis in college, but she also became the team captain of her team at the University of North Carolina, presenting her with an early lesson in leadership.

“Competing helps you to develop a strong work ethic,” Rauch explained. “It teaches you how to handle obstacles, how to win, and how to gain something even when you lose. I often think back to those lessons on the tennis court as I navigate my professional life.”

Rauch went on to earn her law degree, and she quickly began to climb the corporate ladder. She now serves as Vice President of External Affairs and Economic Development at Florida Power & Light (FPL) where she has worked for almost 25 years.

“I am often asked if it is tough navigating in a male-dominated industry. Well, to be honest, it’s never been something that has significantly affected me,” Rauch said. “Where I work at FPL, you are part of a team. Growing up playing tennis, I was used to competing and working hard to improve my game alongside my male friends as well as my female friends. At FPL, I’ve been pleased to find that same culture of teamwork and continuous improvement. It’s an exciting and special environment to work in when everyone is driving toward the same goals.”

While Rauch doesn’t play tennis at the same level she once did, her love of competition remains. She credits her family for cultivating her love of sports at an early age. She says regardless of the level of competition, simply exposing children to sports can teach them lessons that will serve them well.

“For parents of young kids just getting started with sports, my biggest piece of advice would be to not put too much pressure on your kids or yourself,” she said. “I know it’s hard to do, but I think it’s important for parents to let their kids dictate their participation level and determine for themselves if they really have the passion to work hard to excel in a given sport or pursuit.”

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