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Turmoils
& Tennis Born and raised in Xalapa, Mexico, Paty Aburto did normal girl things: ballet, piano and swimming lessons. Now the No. 2 player on the TCU women’s tennis team, the freshman marketing major said she cannot imagine her life without tennis despite what she had to give up to get to TCU. “I believe in destiny,” Aburto said. “And I know it was my destiny to play tennis at TCU.”
While in high school, Aburto never thought about attending TCU, and the university never thought about recruiting her. She had planned for two years to go to the University of Mississippi until poor test scores on the international entrance exam shattered her hopes. “I had a projection of my future at the University of Mississippi, and I was crying after the coach told me I didn’t make it,” she said. “It wasn’t 15 minutes later when a TCU coach called me and said they wanted to give me another shot at the test.” Head women’s tennis coach Roland Ingram relied solely on a friend’s advice to offer Aburto a scholarship. “I remember telling my assistant I just didn’t think Aburto could speak English well enough,” Ingram said. “When she was accepted to TCU, I didn’t know what kind of player I had, only that we’d have to work really hard on her. The professors at TCU deserve much of the credit for helping international students adjust to university life. No one ever talks about their professors at TCU, but I know that 99 percent of them will look after their students and will help them in any way they can.
“These professors have turned marginal students into Dean’s
scholars, and I knew that I just needed to get her here.” On March 18, Aburto was honored by the Western Athletic Conference as its player of the week. “To say she has exceeded my expectations is a gross understatement,” Ingram said. “In my 19 years as coach, I’ve had very few players who could play at the No. 2 spot and have the record she does. She is exceptional.” Aburto took up tennis when she was 8-years old, following in the footsteps of her older brother, who began playing one year earlier as a hobby. “I loved it so much that I dropped all my other activities, so I could focus on tennis,” Aburto said. “My parents couldn’t believe it, because they were used to me doing typical girl activities.” Aburto, her brother and their parents all play tennis now.
“I didn’t grow up in a tennis family,” Aburto said.
“We all started learning at the same time.”
Aburto said she tries to imagine what her life would be like without tennis and TCU. “If my brother hadn’t started playing tennis, I would still be playing piano and ballet and all that stuff,” Aburto said. “I’m so stressed with my studies now, that just the other day I was thinking what I’d be doing if I were in Xalapa. My career path would be law, like my dad and brother, and I wouldn’t be in nearly as good of shape.” Aburto said she realizes that when things are stressful, the first instinct is to give up. “At the beginning of my tennis career, I felt a lot of pressure,” Aburto said. “But now that I’m playing for my team, I don’t have those pressures. I’m relaxed because we’re all playing for the same goal.” Her most important contribution to the team is her positive attitude, Aburto said. “I want to play in a good environment and have good relations with my teammates,” Aburto said. “I feel happy for myself and my teammates because we’re growing both as a team and as individuals.” Rosa Perez, Aburto’s teammate and best friend, said Aburto’s magnetic personality was evident from the moment she arrived at TCU. “From the beginning, she was very involved with everyone on the team despite language barriers,” Perez said. “She’s just so friendly. She even has gotten to know the workers in The Main.” Perez said Aburto is doing great to play under so much pressure. “It’s a lot of pressure for your freshman year to play No. 2,” Perez said. “Even when she is struggling with her studies, she fights really hard on the tennis court.” Ingram said Aburto’s cheerful personality contributes to both her individual and her team’s performance. “As a person, she’s always happy,” Ingram said. “To have someone who’s smiling and happy helps the rest of the team, not to mention the fact that she’s playing and usually winning against the second-best girls on every team we play, which is really difficult.” Ingram said he hopes Aburto will get stronger and quicker at her game. “I think once she adjusts to the fried foods and learns more about college tennis, she’s really going to mature even more,” Ingram said. The women’s team has an 11-3 record for the season, and Aburto is currently on a seven-match winning streak. The Frogs end their five-match road trip Saturday at Rice. “If someone had offered me an 11-3 record at this point, I would’ve taken it in a heartbeat,” Ingram said. “If they’d offered me 6-5, I would’ve taken it.” Aburto said the journey from her teenage years to her year at TCU have been full of sacrifice. “I regret not being with my friends the three years in high school because I was playing tennis,” Aburto said. “We lost the relationships we had, and I don’t have any friends back home now except for other tennis players who live in other parts of Mexico.” Aburto said she wants to improve her self-confidence and willingness to try new things. “There are a lot of times that I’ve regretted not doing certain things,” Aburto said. “I don’t want too many more regrets.” But one thing she hasn’t regretted is coming to TCU and playing tennis. “My mom told me sticking with all the practicing, sacrificing high school activities and continuing even when I wanted to quit, has finally paid off for me,” Aburto said. “I agree that I deserve my happiness, and I know it was destiny to come to TCU.” Aburto said her dream is to play professionally at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. “In the United States, there are so many opportunities to improve,” Aburto said. “Not just in tennis but in everything.”
Natasha Terc |
