With the cancellation of all events for the rest of this season, the PBC will highlight select seniors from spring sports for the remainder of the semester. We will have new profiles each Tuesday and Thursday.
Why did you choose your school?: I decided to go to Columbus State University because of the tennis program. I knew that the tennis program was very successful and the team had new and bigger goals, so I decided to join this program and do my best to help the team win as many National Championships as possible.
What is your most memorable moment of competition (on your current team)?: By far, winning the first ever edition of the ITA National Men's Team Indoor Championship. (with my current team). From the past years, another memorable moment is winning the NCAA National Championship in the Spring of 2018. These moments were perfect, but sharing those great moments with my teammates and coaching staff made it even better!
What is a team tradition that nobody knows about?: As any sports team, we also have some traditions that nobody knows about. Some of them are meant to be "secret", but some of them can be easily seen. At our home games, team chant has to be done around the painted CSU logo between the courts. Something that nobody knows about is that we are not allowed to step on the logo during the team chant, except the person that is in the middle of the circle. At the end of the chant, we all get together and we can step on it. We created this tradition a few years ago and this tradition never changed since then.
What is something your coach does that is unique?: Coach Isaacs is very focused on the small details of the game. He is a perfectionist. Coach Isaacs and the whole coaching staff always comes up with different practice formats and drills that are meant to develop different aspects of our game. This helps us become better and increase the level of the team. They also put a lot of importance on the culture of this team. Coach Isaacs and the coaching staff always creates new ways to develop the culture of this team. His coaching experience always helped me develop my game and become a better player. He is a big part of our team culture.
What is your anticipated date of graduation?: May 2020
What career path do you plan to pursue?: At the moment I am planning to continue my studies by doing a masters, but tennis will always be a part of my life and anything I will do it will be related with this sport.
The NCAA is giving back a year of eligibility to spring sport seniors. Will you come back for another year (you can say 'I don't know')? What are some of the factors that go into that decision for you?: Yes, I will definitely come back! Some people say "You don't know what you've got until it's gone." This is very true. Our season being cut short made me realize that my career as a student-athlete is over. Suddenly I remembered all the great moments from the past 3 and a half years of playing for this team and I wanted more...at least a few more years of eligibility if it was possible. Hearing that the NCAA is giving back a year of eligibility to spring sport seniors gave me motivation to "come back" and write more history for this tennis program and for the school. This extra year gives me the opportunity to become better and help the team and it also gives me the opportunity to create and share new memories with my teammates, coaching staff, the great community around Columbus State University and the City of Columbus.
