Beloit College

While growing up in Tokyo, Japan, Eriko knew she wanted to travel to the United States and pursue educational and athletic opportunities.  Through hard work, the support of her family and the Beloit College admissions staff, she arrived on the Beloit College campus in the spring of 1990. Once on campus Latimer proved she had the spunk, determination and work ethic to excel in the academic arena, as well as in athletics. In a sport where the term “team player” has a unique meaning, the three-time regionally and two-time nationally ranked tennis player was the catalyst that led the women’s tennis team to its first pair of Midwest conference titles in 1992 and 1994.  Tennis Coach Bob Hodge said of his 1992 team, “They may be the most talented team I have coached, top to bottom.”  While earning the top spot two years in a row on this team, Latimer also managed to gain academic honors and the respect of her professors and teammates. By the time she graduated, Latimer had twice won the Midwest Conference championship at both No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles, and as a sophomore earned the No. 1 singles title.  To complete an already impressive college experience, in the spring of 1995 Latimer was the recipient of the Ruth Peterson Award and the Beloit College Blanket. Currently, Latimer resides in Rochester, N.Y. with her husband, John Latimer, a member of the class of 1992.