Women's Tennis Team Strives for Academic Success
Oct 16 | Women's Tennis
By. Catherine Hetzel
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Being a student-athlete is a challenge that many cannot understand. However, the members of the Rutgers University women's tennis team have championed the balance of academic and athletic achievement, each proving to be as successful on the court as they are in the classroom.
With a strong showing at the 2007 BIG EAST Championship and three successful appearances at tournaments already this fall, the Scarlet Knights have proven that they are in suit with the athletic success that Rutgers has both developed and nurtured. And with a goal to be an Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) All-Academic team every year, this team makes it a priority to be the ultimate student-athletes - in that order.
According to head coach Ben Bucca, who is entering his third season as head coach at Rutgers, that attitude has defined the program.
"When that goal became engrained within the team, what developed was that the girls took just as much pride in their academic performance as they did in their athletic performance," said Bucca.
This pride has proven to be the secret behind the program's achievements. Senior Katrina Elder-Bush (Boston, Mass.) has become the lead example, being named both the team's Most Valuable Player and Scholar-Athlete for 2006-07. Elder-Bush had a cumulative GPA of 3.8 last year and has played first singles since she arrived in 2004, going 16-6 and 11-11 in the BIG EAST last year. This combination of on the court success and excellence in the classroom is a rare case.
Elder-Bush attributes the determination, hard work, and time-management she learned from years of playing tennis to her academic success.
"It makes it easier when you transfer it to other parts of your life," she said.
Although personally motivated, being on a team with the common goal of academic success has given Elder-Bush more incentive to perform.
"The culture is that of teamwork on the court and as students," she explained. "We all really embrace the whole idea of being student-athletes."
Senior Anela Dujsic (Mississauga, Ontario) attributes her teammates as a major incentive for excelling as a student.
"You are not just accountable to yourself," Dujsic said. "Maybe you don't want to study, but you know you need to do that for your team. It is definitely another push."
It is no surprise that these accomplishments have attracted other outstanding student-athletes to join the Scarlet Knights. Freshman Amy Zhang (Plano, Texas) will add to the academic success the team has had. She arrives at Rutgers after an outstanding scholastic high school career, ranking in the top two percent of her class and becoming a National Merit finalist. Continuing her academic excellence, she is the only freshman student-athlete at Rutgers University to receive the Presidential Academic Scholarship.
Zhang was the 43rd ranked tennis recruit in the country. Sought by some of the finest schools in this country, she is currently 8-3 in her single play at tournaments this fall.
"She's off to a great start." Bucca said of the first-year player.
Like her teammates, Zhang too now looks to the team's ambitious culture to push her.
"I think it is great because it helps me to be able to focus both on academics and doing well in tennis," she said. "The rest of the team really helps me to do that."
Bucca spoke of his role in aiding the women towards accomplishing their goals.
"It has just been to facilitate the environment that the students truly see themselves in being good student-athletes," Bucca said.
Eliminating study hall requirements that the athletic department offers to all athletes, he attributes tutors as a key source in helping to create the best environment.
To the team, Bucca acts as guidance to keep the girls on path to reach their goals.
"He is always there," said Elder-Bush. "If we get a little bit off track, he knows and he recognizes that and tries to put us back on track."
Bucca encourages the women to decide collectively what they want their program to be.
"He is pretty adamant with us as a team setting our own goals and our mission statement," said Dujsic. "That gets us on the right track, too. It gets us to sit down and decide what we stand for."
With a short fall season and a full schedule ahead for the spring, the women's tennis team is looking to continue past success.
"Everyone is showing real heart and real dedication," said Elder-Bush. "We will be ready for all of the challenges we come across in the spring."
