Junior National Lawn Tennis Champion Heimraj Resaul has reaped the reward of balancing sports and academic by being granted a scholarship from the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, United States.
Resaul, who left Guyana yesterday to begin his stint, will further his studies in biomedical science while also suiting up for the University’s men’s tennis team.
The 17-year old was recruited by the University’s Head Men’s Tennis Coach Nick Margiasso who announced the signing of the former Marian Academy student to make up his first recruiting class of 2019. The coach was drawn to his natural qualities.
“Heimraj will be our youngest addition to the men’s team and is exactly the kind of talented, positive, coachable guy that will add to our programme on the court. In the classroom, he will represent the University even better,” Coach Margiasso said of Resaul’s pedigree.
Prior to his departure, Resaul told Stabroek Sport that he is prepared both mentally and physically for the rigors of managing the student/athlete offer.
“I’ll be playing tennis five days a week. I’m as ready as I’ll ever be. I believe that over the years I’ve matured as both a student and a tennis player preparing me for this moment,” he explained.
According to the young athlete, balancing academics and the metamorphosis into a champion athlete came naturally from the time he took up both.
“I pretty much grew up bouncing between both tennis and school. Since I was younger, it was always school during the day then tennis in the afternoon. So, over time I developed the ability to balance it well.”
Resaul represented Guyana at a number of international tournaments and tasted success at the junior level. Those experiences will likely land him in good stead when he gets the opportunity to taste his first collegiate action after the University opens up its 2019-20 season at the College of New Jersey’s Lions Kickoff Tournament on August 31. The young man, who also harbours ambitions of going pro, plays for the Sheltez Tennis Club locally and is coached by Shelly Daly –Ramdyhan and Leyland Leacock.
Resaul is currently the number one ranked male junior player in the country and has won the national under 18-title twice in 2016 and 2018.
