51¶ÌÊÓƵ

Carina Roberts '28 is a sophomore Political Science major on the 51¶ÌÊÓƵ Tennis Team. Below, she tells us about her journey as a student-athlete.

What inspired you to play sports at the collegiate level?

Playing tennis at the collegiate level was a long-time goal because I really wanted to continue challenging myself in the sport while in college, and I liked the team aspect of collegiate sports. 

 Can you walk us through the tryout or selection process?

The selection process was fun, as you have the opportunity to make connections with other recruits and build relationships with different coaches while exploring different schools. At first, reached out to me via email, expressing his interest in me joining the tennis program. I then took an admissions tour and met with him a number of times. He even travelled to see me practice at home. After much discussion with him, an overnight was planned where I spent about a day and a half with the team, experiencing the life of a student athlete at 51¶ÌÊÓƵ. After my amazing overnight experience where the team was so warm and welcoming, I decided to apply to 51¶ÌÊÓƵ Early Decision.

"Overall, I feel more balanced as a student athlete as I work on physical and mental growth every day."

How do you manage balancing academics with your athletic commitments? 

The coaches, athletics staff, and professors are very understanding of the commitments of a student-athlete. I manage to balance these commitments through clear communication with coaches and professors when there is a conflict, notifying them way in advance. I maintain a schedule in my Google calendar so I do not miss any practices or classes, and I manage my time wisely. It is important that I have strong intentions in a lot of things that I do. That means when I am at practice, I am solely focused on improving and working on myself as an athlete, and when I am studying, I am only focused on understanding the material in front of me. Overall, I feel more balanced as a student athlete as I work on physical and mental growth every day.
 

How has being an athlete impacted your overall college experience—social life, friendships, or sense of belonging?

Being an athlete has enhanced my college experience because I have a built-in schedule to work on my physical and mental wellness. I lift 2-3 times a week and practice 5 days a week, where I get to push myself and be active. Most of these lifts and practices are with the team, which is nice because we push and encourage each other. I am also given many tools and skills to support my wellness, even when we are not in season, such as knowing how to lift and being given programs to grow my strength. Being on a team has also helped my experience as we have grown so close to one another like a family. We support each other on and off the court and battle as one unit in matches. I have gained many friends on the team who will last beyond my college years.

What’s the team culture like, and what do you think makes athletics at Bryn
Mawr unique?

The tennis team culture is very good in that we are all hard-working athletes, and we push each other to be our best selves on and off the court. I would say that we are very much like siblings because we make lots of jokes and stay honest with ourselves and each other. Athletics at 51¶ÌÊÓƵ is unique because the female athletes are not seen
as a second thought but the main focus. Because we do not have to compete for resources with men’s sports on campus, we are more empowered as athletes and are able to focus more on our sports.

What advice would you give to a high school student who’s considering
playing sports at the college level?

My advice would be to enjoy the journey of getting to college. Enjoy every minute of training with your friends. Enjoy the early morning workouts. It is very easy to feel stressed about playing sports at the collegiate level, but you will have more fun playing your sport when there is less pressure. What is right for you will happen for you as long as you work hard. I would also say to enjoy visiting different schools and envisioning yourself there with an open mind.

What do you wish you had known before coming in as a student-athlete?

I also wish I had learned more about what the (SAAC) is and what it does for athletes. I only really understood what SAAC was after I got onto campus my freshman year. It would be useful to know the power of student leadership in athletics at 51¶ÌÊÓƵ.

Looking back, what are you most proud of on your athletic journey so far?

In my first season as a collegiate athlete, I came in with a lot of momentum and energy. I had good high-performance matches in the fall before I had an ankle injury. I am most proud of my resilience. I really wanted to play at every match that spring season, but I knew that it was not wise. I am proud that I stayed determined to heal, going to ankle
therapy and working out in ways that I could. Thankfully, I was able to contribute to the team in doubles and enhanced my skills there. While it is hard to be injured in your first season, I am proud that I stayed positive and that I continued to be there and present for my teammates at every match.