Member Spotlights
Two of our members, Tim and Sans, provided their perspectives on what Club Tennis has meant to them and how it has impacted their college experiences. Check out their stories below!
Tim
I wasn’t quite sure what to expect coming into Clemson as a freshman. On top of it being my first year of college, it was also amidst the pandemic and many of the continuing students hadn’t really had a traditional college experience yet either. One of the things I did that made my first year infinitely better was joining Club Tennis. From the beginning, the old members of the club came and talked to new players and made them feel welcome. I have personally made a lot of my close friends at the club and am sure that I will make more in the future. Another great thing about Club Tennis is the tournaments. While they are somewhat exclusive, you get to know a handful of people that you probably would've never gotten to know otherwise. I can’t remember the last day when I was walking around campus and didn’t see someone from the club. From my experience, and others, it just makes you feel more a part of Clemson and a community.
Sans
Tennis has been an integral part of my life. I came to the US for college tennis and had three amazing years playing D1 at Niagara and Savannah. The academic program at Clemson led me to transfer for my senior year and I joined the club team to keep my passion and love for tennis alive.
The culture and atmosphere at Clemson was unlike what I had experienced during college tennis. We had just come off a difficult season in our conference and I was trying to find my groove and footing in tennis. The competitive mindset to win and fight was always there, yet our team camaraderie and positivity had suffered and we were unable to overcome it. Clemson club team was a breath of fresh air and it rekindled my spirit to fight and overcome the mental blocks of past losses. The atmosphere at Clemson, club sports setup and most importantly the people were instrumental in reviving my love for the game and bringing me back to my glory days.
I remember my first club tournament in Mercer, where we were playing against Georgia Tech and I had no expectations, just to go out there and play my game. My singles opponent was a seasoned and solid player. I was happy to be competing and playing at that level after a gap of six months, but more importantly, seeing all the club team members there cheer for me to win for the team motivated me further and ignited a spark I thought I had lost. I was overjoyed to see that and managed a close win 6-4. Over the weeks, I built on that momentum and energy and helped the team get the best ever finish at the Fall Invitational, placing 13th of 48 teams from around the country.
The team spirit, camaraderie and bonding at Clemson Club Tennis has been very fulfilling. From my time spent here, I have seen our team evolve in creating an environment where people feel safe, have a sense of belonging, and can overcome their fears to play the sport they love. Other schools and club teams have complimented how well we get along and get together as a group at all tournaments. It has enabled me (and I’m sure I speak for others as well) to become oblivious to the daily grind and enjoy the sport we love to the fullest. Most importantly, it has become an avid part of each individual’s college experience.
