The tennis ball ricochets off the racket and spins towards the corner of the court.
Bam.
The ball smacks the ground as junior captain Tatiana Bosada jumps with joy, the match has been won. The crowd roars with excitement as the rest of Bowie tennis team rushes over to the court to celebrate the district win.
Bosada has been a member of the varsity tennis team for three years and plans to continue to participate her senior year as well. She has been playing tennis since she was four years old and has grown to love the sport.
“Tatiana is a leader and she is a good role model for the younger players and the ones who are coming up the ranks,” assistant tennis coach Michele Fagan said. “She is a very talented athlete and that shows on the court.”
Fagan highlights her belief that Bosada is a natural leader and her enthusiasm shapes the team. She is currently ranked 3rd among the Bowie girls varsity and this is her first year representing the team as a captain.
“I really enjoy Bowie Tennis, and I look forward to practicing during 8th period,” Bosada said. “The environment is extremely loud and everyone always has a good time.”
According to her teammates, Bosada’s work ethic and lively personality show her commitment to the team. She plays club tennis at Grey Rock with junior Avery Camp, which has built their connection outside of practice.
“Tatiana and I have gotten a lot closer this year, which has been amazing,” Camp said. “When we have away games and tournaments, mostly in the Austin area, we always carpool together and it is really fun”
Bosada and Camp’s friendship has blossomed both on and off the court, contributing to their chemistry as doubles partners last year. According to Bosada, their connection has brought them memories that will last a lifetime.
“One of my biggest achievements is when me and Avery, my tennis doubles partner last year, won a really tough tie break at this tournament,” Bosada said. “We only won by a couple of points and the energy was really high.”
Bosada’s competitive personality sets a foundation for the team’s success in the upcoming season. Her perseverance, along with her team’s effort has the coaches feeling satisfied about the matches this coming season.
“I feel really good about the upcoming season,” Fagan said. “Tatiana is already shining as well as her teammates and I think that we are headed towards victory this year.”
With encouragement from her coach, Bosada is open to playing tennis in college and is currently undergoing her recruiting process. For now, her main focus is now on getting closer to the younger team members and helping them in succeeding this year.
“I am looking forward to getting better and getting to know the team better, especially the new freshmen because I don’t really know them yet,” Bosada said. “I am excited for the upcoming season, I think that we have a good chance of doing really well this year.”
As the new season begins, Bosada is looking to improve her own skills as well as lead the team to victory. She understands that she also has club tennis which is making her individual progress even stronger.
“School tennis is more team oriented, we do more group type of drills,” Bosada said. “But club tennis is focused more individually just to see where you are at.”
According to Bosada, balancing school and club tennis is tough but she loves the sports so it is all fun for her. This leaves her teammates with an appreciation for her resilience and causes the Bowie tennis community to become tighter.
“She makes the environment at Bowie Tennis really fun, especially since we have gotten a lot closer,” Camp said. “I always enjoy practices, and I am ready to compete with Tatiana this season.”
Camp comments how Bosada creates a welcoming environment of Bowie tennis by making sure everyone is included. That is one of the reasons Bosada enjoys being a part of Bowie tennis, the culture and warmness of the team feels like home.
“Overall I love Bowie tennis and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else,” Bosada said. “I am excited for what this upcoming season has in store and I can’t wait to start competing in tournaments and matches with my group.”
Bosada’s devotion to the team has left her teammates in awe. Additionally, her strong bond with Camp last year sets a positive tone to kick this season.
“We had a lot of fun playing doubles last year and it was overall a really great experience and since we are so close we worked well together,” Camp said. “We did really well throughout the season and placed in most of our tournaments, winning some really tough matches together.”
