Trending

Advertisement

Athlete of the Week: Haynes takes on full load to be part of Broncos’ tennis team

Share

Some of the top girls tennis players in San Diego never step foot on a court donning a high school uniform.

They often decide that committing to a high school season, their private training and United States Tennis Association tournaments would be too exhausting. High school tennis often ends up being the odd activity out since the level of competition is not quite as high.

Rancho Bernardo High freshman Julia Haynes needed all summer and right up to the start of the high school season to decide whether she would play for the Broncos or stick to her regular schedule, which includes private training during the week and USTA tournaments just about every weekend.

It was a tough choice for the 14-year-old.

“I definitely knew high school was going to be a big-time commitment,” said Haynes, one of the-top ranked players in the 14-and-under and 16-and-under categories in Southern California. “I was debating whether I would be able to put the time in, because if I was going to play high school I wanted to put my best foot forward and not just do it partially.”

Haynes decided to don a Broncos’ uniform and she hasn’t lost a match for Rancho Bernardo. She is thrilled with the decision she made, especially because of the cohesiveness of the team.

“I had some time to think and I realized that I really wanted to be a part of the school in some way,” she said. “I really wanted to be more than just a student and it has been really fun. I really like the people on the team and we are a close-knit group. It’s my teammates that have really made it all worthwhile.”

Haynes is one of the few highly-ranked players to take on such a time-consuming schedule. She said she trains privately about three or four times a week, participates in as many high school practices and matches as she can and then plays tournaments nearly every weekend.

Rancho Bernardo girls tennis coach Mike Parrinello has made sure to accommodate Haynes’ busy schedule as much as possible.

“I have had great players before and if they need to go get ready for a big tournament, I have no issues with that,” Parrinello said. “We have made a schedule and she leaves at a certain time for a particular lesson. But I have found she is starting to pull back and stay longer at our practices. She likes being with the girls.”

Haynes, who started playing tennis competitively when she was 7, has helped the Broncos get off to a 9-1 start. She swept her three matches against Torrey Pines, the 25-time San Diego Section champions, but Rancho Bernardo fell 10-8.

“I think they are beatable,” Haynes said of the Falcons. “We just need to do a little more, but I definitely think it is possible to beat them.”

Haynes stepped right into the role of No. 1 singles player for the Broncos. She said she doesn’t feel the pressure that comes along with the position, because she “just goes out there and has fun with the team.”

Parrinello is not surprised Haynes is unbeaten thus far. “She has a lot of tournament experience and as far as her game itself she has a really big serve,” Parrinello said. “The other thing is it doesn’t matter what you throw at her or how hard you hit, the ball is going to come back. She like a backboard. It might not look pretty or be a big time shot, but you hit it at her and she will run it down and send it back to you.”

Haynes should challenge for a San Diego Section individuals crown, if she decides to play singles. She said she is familiar with all of the other top high school players in San Diego from her time on the USTA circuit.

“I know all of them from tournaments,” she said. “I have either played them before or just know them from the tennis community.”

Haynes and the Broncos travel to Westview Thursday for a 3:15 p.m. Palomar League match. The next showdown with Torrey Pines is slated for Oct. 15 at Rancho Bernardo at 3:15 p.m.

Advertisement