Connor Evans '24 Recruiting Profile

Hi, as you may know, my name is Connor Evans. My hope for my future truly revolves around the goal of combining my education with being a contributing member of a highly competitive collegiate tennis program. My tennis life started very young when my parents signed me up for group lessons at our local tennis club in Burbank, California. At the age of 9, I stopped hitting the fuzzy yellow ball around and concentrated on basketball and football. After a few years away, I realized I really missed tennis. My re-entry was through USTA League tennis playing singles and doubles. Our team was coached by Ben Brunkow and his team of coaches at Toluca Lake Tennis. Tennis was fun for me again. I remember during our 2017 state run, on the day of the tournament as I was warming up, I started to hit the ball and one of my molars popped out of my mouth after hitting a serve. Who knew an escaped baby tooth would be an obstacle I would face in tennis?

During the pandemic my family moved to the Hill Country of Texas, Marble Falls, to be near our family. This was a tough time for me because, although I visited my family often in Texas, all I had ever known was Los Angeles. It was at this time that I decided to take tennis seriously and put in the work that this sport deserves. I joined my high school’s tennis team, and as a freshman I was first place at four JV tournaments and second or third in the remainder. When the season came to an end, I was awarded Team MVP by my coach. My junior year I transferred to Faith Academy of Marble Falls for a more rigorous academic program but knowingly a much less competitive tennis program. I played varsity basketball my junior year and followed that with a season of tennis. Our school competes in TAPPS 3A, where I finished the tennis season taking second at district and third at the state competition in singles. I set a new goal at the end of that season.  Do everything that I can, and I mean absolutely everything, to win state in 2024.

It has always been my priority to positively impact any team I have been on. I haven’t looked at that as just a scorer, but also as an assist leader. I have always cheered my teammates on to do their best. Team is important, especially when you are out there where it feels like you are all alone as a singles player.

Off the court I strive for academic excellence. I have taken every dual credit and AP class offered to me during my high school career. I’ve been honored with achievement awards, and this last year I was nominated by my school and selected by our local American Legion to represent them at the 2023 Texas Boys State. It was an eye-opening experience where I learned the inner workings of our great representative republic here in the United States.

No matter what type of adversity I have been faced with, I persevere to the best of my ability. A motto I live by is “fall down 7 times, get back up 8.” My Dad says that is grit. Ultimately, I love the work. I’m looking forward to the experience. I’m all in on making lifelong memories with new friends.  It is my goal in life that no matter where I go, I will strive to make wherever I am a better place. Faith, Grow, Elevate!