There are many factors University tennis player Christine Chiricosta thinks about when she is on the court.

Whether Chiricosta chooses to charge the net and play aggressively following a ferocious serve or stay back and return the ball by placing it perfectly on the baseline with a backhand stroke, she is always calculating her best opportunities to excel on the tennis court.

But being educated in tennis is simply not enough for Chiricosta, who translates her knowledge on the court to the classroom, continuously working hard and improving herself through training and studying.

‘I just have always had something inside of me that wants me to make myself better,’ the sophomore said. ‘I probably put more pressure on myself than anyone else in the world. I work really hard.’

And the hard work has paid off on a much bigger scale than Chiricosta might have imagined.

With her 4.0 cumulative grade point average, Chiricosta was named to the 2009 ESPN The Magazine Women’s At-Large Academic All-America Third Team last week. This was the first time in University history a women’s tennis player had been selected to the team.

Chiricosta said maintaining an A average while preparing to become a high school English teacher will be a tough task, but earning this award will give her motivation to remain maintain her perfect grades.

‘I’ll be devastated when I get my first B, but I’ll get over it and like tennis, it will just make me better,’ she said.

Already winning a high school state title with her sister, being named to two All-MAC Second-Team selections, and her name skyrocketing on the career wins list at the University, Chiricosta said this achievement trumps all others due to the academic recognition.

‘It’s one of the greatest accomplishments, if not the greatest, I have ever had,’ she said. ‘It’s different than anything else that I’ve accomplished. The hard work is really paying off in the classroom and on the court.’

With tennis being primarily an individual sport, Chiricosta prides herself on being the best teammate and friend she can be.

‘She is quite an inspiration to academics and athletics. She is always working her hardest. She is one of the best at both,’ freshman, player and assistant coach Jessica Easdale said.

While she puts a lot of pressure on herself during her matches, Chiricosta said she was more upset watching her team lose a match when she was forced out of action with a wrist injury than if she was playing herself and lost.

‘The team aspect is more important to me,’ she said.

Off the court, Easdale said all the girls are friends by going out to dinner and taking weekend vacations with one another. She said Chiricosta is a person, and not just an athlete, the other girls look up to.

‘Christine is definitely a good role model for both academics and tennis,’ Easdale said.

Chiricosta relates her dedication back to her parents who helped her become the person she is today. And having a University player on a national all-academic team can only make the school glad she decided to come here.

‘It’s fun to be able to represent the school and student athletes in a positive light,’ Chiricosta said.

And while she will continue to work hard for her next two years in school, Easdale knows only good things can continue to happen for Chiricosta beyond awards for tennis.

‘I think good things are going to happen to Christine because she works so hard in every aspect in her life,’ she said.

‘If she continues to have the same mindset and work ethic as she does now, there is no end to the things she can accomplish,’ Easdale said.

Player Profile Age: 19 Hometown: Avon Lake Ohio Major: Secondary education major in integrated language arts Ranks 25th in wins with 85 singles and doubles victories Led 2009 Falcons in overall wins (39) and tied for first in singles (20) and doubles (19) First woman in University history to be named an All-American by the College Sports Information Directors of America

Source: BGSU Athletic Department’s Web site. ‘