Austin Tennis Academy senior Hunter Goertz will pursue the next level of academics and athletics at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette this coming fall.

 

“Academics, school atmosphere, teammates, coach, campus, and price are all contributing factors on my decision to attend the University of Louisiana,” Hunter said. “I also like the location, not to far from home (6 hours) and not to close to home."

 

The University of Louisiana has an enrollment of around 16,000. The university offers 78 undergraduate degree programs as well as 27 master’s degree programs. The university is best known for its research and business programs.

 

Goertz explained how his workmanlike approach to the game of tennis that has recently lifted him to number 2 in boy’s 18s in Texas, matches up well with the Ragin Cajun mentality. He feels that the Ragin Cajun’s are on the same path to success through consistent hard work and toughness that he experienced in junior tennis.

“The school also fits my personality well; fighting and working hard to become a top program,” Hunter explained.

The Ragin Cajun’s compete in the Sun Belt Conference in Division 1 NCAA athletics. The men’s tennis team is coming off of a 7-12 season, with a first round loss in the Sun Belt Championships. Hunter joins a strong freshman class that connects to a team looking to have a strong season in 2012.

 

Beyond the tennis, Hunter is looking forward to getting the full college experience.

 

“Well, I'm excited for a lot of things,” Hunter explained. “School, living on my own, food, wildlife, southern girls.” The other thing that set U of L apart is it's location being not to far and not to close from home, allowing me to visit my family fairly often without breaking the bank, while still maintaining a sense of independence.”


 

 

Along with U of L, Hunter considered Texas Tech, University of Louisville, UC Santa Barbara, Arkansas and Michigan State among others. He spoke of how, if given another chance, there are things he would do differently through his college selection process.

 

“The main thing I would have done differently would be to have communicated better with the coaches of the schools I was interested,” Hunter said. “I wasn't persistent enough as I could have been.”

 

After visiting the U of L campus, the thing that struck Hunter most wasn’t the tennis facility or the dorm rooms. It was the beyond ordinary centerpiece of campus.

“In the center of the university there is the only manmade swamp in the world with alligators and other swamp like wildlife.”

 

On Tuesday, November 15th at 6pm, Hunter will sign his commitment letter at the ATA Signing Ceremony. He will join fellow ATA senior Brooke Hughes, who will sign her commitment letter to the University of Oregon. The entire ATA community is invited to come out and celebrate this exciting event and congratulate these two seniors.

Hunter spoke highly of the support provided to him by his family, as well as the guidance of ATA for his success in junior tennis and the opportunities ahead of him.


“I credit most of my success in junior tennis success to my parents. Second I credit it to the great coaching staff at ATA and the infinite amount of opportunities presented.”