Zartman Enjoys Spoiler’s Role
When Charleen Zartman was younger, people used to tell her she was too short to play volleyball. Now that she’s 40, they tell her she’s too old. But that hasn’t stopped the former UCLA player from succeeding in a sport dominated by taller and younger athletes.
This summer marks the fourth decade Zartman has played on the beach volleyball circuit, and she’s still beating top-notch players who are at least 10 years younger.
A couple of weeks ago, Zartman and partner Janet Mamon upset sixth-seeded Heather Hafner and Gayle Stammer at the Santa Cruz Open. Hafner, a three-time All-American at Cal State Northridge, is ranked 15th by the Women’s Professional Volleyball Assn. and Stammer is 16th. Zartman, better known as “Sharkie,” is No. 52.
“She’s one of the steadiest players on the tour,” said Hafner, 28. “She doesn’t have a lot of power or a huge jump, and she doesn’t hit extremely hard. She does the basics well. She has what’s needed to survive.
“The most amazing thing is the fact that she’s continued to play through all these years. People think it’s lots of fun, that it’s a picnic, and it’s no picnic out there.”
Next month, Zartman will compete in the Manhattan Beach Open, which is a brief walk from the Hermosa Beach home she shares with her husband/coach, Pat Zartman, and two daughters.
“All my life I’ve heard, ‘Don’t get your hopes up, you’re too short,’ ” Zartman said giggling. “Now I’m too old. I guess now I’m too short and too old!”
The 5-foot-4 Zartman is an inch taller than Lucy Han, the shortest player in the WPVA. She often competes against taller players such as Linda Chisholm-Carrillo (6-2), Lori Kotas (6-1) and Karolyn Kirby (6-0).
She makes up for the lack of height by keeping in great physical condition. Zartman is a full-time health, fitness and aerobics teacher at El Camino.
Zartman said she wouldn’t stand a chance on the beach circuit if she weren’t in peak condition.
“The caliber of athlete now is incredible,” Zartman said. “When I started playing on the beach in 1968, it wasn’t like this. It used to be if you had a little ball control and you were somewhat consistent, you could play. I mean, we used to play for T-shirts and restaurant certificates.
“Now they’re all in great shape, and the intensity level is tremendous. It’s neat to watch the sport grow and become professional.”
Most WPVA beach tournaments have a $25,000 purse. The big invitationals offer $50,000 to $85,000. Zartman said she isn’t in the sport for the money. She simply wants to present a challenge for the tougher competition.
“Winning any match out there is an accomplishment,” she said. “Those women are making a living playing on the sand, and they’re serious. People see me and say, ‘You’re still playing!’ Some of them are truly amazed.”
Mamon, a former champion triathlete, said Zartman is very competitive and dedicated.
“I’ve played with people that are 25, 26 years old that don’t have the dedication she has,” said Mamon, 31. “She has fun out there, but she’s very focused and she always tries 100%. She also plays incredible defense and she’s very quick. She just knows the game very well.”
Zartman started playing volleyball as a teen-ager in her hometown of Manhattan Beach. She was a mediocre player at Bishop Montgomery High, where she met Pat, who was a teacher at the school.
Pat, a respected club volleyball coach who also trains several top beach players, helped refine Zartman’s game. He coached Zartman and her friends, and in 1970 they formed the Spoilers, a U.S. Volleyball Assn. team that won the 1977 USVBA national championship in Hawaii.
Before playing with the Spoilers, Zartman competed on El Camino’s co-ed team in 1969. After that, she spent three seasons as a setter and hitter at UCLA. In 1972, she helped the Bruins win their first national title. UCLA finished 28-1.
“She was a very fiery competitor and an excellent defensive player,” said Andy Banachowski, who has coached the Bruins for 22 seasons. “She was a player who had good all-around skills. Her game didn’t rely on one particular thing, and those are the players that go on and are successful on the beach.”
In 1973, Zartman was one of 12 collegiate players selected to compete in the World University Games in the Soviet Union. In 1974, she made the U.S. national team and was forced to move to Houston to train with the squad.
When she returned to the South Bay, she coached Bishop Montgomery’s junior varsity team for two seasons before taking over El Camino women’s program in 1976.
“She was one of the best we’ve ever had here,” El Camino Assistant Athletic Director Dave Shannon said. “I’ve seen her as a coach, player and teacher, and she’s very good at all of them. She’s an excellent model of physical fitness.”
Zartman led the Warriors to nine league titles and two state championships in nine seasons as coach. She stopped coaching in 1985 to spend more time with daughters Teri, 11, and Chrissie, 6.
“She was a good motivator and she always prepared us well,” said Karen Lontka, a member of El Camino’s 1983 state champion team and two-time All-American at Cal State Northridge. “We always worked hard in practice. No, we worked real hard.”
Zartman, who won the 1980 Marine Open in Manhattan Beach, said working hard is the only way to get ahead. She realizes that there probably won’t be any more beach titles, but she will keep training and competing as long as it’s fun.
“When my students hear I’m 40 they freak out, but I don’t feel my age interferes with my ability to compete on the court,” she said, laughing. “It’s not how old you are, it’s how you feel and how much you want to put into it.”
And Zartman is still putting in a lot of hours in the draining, mid-day heat.