Idaho State Tennis Season Preview
“Ever since I was little I wanted to play tennis at a university in the United States,” said sophomore women’s tennis player Marian Tangarife.
Even though Tangarife is just in her second year at Idaho State University, she will be looked upon to lead the women’s tennis team. Five out seven players on the ISU women’s tennis team are freshmen.
Tangarife is from Bogota, Columbia and was introduced to the ISU tennis program by fellow Columbians Laura Porras and Zamira Vasquez.
“I had some friends here at ISU from Columbia and they told me how great it was at ISU,” said Tangarife.
Porras graduated last year but Vasquez is still on the team.
“Laura helped me get in to touch with Mark [ISU’s assistant tennis coach] and once we got in touch, he told me he wanted me on the team and I accepted,” said Tangarife.
“ISU really cares about their athletes, they do everything they can to make us feel comfortable,” she said. “They really support us and make sure that we are taken care of here.”
Tangarife said there is a tangible difference between last year’s team and this year’s team.
“There is stronger commitment to practice and we are more dedicated than last year,” said Tangarife. “Last year, we had a bad year, and we want to play better.”
“We have some new recruits, I think we can do really good. I hope we can make it to the conference tournament,” said Tangarife. “I have been here just one year and I’m predicting we will do better this year. It’s going to take a lot of effort and commitment.”
Her positive attitude and dedication is the kind of attitude change ISU tennis head coach Bobby Goeltz was referring to after his team’s strong showing against the Utah State Aggies last Friday night.
While the winning isn’t there yet, there is significant improvement. In doubles action, freshmen Wiebke Boiekmann and Svenja Tegtmeier lost at the No. 1 position 8-1. Vasquez and Tangarife lost the No. 3 doubles 8-2.
Tangarife also lost the No. 1 singles to McKenzie Davis 6-1, 6-0. Vasquez dropped the No. 4 singles 6-4, 6-1 to Kristina Voytsekhovich.
“This is the most competitive we have been with Utah State in the last five or six years,” Goeltz said. “The score doesn’t quite reflect that but if you look at the individual match scores it is evident. Most importantly there is a change in this team’s attitude this year. There is more competitiveness and confidence in this team than we have had in a while.”
While tennis will always be a part of Tangarife’s life after college, she has no plans to pursue a tennis career after she graduates. She intends to graduate with a degree in engineering and go into business with her sister.
I wouldn’t bet against her.
The next women’s match will be Friday, Feb. 1, against Seattle University at home in Reed Gym at 3 p.m. The Idaho State men take on Utah Saturday, Jan. 19, in Salt Lake City at 5 p.m. before facing Weber State Saturday, Jan. 20, at 10 a.m.
