Robin Burnette, Women's Tennis Junior, International Studies, Spanish, History
West Chester, Ohio/Lakota West HS
I WILL love playing tennis at Capital
I WILL become fluent in Spanish
I WILL love all of my experiences at Capital
Women's tennis player Robin Burnette is taking her game across the globe. A junior, Burnette will sharpen her Spanish speaking skills by studying abroad in Costa Rica during the fall semester. Once she's done mastering the Spanish language and culture, Burnette will look to master the No. 1 singles position on the women's tennis team this spring. Before she heads out of the States, Burnette talked with sports information assistant Bryan DeArdo about her trip overseas, the tennis team's aspirations, her fear of roller coasters and favorite combination at Chipotle.
BD: Can you talk about how you came up with your unique major and how you intend to use it upon graduation?
RB: I took Spanish in high school, and tested really high in the language and decided to stick with it. I'm Latino so I wanted it as a background, because they need translators in Spanish everywhere. I also like history, which goes along with the Spanish major. I like International Studies because you can work for the government, CIA, or other prominent organizations. Know more about the world is something I've very interested in, and these majors help me do that.
BD: Growing up near Cincinnati, are you a fan of their two major sports teams?
RB: I'm a big Bengals and Reds fan, which stinks because the Reds are doing horrible. My Dad has been a Bengals fan since their Super Bowl years, so that was carried onto me. I'm also a big Xavier basketball fan. I was so sad when Sean Miller decided to leave this year.
BD: With King's Island being so close, did you go there often growing up?
RB: I hate roller coasters, which is really bad for someone who is so close to Kings Island. I actually got paid to go on the last roller coaster that I went on (laughs), so I don't go very often.
BD: What has been the best part of your summer as we head into fall?
RB: I've been at Chipotle all summer, saving up so I can study abroad in Costa Rica during the fall semester.
BD: What are you looking forward to most about your trip to Costa Rica?
RB: I'm looking forward to speaking Spanish the whole time, and I'll also be taking two high level Spanish courses. I'm looking forward to learning a new culture and seeing such a beautiful place. I also hope to make some friends in my classes too.
BD: Being a tennis instructor, does coaching the game give you added insight to playing tennis, therefore making you a better player?
RB: Yes, I sometimes like coaching tennis more than playing myself. Tennis can be a very mental sport, so watching how other people handle stress and adversity during matches helps me with my own game. I also like observing other people's tendencies and applying some of them to my game.
BD: Going back to Chipotle, what is your favorite item on the menu?
RB: I eat there a lot, so I like to experiment with different combinations every day. I normally get a bowl with rice, chicken, cheese, Spanish salsa, and lettuce. The guacamole is the best thing there. I'm a wimp, so I don't put any hot stuff on my meal.
BD: Why did you decide to play tennis at Capital?
RB: I was looking at different schools, and I knew that I wanted a school that was close but not too close to home. I also wanted to go to a school near a city. Capital was also a school that was good in my major, and when I visited I loved the campus. My friend Erin Gilliam who was two years older played here for four years, so that got me interested enough to talk to the coach and join the team. It's really worked out for me. I like the program here because coach (Shaun) Stamps is very flexible with my schedule. It's a commitment but one that I enjoy.
BD: What did you learn your freshmen year playing alongside Robin Sutton, who was an All-OAC honorable mention performer?
RB: It was a great learning experience. I learned how to compete at this level, and how to prepare myself for matches by working hard every practice and getting the most out of myself everyday. I also saw how she handled competing against the other team's best players every meet. She was also just a fun and encouraging person to be around. She was always supportive and had a good attitude. Leadership really defined her.
BD: What are some goals that the team has heading into this season?
RB: We had a decent season last year, especially given the fact that we had a lot of freshmen on the team. We need to play as well as we can, because the OAC doesn't hand out wins.
BD: How has being the No.1 singles player on the team elevated your game?
RB: I welcome the challenge. It's really helped me get better knowing that I'll be facing the other team's best player every time out. I never go into a meet thinking that I'll definitely beat anyone. Last year, I was really able to see where I stood in the OAC, and even those I lost some matches, I was able to really compete and fight to three-set matches. One match that sticks out from last year was when we played Ohio Northern, which is consistently the best team in the OAC. After I got up 6-2 against their talented freshmen, she started crying out of frustration. While I didn't want to see her cry, I knew I was able to compete against a very good player.
BD: How did your tennis career begin?
RB: I played basketball for about seven years, but after junior high I realized that I wasn't tall enough to play anymore. My Dad started playing tennis not long after I stopped playing basketball, so I decided to play too. I immediately got hooked on tennis and began watching Venus and Serena all the time growing up. I was able to make the varsity team halfway through my freshmen year of high school, which was really awesome for me. I actually tore my ACL halfway during the winter of my freshmen year, which made me realize even more how much I loved the sport. All of that rehabbing and learning how to walk again really made me appreciate tennis that much more.
BD: What is the best part about playing tennis here at Capital?
I really like my coach and the people that I play with. Everyone on this team pretty much loves tennis and our coach doesn't ever let it go to the point where it is too serious. I'm team is also very close knit. Being with our teammates 24-7 during the school year, you become very close to them. What I really like about this program is that our coach understands if we have to miss a practice to make up a test or project. We can have a life here outside of sports. This program really gives us the ability to have other options and the ability to grow as a student and an athlete.