Persson’s taking charge on the court
Annika Persson is beginning her second year with the Georgia College & State University Tennis team after a stellar freshman performance.
Persson earned All-Peach Belt Conference honors as a freshman and held the second position on the team in singles. Her record entering her sophomore year is 28-6 in singles and 24-7 in doubles. Persson feels she is ready for the new season.
“I don’t feel any pressure to perform. I think it is easier to be here overall. I am more used to things here,” Persson said. “I appreciate things a lot more than I did last year so in that way it’s better.”
Persson is the daughter of Lars-Eric and Birgitta Persson. Her hometown is Frolunda, Sweden. Persson traveled far to play tennis for the Bobcats.
“I wrote a couple of letters to a lot of universities so that I might get a scholarship or something and then I got a letter from Steve and I got a couple other letters and I thought this place sounded good and I ended up here,” Persson said.
This year she enters doubles competitions with a new partner due to the departure of her former partner Julia Roudkovskaya. Persson doesn’t think a new partner will affect her game.
“I think I am going to adjust pretty good. It depends on whom I am playing with. I don’t know who it is so far,” Persson said.
Head Coach Steve Barsby is hopeful about how Persson will adjust to a
new partner.
“She will adapt, go into it with a smile, and hopefully we will all be successful, Barsby said. “Right now it looks like she might play with another girl from Sweden, who she came with last year, so they have known each other for a while. They live together; they are roommates, so hopefully they won’t have any transition problems as far as getting to know each other. When you only have six players on a team, you really don’t have that.”
Persson attended Sigrid Redebecks Gymnasium in Goteborg, Sweden before coming to GC&SU. During her spare time, she likes sailing, music and playing the guitar. She also enjoys hanging out with her friends when she is not studying or playing tennis.
Barsby thinks that Persson’s personality contributes a great deal to the team.
“I think the biggest thing she contributed to us is her work ethic and
personality,” he said. “Her everyday, she is never down, she is always positive about things. She does well in school, just her overall attitude is just very fresh to come out to everyday and makes the atmosphere of practice, matches and a long season very good.”
According to Persson, her personal and team goals are the same for the 02-03 season, “to do as good as last year.”
Persson has high hopes for the upcoming season.
“I think we have a good chance to do better,” she said. “We are a much deeper team this year than last year. I think it’s going to be a good year.”
Posted by Colonnade Archives
on Sep 27 2002. Filed under Sports.
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