A typical freshman athlete carries a deer-in-headlights look. The pressures of playing a collegiate sport combined with a heaping amount of schoolwork, keeping up with friends and just managing to get a few hours of sleep can be overwhelming.
That look has never been there for freshmen Courtney Wild or Ray Leonard. Wild, on the Ball State women's tennis team, and Leonard, on the men's side, have gradually become two of the best players in their respective programs in less than a year.
Wild tied senior Sarah Hebble for the team lead in wins during the season with 13. She took over the No. 1 singles spot when the spring season started in January and hasn't looked back.
"I didn't really expect to be [No. 1], but I wasn't surprised," Wild said.
Coach Christine Bader has had her back throughout the entire season.
"I thought she easily could play No. 1 for us this season," Bader said after Wild's first career singles match, a 6-3, 6-2 victory over IUPUI on Jan. 18.
Not only has Wild gained the respect of her own coach but also men's tennis coach Bill Richards' respect as well.
"Based on my observations, Courtney is a very hard worker," Richards said. "She's a great competitor and she'll help take our program to new heights in the future on the women's side."
Leonard has also recognized what Wild has done this season.
"It's really a testament to how tough she is on the court and how hard she works." Leonard said. "It's not easy for anybody to play No. 1, let alone a freshman. I think [her play] shows she's taking it to another level, and she's going to continue to develop throughout the years."
Leonard has also been climbing the ranks over the course of the season.
He started the spring season at the No. 3 singles spot but moved up to No. 2 by mid-February.
Leonard said the only thing that matters to him is contributing to the team, not his place in the lineup.
"I really don't have a preference where I play in the lineup as long as I can help the team out," he said. "That's definitely my No. 1 goal. Tennis is an individual sport, but I play on a team and a team is a lot more than one person."
Leonard has since moved back and forth between the No. 1 and No. 2 singles positions.
"Ray has things in his game technically and fundamentally that allows him to be successful," Richards said. "He's a big lefty that has a big forehand, pretty versatile player in terms of his ability to come forward and he has the ability to be consistent at the baseline.
"You always look at what someone has in their game that gives them a chance to win; Leonard's got those things in his game."
Wild credits her and Leonard's level of play to a mentality of having nothing to lose.
"I think we just come out swinging for those matches," she said.
With Wild and Leonard already having success as freshman in top spots, the future looks bright for both programs.
"When coming here, I knew we weren't the best team in the MAC," Wild said. "We absolutely were kind of down on the totem pole, but I wanted to build a program here. I think that's what we're starting to do. Christine has done an amazing job - she's a good coach, and I think we can really start something here at Ball State."
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