Starting a Legacy
September 19, 2003 09:29 PM | General
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- As senior Anna Marie Underwood prepares for her last match as a member of the West Virginia University women's tennis team, her legacy as one of the most decorated players in school history begins.
Anna Marie and her WVU teammates will compete one final time this season Monday afternoon at the Mountaineer Tennis Courts against Wright State at 3 p.m.
"Anna Marie has had a great career at WVU," said Coach Dan Silverstein. "She is the perfect example of a student-athlete. She has excelled in academics and had a great record on the court."
A four-year starter, Underwood has never missed a match in her tenure as a Mountaineer, playing in a total of 190. At the present time, Underwood has a career record of 99-86. She will end her career in 19th place in the WVU tennis record book for top career records.
"My goal was to have a winning team record as a senior," said Underwood. "I also wanted to be able to find a good job with a stable company."
"When Anna Marie sets a goal for herself, she always accomplishments it," said coach Dan Silverstein. "Her success at WVU will really help her in the professional world."
This year Underwood achieved both of her goals. For the first time in her fours years at WVU, the team will finish their season with either a winning or even record. Upon graduation in May with a degree in industrial and management systems engineering, Underwood has a job lined up with Milliken, a textile manufacturing company.
"To be a successful student-athlete, you have to learn good time management," said Underwood. "You have to juggle practice and class, so it is important to know when things are due and to hand them in on time. By looking out for things ahead of time, your can do you best work instead of rushing to get things done."
Underwood has faced many ups and downs on the court. During her junior year, a number of injuries to her teammates forced her to play at the No. 1 spot for the Mountaineers. She won four of her final six singles matches and went 10-8 in doubles with Jenny Watkins. During the fall season, Underwood won both the flight A singles and doubles championships at the Martha Thorn Invitational, a tournament named after the woman that coached her for her first two-years.
"This year has been so much better knowing that we had six healthy girls for every match," said Underwood. "There is a lot less pressure on the court and the team has more confidence in winning."
The most memorable matches of her career as a Mountaineer came during her sophomore year. This was the first time that only the top six teams in the BIG EAST qualified for the championship tournament.
"It came down to one weekend in which we played Seton Hall and Connecticut," said Underwood. "We won both matches and were able to go to the tournament."
Despite not qualifying for the BIG EAST tournament this year, Underwood believes that the future looks bright for the women's tennis program.
"The team has changed a lot since my freshman year," said Underwood. "It has made a change in the right direction. The freshman this year are very good and they will only get better."
Before her career at WVU ends and her legacy begins, Underwood has some last words for the program: "Believe in yourself. There are many ups and downs in life and in tennis. Things will always turn around they way you want them to go."
Good luck Anna Marie.
