What is your name and where do you currently live?
My name is Hunter Bleser and I am currently residing in Morgantown, West Virginia.

Which years did you attend ATA and/or ATA CP? 
I attended ATA and ATA CP starting summer of 2015 and graduated in the Spring/Summer of 2016. However, I have been working at ATA since the summer of 2017.

Which college do you attend; when do you graduate and what will your degree be in? 
I graduated from the University of Virginia with a degree in English and did not return to UVA to pursue my bachelors in nursing. I decided to take my fifth year at West Virginia University where I am finishing up prerequisites for nursing school. I was recently accepted to Duke’s Accelerated Bachelor’s of Nursing Program, so I will be moving to Durham once I complete my year here at WVU. 

How did you feel about graduating earlier this year? 
It was bittersweet. I was excited to move on to a new chapter in my life. On the other hand, I said good-bye to a sport I have known and loved for 18 years and leaving a group of phenomenal girls with whom I have spent the last four years of my life. They have become part of my family and it’s hard to say goodbye to family, but I am excited to see what they end up doing. I know it will be difficult putting away the rackets, but I know it definitely won’t be a permanent break.

Is there a big takeaway you’ve discovered from the process you’ve been going through in regards to finding employment or making a career decision post-college? 
One thing I have noticed with applying for jobs and post-graduate programs is that admissions committees and employers find it very impressive if a candidate is a student-athlete. For future advice, I would say take advantage of all the hard work you have put in and use that title because you have earned that title. They want to know that you were successful on court and in school because it shows them you are disciplined and have incredible time management skills. The athletic side will attest to your competitive nature and desire for improvement. 

If you could go back to your junior tennis career, would there be anything you would do differently or would tell your younger self? 
If I could go back and tell my younger self a piece of advice it would be to start making it a habit of doing the little things. The little things can range from making sure you are actually stretching after practice, going out and hitting serves, developing good eating habits, getting sleep, etc. Looking back, I wish that I would have been more disciplined in these small areas because now it separates the good from the great from the exceptional. 

What was your most memorable moment or significant highlight in college and/or playing college tennis? 
For me, there is one memory that sticks out in my college career: our first dual match of the season my first (freshman) year. We were playing Boston College and the match got tied 3-3, it came down to my court. I was able to clinch it at 6-4 in the third. That match was significant for me not only because it was my first time to clinch a match, but that feeling of my teammates rushing towards me in excitement and celebration reminded me of why I chose college tennis. 

Looking back, what would you say is the biggest impact your time at ATA has had on your life? 
The biggest impact ATA had on my life was that it made me come out of my comfort zone. I would say that the people there helped me grow into a stronger individual and made me step up into leadership roles. Before, I was very content in hiding in the background and keeping my head down. Now I am much more comfortable taking responsibility and holding myself and my teammates accountable. I know what it means to be a leader on and off the court, and I know what it takes to help not only myself, but my team prosper. Without their guidance, I would not have become the individual I am today. 

Who is your favorite professional tennis player? 
My favorite male tennis player would be Federer. My favorite female tennis player was Maria Sharapova. 

What’s the best piece of advice given to you by one of your coaches? 
“If you’re not a leader on the bench, don’t call yourself a leader on the court. You’re either a leader everywhere or nowhere.”

Did you have any superstitions in your junior/collegiate tennis career and if so, what are they? 
When I was in juniors I was very superstitious about what I would eat. If I had a certain dinner the night before and won the next day, that would be my meal for the rest of the weekend. The same would apply to breakfast, lunch, snacks, etc. It would even get to the point where I would make sure the quantity matched up every time. I would also never where a shirt again if I had lost in it previously. 

What’s one piece of advice you would give to junior players regarding going through the college selection process? 
One piece of advice I would give junior players regarding the college selection process is choose a school that fits you and you could see yourself going to. Don’t choose a school just because they may be high-ranked athletically or academically superior unless that is what will make you happy. Ultimately, you are the one who is going to be there so the decision should be entirely yours. 

While 2020 is turning out to be anything but predictable, there is one thing we can count on: that nothing is going to be like what it’s been in previous years and that holds true for ATA’s End of Year Party. This year, thanks to Covid19, the party is happening in the virtual world. However, other than everyone not being able to get together in person, you can expect to experience everything you’ve come to love about this annual event: the awards, the speeches, the surprises, the laughs, the music, the memories, and the end of year video.

Mark your calendars and set an alarm so you can tune in to watch Sunday night (August 23) at 7:00 PM CST right from the comfort and air conditioning of your own home.

Click here for the link needed to join the party. The passcode is R60xaU.