Julianna Vich '22 Recruiting Profile

My name is Julianna Vich and I am a 17 year old senior from West Covina, California.    I am set to graduate in 2021 from Pearson Online Academy.

During this past year, my tennis performance has improved greatly, regardless of the negative effects the current Covid-19 pandemic has had in our lives.  I have concentrated in being more appreciative of my improvements and acknowledging the areas where I need improvement under a more positive light. I am training with a small group of very positive players and coaches and my game skills have exploded.  Even with the restrictions and reduced match play imposed due to the pandemic, I have been able to improve my UTR, currently at 8.39 by 1 point in 5 months.  Additionally, while many of my peers have had a difficult time adapting to online study, I have seen my academic performance improve during this time.  I have learned to prioritize, be more consistent and independently accountable with my online studies.  I believe the skills learned here will help me perform better at the university level.

I started playing USTA tournaments when I was 10 years old.  I enjoy playing singles because of the independence and fierce competition of singles play.  Here, the results are a mirror of your work ethic, plain and simple.  I like that.  I also enjoy doubles play because it is such a different game, the which you get to play with a team member.  I enjoy the team spirit and camaraderie that doubles play brings.

When I was 14 years old, I participated in the JTT team nationals at the USTA Campus at Lake Nona, Florida. During this tournament, I was the lead singles and doubles player of my team where we finished 3rd in the nation. It was my first out of state experience where I learned a lot about the environment of playing away from home.

As a freshman in Walnut High School, I played #1 singles on the Varsity Team and finished my 2018 high school season undefeated. That year, I was awarded the MVP title for my league, and won All League Champion. In the same year, I reached the final at the coveted Marguerite tournament 18s, at Mission Viejo, California.

I also participated in the 2019 Zonals 16s at Utah where we won the national championship. These national team experiences helped me develop my skills in team work, team communication, and the importance of my role in the team performance.

In September of 2019, I went to Mallorca, Spain to train in the Rafael Nadal Academy. During my stay, I trained with the WTA player Rosa Vicens Mas who was being coached by Toni Nadal. During my hitting sessions, Tony Nadal was present and gave me valuable advice.

From October to November of the same year, I went to the Philippines for training on shell court. During this time, I trained with several Philippine’s Davis cup players as preparation for two Junior ITF tournaments which took place in The Manila Polo Club. I was able to place in the qualifying draw and played the main draw on both tournaments.

2020 has had a tremendous impact in all of our lives.  It has changed the way I look at things, and has made me appreciate so many things I took for granted before.  Also, due to the effects Covid-19 has had on university sports and eligibility, it too has made me reflect more carefully on the options I have after graduation. 

After much thought and consideration, I have decided that the best course of action for me is to take a gap year after High School Graduation, and play for the 2022 college fall season. I strongly believe this option has many advantages.  It will allow me to fully and completely dedicate my time to develop and improve my game.  It will give me the opportunity to play national and international ITF tournaments and further increase my depth and experience.  It will allow me to mature not only on my game, but also personally and mentally.  Overall, I believe this plan will make me a stronger and more valuable team member for my future alma mater.

My goals are to achieve a 9.25+ UTR by graduation, and 10.5+ UTR when I am ready to join my university team.

In addition to Tennis, I enjoy Scuba Diving where I hold an Advanced Open Water and Mixed Air Certification, Snow skiing, and saltwater fishing.

I hope this brief description of my tennis experience helps you see my determination to excel in the sport

-Julianna