‘We have come a long way’

Metropolitan State University of Denver’s Isabel Heras in action in this file photo. (Roadrunners Athletics)

Division II tennis player Isabel Heras is honored to be one of four automatic picks for the CNMI National Tennis Team for the 2022 Pacific Mini Games the CNMI will be hosting for the first time ever this year.

“It’s an honor to represent the NMI in the Mini Games especially with Carol [Lee] and Robbie [Schorr]! We have all seen each other’s growth since starting tennis back then. We have come a long way!”

The 21-year-old junior at Metropolitan State University of Denver expects to be at the peak of her powers when she suits up for Team CNMI in June 2022.

“I am super-pumped for the Mini Games as I will be a senior in the peak of my performance fresh from the PAC West conference tournaments I will be playing. Another exciting thing is that it is going to be held on home soil! Not only do I think this is a great opportunity for the younger peers in Saipan to watch some high level tennis, but it is an honor to play at the home courts I started playing tennis at,” she said.

Heras, who is studying healthcare management with a minor in pre-healthcare, said she’s a better version of herself than the player that was part of the CNMI team in the 1999 Pacific Mini Games in Apia, Samoa.

“I have seen a huge improvement tennis-wise transferring to Metropolitan State University of Denver. My coach has focused on areas such as consistency, shot variety, and fitness which are definitely points that I have improved on since 2019.”

She said sky’s the limit for Team CNMI for this year’s Mini Games, especially since they have the home crowd encouraging them on.

“I am hoping that we will get the gold for both the men’s and women’s category. The NMI has strong players and I am positive we can do it if we want it strong enough,” she said.

Heras finished her most recent season at MSU with a 12-5 win-loss record in singles play and a 16-6 record in doubles.

“Last year my team and I finished fifth out of 16 teams in our conference. My doubles partner (Brooklyn Ross) and I were ranked No. 15 in the nation for Division II doubles pairing results,” she said.

Heras said she plans to pursue a master’s degree after finishing her undergraduate studies.

“I am a senior in my major and will be graduating with my bachelors in the spring of 2022. I will be using my COVID year, fifth year of eligibility, to play for Metro State and start my masters in healthcare management.”

Asked who she’s dedicating her success in the tennis court, Heras rattled out the usual suspects—her parents, Natalia Gvan and Carlos Heras; and her coach, CNMI national tennis coach and CNMI Sports Hall of Famer Jeff Race.

“My parents and their support has always been a motivating factor that has helped me through my journey. I also want to thank coach Jeff as he has been an amazing tennis coach and mentor to me who has helped me through the many stages I have faced in tennis.”

Aside from Heras, Lee, and Schorr, the fourth player Race automatically named to the national tennis team is Colin Sinclair, who won three gold medals in Apia. He won the men’s singles, men’s team (with Schorr and Ken Song), and mixed doubles (with Lee).