TicketsCINCINNATI - Callie Flanagan is a freshman on the Bearcats' tennis team from Overland Park, Kansas. A 2021 graduate of Blue Valley North High School, she ended her high school career with a record of 124-3 and was a three-time 6A Team State Champion. This season, she is 4-2 so far in doubles play with partner Kelli Niehaus and is 2-2 in singles action. We caught up with Flanagan to get to know more about the freshman from Kansas.
What attracted you, during the process of your recruitment, to the University of Cincinnati and made you come play here?
"I took my visit my junior year. I was 16, and I stayed with Kellie Niehaus and Sofia Bruno on my visit and I really fell in love with the team here and all the girls on the team. It's important that the staff and the people in Cincinnati are people that you want to be around because you're around them a lot, especially in the Athletic Department. I think the people are really what made me choose UC, and I really love the city and the campus here."
You mentioned you were attracted to the team - how would you describe the team dynamic this year?
"We are all really close and very focused on a specific set of goals. We all are on the same page as far as where we want to be. I think this year we are really competitive, with a lot of schools that are really good this year, and I think we have a really good chance to make some history and we are all on the same page as far as that goes. That really bonds us, and we are really focused on those goals."
Coach Toth is two wins away from being the No. 2 winningest coach in program history. How would you describe Coach Toth - what kind of coach is he and how has he helped you so far in your first season?
"He is extremely supportive and he is so experienced that he knows how to cater to each teammate, to each person's specific communication and to each person's game style. He really cares, he has so much empathy and kindness. He has extremely great values on tennis and in general that I really respect him as a coach and a person."
What has been one of your favorite memories so far as a freshman and what have you enjoyed the most about being on campus?
"I would say I really enjoyed the football games in the fall. That was exciting, especially as a freshman on campus. This has been a great year to be a UC student so that has been fun. I have really enjoyed the spring season and playing dual matches, I think that's been my favorite part. For my favorite tennis moment so far - last weekend we beat Toledo 4-3 and rushed the court when Emma clinched the match, that was fun. It was a great atmosphere."
If you describe yourself in three words, how would you describe Callie Flanagan?
"I would say I am consistent because I have a lot of similar routines and I like things simple, to the point. I am energetic, and I am also reliable."
What is it about the sport of tennis that you love? What attracted you to playing tennis?
"I have two older siblings and they both played college tennis as well. I started playing as soon as I could hold a racquet and I played throughout my childhood, but around middle school I really chose tennis as my main focus and worked really hard on it. That's when I started playing competitively. What I love about tennis the most is that you can be any type of player and you can compete at any level no matter who you are because a lot of it is how hard you work outside of the competition. I have a disadvantage because I'm smaller, I don't hit the ball as hard as some people. But it is based on decisions and points, and I can work hard at that and be better than what I am technically supposed to be."
You mentioned your siblings played, where did they play and what are their names?
"My sister, Shay, is 26 now and she played tennis at UConn. My brother, Brady, is 23 and he played at UConn for his first two years and then transferred to play at Creighton for his last two years. We are a big tennis family, which is crazy because my parents did not play tennis. They just started it with my sister and we just followed along. I'm really blessed to have seen them go through this experience because I learned a lot from them, and I think I have a really big advantage knowing how to navigate college tennis and how to navigate college as a student athlete because it's really hard and having them in my back pocket for advice has been really helpful."
You're a freshman this year, you have a few more years. What are you hoping to accomplish or even experience in your next three years?
"I am really excited to just compete more and play as many matches as I can. I love playing the dual matches, that's been my favorite part of the tennis aspect and competition in the spring. I can't wait to keep that up and keep trying to improve my record and the teams record against teams, that's going to be my motivation for a lot of the next years to come. I'm really excited to keep it up and try and improve the program as much as possible because we have a bright future here, I think we are in a good direction moving forward with moving into the Big 12. I think we [the University] have a great reputation right now and I am excited to uphold that for the future years."
UP NEXT
The Bearcats are back home at the Western Athletic Club when they host Miami OH on Saturday, Feb. 26 at 3 p.m.
FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
For all the latest information on Cincinnati tennis, please visit GoBEARCATS.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the team (@GoBearcatsWTEN) and Head Coach Eric Toth (@EricToth1) on Twitter. You can also find the Bearcats on Instagram and Facebook.
What attracted you, during the process of your recruitment, to the University of Cincinnati and made you come play here?
"I took my visit my junior year. I was 16, and I stayed with Kellie Niehaus and Sofia Bruno on my visit and I really fell in love with the team here and all the girls on the team. It's important that the staff and the people in Cincinnati are people that you want to be around because you're around them a lot, especially in the Athletic Department. I think the people are really what made me choose UC, and I really love the city and the campus here."
You mentioned you were attracted to the team - how would you describe the team dynamic this year?
"We are all really close and very focused on a specific set of goals. We all are on the same page as far as where we want to be. I think this year we are really competitive, with a lot of schools that are really good this year, and I think we have a really good chance to make some history and we are all on the same page as far as that goes. That really bonds us, and we are really focused on those goals."
Coach Toth is two wins away from being the No. 2 winningest coach in program history. How would you describe Coach Toth - what kind of coach is he and how has he helped you so far in your first season?
"He is extremely supportive and he is so experienced that he knows how to cater to each teammate, to each person's specific communication and to each person's game style. He really cares, he has so much empathy and kindness. He has extremely great values on tennis and in general that I really respect him as a coach and a person."
What has been one of your favorite memories so far as a freshman and what have you enjoyed the most about being on campus?
"I would say I really enjoyed the football games in the fall. That was exciting, especially as a freshman on campus. This has been a great year to be a UC student so that has been fun. I have really enjoyed the spring season and playing dual matches, I think that's been my favorite part. For my favorite tennis moment so far - last weekend we beat Toledo 4-3 and rushed the court when Emma clinched the match, that was fun. It was a great atmosphere."
If you describe yourself in three words, how would you describe Callie Flanagan?
"I would say I am consistent because I have a lot of similar routines and I like things simple, to the point. I am energetic, and I am also reliable."
What is it about the sport of tennis that you love? What attracted you to playing tennis?
"I have two older siblings and they both played college tennis as well. I started playing as soon as I could hold a racquet and I played throughout my childhood, but around middle school I really chose tennis as my main focus and worked really hard on it. That's when I started playing competitively. What I love about tennis the most is that you can be any type of player and you can compete at any level no matter who you are because a lot of it is how hard you work outside of the competition. I have a disadvantage because I'm smaller, I don't hit the ball as hard as some people. But it is based on decisions and points, and I can work hard at that and be better than what I am technically supposed to be."
You mentioned your siblings played, where did they play and what are their names?
"My sister, Shay, is 26 now and she played tennis at UConn. My brother, Brady, is 23 and he played at UConn for his first two years and then transferred to play at Creighton for his last two years. We are a big tennis family, which is crazy because my parents did not play tennis. They just started it with my sister and we just followed along. I'm really blessed to have seen them go through this experience because I learned a lot from them, and I think I have a really big advantage knowing how to navigate college tennis and how to navigate college as a student athlete because it's really hard and having them in my back pocket for advice has been really helpful."
You're a freshman this year, you have a few more years. What are you hoping to accomplish or even experience in your next three years?
"I am really excited to just compete more and play as many matches as I can. I love playing the dual matches, that's been my favorite part of the tennis aspect and competition in the spring. I can't wait to keep that up and keep trying to improve my record and the teams record against teams, that's going to be my motivation for a lot of the next years to come. I'm really excited to keep it up and try and improve the program as much as possible because we have a bright future here, I think we are in a good direction moving forward with moving into the Big 12. I think we [the University] have a great reputation right now and I am excited to uphold that for the future years."
UP NEXT
The Bearcats are back home at the Western Athletic Club when they host Miami OH on Saturday, Feb. 26 at 3 p.m.
FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
For all the latest information on Cincinnati tennis, please visit GoBEARCATS.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the team (@GoBearcatsWTEN) and Head Coach Eric Toth (@EricToth1) on Twitter. You can also find the Bearcats on Instagram and Facebook.