Colorado University Athletics
Buffs Tennis Embraces International Flavor
September 28, 2017 | Tennis, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — Across America, college campuses are known for their mix of cultures, community and diversity. Nicole Kenneally's Colorado tennis team is a microcosm of that world flavor. The Buffs have an international representation that is worthy of a United Nations conference.
"It's a unique situation and it lends itself to opportunities that really aren't measurable by classroom standards," said Kenneally, whose Buffs open their fall season this weekend with the four-team Colorado Invitational at the South Campus Tennis Complex. "Everyone comes with a different, unique perspective. It's a big part of the student-athlete experience that is more than just academics or just athletics."
CU's current roster includes four Australians, one player from Great Britain and three Americans. But seven of those eight players are first-generation citizens of their respective countries, with parents who were born in other nations.
"We're a very good example of what we are in the world today," Kenneally said. "Not everyone is from one place. The world is small and our student-athletes represent the diversity that we have around the world today."
Among the countries represented by parents of CU's current players are Russia and the former Soviet Union, as well as Jamaica, Haiti, Bolivia, Poland, China, South Africa, Romania, Austria and Greece. Such diversity, Kenneally said, lends to great learning experiences for her players, providing exposure to cultures and communities they may not have had the chance to experience otherwise.
"They all get that perspective of what so many different cultures are about, but the neat thing is they are all speaking the same language," Kenneally said. "It's not just that they speak English, but they also speak the language of their generation. They all have direct contact and relationship to their parents' cultures but they all also have something in common. They are here at the University of Colorado, going to class and playing tennis, yet they get exposure to all the different things their teammates are familiar with. It's just a great learning experience for everyone."
Kenneally, a native Australian, admits her international roster is more coincidence than planned. Her number one goal is to always find the best student-athletes possible who can excel on the court in the highly competitive Pac-12 and in the classroom at CU.
"I don't think I truly realized the vast diversity we had until last fall when I looked around and said to myself, 'Everyone here has immediate family from somewhere else,'" Kenneally said. "But what I've come to realize is that it's an opportunity for all of us and something we can embrace. Right now we have a really solid core of players who are all-in for CU tennis — and that's what we need."
Another plus for the Buffs has been the overall attitude of acceptance and embracement throughout the university and the Boulder community.
"It's an advantage being on a campus like ours," Kenneally said. "I feel like we're growing in the area of globalization, and I think we're a very understanding, open and inviting campus. The same can be said for Boulder. The players that I bring to our team as girls leave as young women, partly because of the city of Boulder. The safety, the community aspect, the environment of learning independence and the ability to learn who they are and who they want to be make for a great student-athlete experience."
That experience, Kenneally said, helps develop solid team chemistry. "They might be from Philadelphia or Florida or Australia, and a lot of our players are familiar with the places where they grew up," she said. "But then when they visit their families, you hear about the world travel they've done and their cultures and all the things that shaped their lives and families. It affords us all the opportunity to learn about the different places and different cultures. It's part of an overall educational experience that will help shape them the rest of their lives."
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
