“Welcome to the Team” is a Q&A series where The Collegian sits down with first-year student-athletes who are entering their first season at Butler University. These articles will address why they chose Butler, what they hope to get out of this season and some personal tidbits that you won’t find anywhere else.
This week, staff reporter Caleb Ball sat down with two first-years on the women’s tennis team: Hailey Poplin and Julia Uyesato.
Julia Uyesato is a first-year psychology major from Corona, California. Photo by Drew Kosmak.
THE BUTLER COLLEGIAN: What is your earliest tennis memory, or what got you introduced to tennis?
JULIA UYESATO: I remember setting up cones [in] my first group lesson, zigzagging through them. That was my first memory, doing a soccer drill.
TBC: What are your goals for your time at Butler, both on and off the court?
JU: On court, just creating a positive team environment, being there for the team and then obviously playing well and improving in my time here. Off the court, having a good social life, making friends, going out with people and just having fun. Then, balancing academics [as well].
TBC: Why did you choose Butler?
JU: First of all, the team. I think that was pretty much the majority of it. When I visited, it was a really fun visit. Then the coach, too; everyone was just so welcoming.
TBC: Where is your favorite place to play tennis?
JU: Barnes Tennis Center in San Diego. [It’s] the prettiest place to play. You are just surrounded by a whole bunch of tennis. You walk in and there’s a section for stretching, there’s a full stadium and it’s just so nice.
TBC: Do you have a tennis role model or favorite player?
JU: Probably Andrey Rublev. He has a lot of mental struggles, and seeing him manage that on court is really inspiring. In a way, I relate to that. Also, the style of his play is just powerful.
TBC: Which movie can you watch over and over again without getting tired of it?
JU: ‘Rush Hour’. Jackie Chan [and] Chris Tucker [are] an iconic duo, and it’s just so hilarious. I remember watching this when I was in Big Bear [Lake] in California with my family, so it’s kind of tied to a memory. It’s such a great movie and super fun.
Hailey Poplin is a first-year exploratory studies major from Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Photo by Drew Kosmak.
THE BUTLER COLLEGIAN: What is your earliest tennis memory, or what got you introduced to tennis?
HAILEY POPLIN: I was introduced by a family friend. I had gotten out of soccer because it wasn’t for me. I think the earliest memory was going up and hitting a ball, but I wasn’t thinking too much of it. I didn’t think I was actually gonna play a sport, because soccer just was not for me. But I enjoyed just hitting the ball, and my hand-eye coordination was pretty good, just not my foot-eye coordination.
TBC: What are your goals for your time at Butler, both on and off the court?
HP: On the court, definitely just showing up for every practice mentally prepared and just working really hard and being supportive to everyone who’s playing, including myself. [Also] being there for other people who need it the most. Off the court, studying, making new friends and just trying to contribute [to] different things to get a better well-roundedness while being at college.
TBC: Why did you choose Butler?
HP: I was looking for almost like a smaller school, because I know a lot of big schools don’t really take the time to put the [students’] needs [first]. Butler was absolutely beautiful, and it was perfect for me. Then, as soon as I talked to the coach, she was absolutely amazing. It’s really hard to find a good coach nowadays, she sees us both as a person and a player on [the] court. So I think that’s very important on the team. The team is very close, and they do a good job of trying to be close with us. The team aspect was pretty important for me as to why I picked to go here.
TBC: Where is your favorite place to play tennis?
HP: I used to play at this academy, [and] I still do whenever I go back home. It’s called Van Der Meer Tennis Academy. It’s really beautiful, they have two different parts. You [can] take a five-minute walk and you are next to the beach. So we would train there, run to the beach and then do beach fitness after practice.
TBC: Do you have a tennis role model or favorite player?
HP: The OG, Rafael Nadal. He’s just such an amazing tennis player. He’s so talented, and he’s so inspiring to so many people who [have] just started playing tennis as well. Growing up, he was one of the main people I looked [up to as a] player. He’s absolutely amazing in his mindset and everything.
TBC: Which movie can you watch over and over again without getting tired of it?
HP: I think everyone could relate to ‘White Chicks’. I feel like if you’re having a bad day, you can just turn it on [and] you’re gonna be laughing one way or another.