Jacqueline Wallace/The Rider Photo Illustration
Freshman nutritional sciences major Valeria Gracia is a player for the UTRGV Women’s Tennis Team. Gracia is a Rio Grande Valley native and attended McAllen High School before her admittance to UTRGV.
Q: What is your favorite aspect of tennis?
A: “When you start playing, it’s just for yourself but then, in the end, it’s just as much a team [sport] and everyone works together.”
Q: When and how did you start playing tennis?
A: “I started playing when I was 13 years old, which is pretty old for this game. … But I started playing because I was super into it. Since my parents love to watch it, I just started watching it with them. Then, I just wanted to play.”
Q: If you could sum up your experience playing tennis in one word, what would it be and why?
A: “I would say ‘eventful’ because every day when you go into, whether it is practice or a match or whatever, you just don’t know what to expect. So, you just have to prepare for everything.”
Q: What is your favorite way to spend Valentine’s Day?
A: “My favorite way to spend Valentine’s Day is with my friends because no matter what year or what happens, they’re always going to be there for each other. So, that is just a really nice way to enjoy time with them.”
Q: If you are given extra credit to pass out Valentine’s Day cards to your class, what cartoon would be on them and why?
A: “The first thing that pops in my head is Bugs Bunny because it’s super funny and super fun to just pass around on Valentine’s Day.”
Q: Do you have any plans for this Valentine’s Day? If so, what are they?
A: “Yes, I am going to spend it with my friends this year, again. We’re just going to bake cupcakes, and we’re going to bake cakes … and decorate them together and just eat together.”
Jacqueline Wallace/The Rider Photo Illustration
Senior multidisciplinary studies major Chase Bridges is a pitcher for the UTRGV Baseball Team. Bridges’ first season with UTRGV was in 2020. He ranked sixth in the Western Athletic Conference in appearances. Bridges previously attended the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma in 2017-2018 and Northern Oklahoma College-Tonkawa in 2019.
Q: What is your favorite aspect of baseball?
A: “My favorite part about baseball, personally, is just being able to compete. It gives me, I guess, kind of like, competing is my favorite thing to do, no matter what it is. So baseball gives me a way to go out and compete every day. If I wasn’t playing baseball, I’d probably be doing something else where I was.”
Q: How and when did you start playing baseball?
A: “I started playing, I don’t know, I was probably five or so. I watched my cousin [play and he] was really into baseball. I went to all his games from a very young age and just kind of fell in love with it.”
Q: Who’s inspired you to continue playing baseball?
A: “Oh, lots of people. Teammates, personally. Feeling the love from the teammates is definitely probably the biggest driver to continue playing baseball and be around guys like them.”
Q: What is your favorite way to spend Valentine’s Day?
A: “I mean, my wife [and I], we’re very simple people. So we spend it very simply. Usually, it’s dinner, then a movie or something like that. Before her, it was always filled with baseball.”
Q: Do you prefer flowers or stuffed animals?
A: “I think I like stuffed animals better. Stuffed animals are more fun and they stay around a little longer than flowers.”
Q: If you’re given extra credit to pass out Valentine’s Day cards to your class, which cartoon character would be on your cards and why?
A: “I’d say Scooby-Doo. I don’t know. I just like Scooby-Doo so much that I feel like that would be who would go on my Valentine’s Day cards.”
–Compiled by Karina Rodrigue
