Roundup
Welcome to Signing Day
by TennisRecruiting.net, 8 November 2023
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Signing Week is underway, and high school seniors are starting to sign their National Letters of Intent with Division I and Division II schools. We have been tracking verbal commitments for several months (boys, girls), and we will highlight the Class of 2024 over the coming days and weeks.
Today, we hear comments from boys and girls across the country in our National Roundup. We talked with several recruits who plan to sign this week during the signing period. We asked them about their college choices - and how they reached their decisions.
Here is a whirlwind tour around the country to review these verbal commitments. They have some interesting - and sometimes surprising - things to say…
Athlete Profiles
Leo Rocca (Albuquerque, N.M.) to Pomona-Pitzer
Four-star senior Leo Rocca plays tennis at a very high level, but he has always appreciated playing for his high school tennis team. “I have made lifelong friends playing high school tennis,” said Rocca. “It has prepared me for leadership roles - and I loved representing my school in matches and tournaments that we played.” Rocca hopes to continue those experiences when he attends Pomona-Pitzer next fall.
TRN: Congratulations on your commitment to the Sagehens! How did you go about making your decision?
Leo Rocca has committed to Pomona-Pitzer
Rocca: One of the primary factors was location. I wanted to be near nature - whether that be the ocean, the mountains, or a lake. I love spending time in nature, so that was very important to me.
Another factor was the level of the tennis program. I wanted to be challenged by the tennis team wherever I went, and I wanted to play, so I wanted a tennis team that reflected my level of tennis.
Finally, I wanted a school with a solid academic reputation. I wanted my schooling to help me ease into my adult life after college as best as possible, and that would be best done by going to a strong academic school.
TRN: So I take it that Pomona-Pitzer checked all those boxes. Talk to us about the tennis program.
Rocca: In addition to being near the Pacific, Pomona-Pitzer has a perfect balance of high-level tennis with high-level academics. Being challenged in not only tennis but school inevitably brings the team closer together, which is something I am looking forward to at Pomona. I made sure to find a school that had both because though I want to play tennis in college, I have ambitions outside of tennis that I am looking forward to pursuing.
TRN: What are your impressions of the coaches?
Rocca: I also have a personal connection to the head coach, Steve Bickham, as he spent his days in college at the University of New Mexico, where I train every day and have many friends. [Coach Bickham] and all the coaches obviously care not only about the outcome of their athletes’ college tennis careers, but they also care about what happens to them after college. They want to set the players up for success as much as possible.
TRN: Do you have any goals or expectations for next year?
Rocca: I am hoping to play in a starting role on the team, and I hope to improve many things in my game. I look forward to getting my body into great shape, and using that to get my tennis to the place it needs to be to play high level college tennis. I expect to come back to New Mexico next summer playing better tennis than I ever have.
Chantajah Mills (New York, N.Y.) to Texas State
Chantajah Mills was looking for a change-of-pace in her college experience. “I wanted to experience something new, so I was trying to get away from the Tri-State area,” said the New York City native. The 4-Star senior found what she was looking for at Texas State University in San Marcos. We talked with Mills about her future as a Bobcat.
TRN: What impressed you most about Texas State?
Chantajah Mills is heading to Texas State
Mills: I love the campus. It’s beautiful - and coming from the city with all the skyscrapers and buildings, it provides a different atmosphere, which I also love. I also really like the athletic center and all the resources available for athletes. You can tell they are committed to making being a student-athlete easier for you.
TRN: Can you describe your visit to the campus?
Mills: I took an official visit in August. It was 3 days long and I enjoyed every second of it. From the moment I arrived in Texas, I liked what I was seeing. As soon as I met the team and the coaching staff, I knew I could see myself playing for Texas State. Everyone was so welcoming and the atmosphere just felt right. The Texas food was really good too.
TRN: Tell me about your interactions with the coaches. What did you like there?
Mills: The staff is really easy to talk to. Normally it’s hard for me to talk to new people, but the conversation just flowed with them. They seem just as dedicated as me in building my game and spending time with them and the other girls on the team showed me that they really care about you on and off the court. That is probably one of the things I like most about the program. They also know that I’ve struggled with injuries in the past, but that didn’t steer them away. They actually introduced me to the medical staff and let me know that anytime I feel something is wrong, they are always there.
TRN: Do you have goals or expectations for your freshman year?
Mills: For my freshman year, I just want to get used to the college tennis experience. I definitely hope to make my mark now that I will have an entire support system behind me. But I also want to learn how to be a great teammate, and help my teammates improve as I know they will help me.
TRN: Anything else we should know?
Mills: I’m excited for my next four years as a Bobcat!
