Heras offered full scholarship

Isabel Heras, seen here competing in a local tournament at the Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan tennis courts, is aiming to play in NCAA Division I or II school. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

CNMI junior tennis player Isabel Heras has been offered a full scholarship to play in a collegiate team in New Mexico, but she is leaving her doors open for other opportunities.

Heras is being lured by New Mexico Military Institute, the same school where Thea Minor played her first two years in college before moving up to NCAA Division II Henderson State University in Arkansas last year. Another former junior player from the Commonwealth, Mikayla Lopez, finished her rookie season with NMMI last school year. Former Oceania Tennis Federation development officer Dan O’Connell coaches NMMI and Heras is thankful for the former for his interest in bringing her to the team and giving her the chance to continue playing the sport after her high school graduation.

“Playing your sport in college is definitely a dream come true for student-athletes, especially when you are offered a full scholarship. I have been offered a full ride to NMMI, but unfortunately I will not be taking the offer. Instead of playing for NMMI—a junior college—I am aiming to play for a Division I or II college,” said Heras, a senior at Marianas High School.

To help her shop for a Division I or II collegiate squad, Heras has signed up with Platform Sports Management, which according to its website, is a company that focuses on providing a pathway for students who wish to excel in their sports within the American college system. Platform Sports was instrumental in placing Palau’s Ayana Rengiil to Division I Alabama A&M University on an athletic scholarship.

“I will be finishing my senior year in May of 2018 and plan to go to college in the fall. A few college coaches have contacted me to play for their team, but I have not yet committed to any school. I will narrow down my college choices as the months progress,” said the 16-year-old player, who just came from Fiji after competing in the 2017 Oceania Closed Junior Championships early this month.

“There are many people I want to thank for helping me reach this level in tennis. I want to thank my parents for their support, time, and money they put in for me to excel in tennis. I also want to thank Coach Jeff (Race) for being my tennis coach ever since I started playing. He has definitely helped me become the tennis player I am today,” Heras said.

The CNMI player is ranked No. 1,559 as of Aug. 21 and was once at No. 1,329 after earning 15 ranking points in singles and five in doubles.