2008 Woodie Awards
Grgat slices her way to regionals
Samantha McClay
Issue date: 5/2/08 Section: Features
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Her accent is not the only thing that sets her apart, however -- Grgat is a standout tennis player.
Grgat, a sophomore from Melbourne, Australia, plays number one in singles and doubles and serves as the team's captain.
Last year Grgat was nationally ranked 29th in singles. In doubles, she and her partner, junior Sarah Hopson, were ranked 18th nationally.
Grgat has been named All-Conference both of her seasons at Milligan and has consistently been in the running for AAC Player of the Year.
Grgat attributes her roots in tennis to her parents.
"My mom and dad played tennis all their lives, so that's what influenced me to pick up a tennis racket," said Grgat. "They've been my motivation through my whole career. Especially my mom; she's come to like every tennis match of mine."
Grgat's mom has even come to four Milligan matches in the United States. One of these matches was Grgat's biggest highlight of last season when she defeated her Union College opponent, Camila Cunha, the 2008 AAC Player of the Year.
"It was my favorite match that I won last year," said Grgat.
Grgat started playing tennis when she was five years old, when she hit tennis balls against the wall of her parents' bedroom. Soon after, her parents began giving her tennis lessons. According to Grgat, it was then that she realized that she had some talent.
"That's where my love for tennis really started," said Grgat.
During primary school, Grgat played tennis two or three times per week. In fourth grade, she began to play every day. From seventh grade to eleventh grade, Grgat was home-schooled and attended a full-time tennis academy.
At the academy, she trained two hours each morning and two and a half hours each afternoon.
Grgat also played for the Victorian State Team and the Australian Regional Squad, two well-known teams in Australia.
Grgat then fractured her ankle, an injury that kept her off the courts for a little over a year.
After her recovery, Grgat returned to school for her senior year and then came to Milligan.
"I love the location and being in the mountains," said Grgat on attending Milligan.
Here at Milligan, Grgat is a human performance and exercise science major with a psychology minor.
Grgat loves the community atmosphere at Milligan.
"My friends are my favorite part of Milligan," said Grgat. "I love the dorm life and my best friend and roommate, (sophomore) Jill Bourgeois."
Grgat considers both the team's second-place finish in the conference and her spot in the regional tournament an uplifting accomplishment for her and the team.
"I also love my tennis team," said Grgat. "This year we've really strengthened as a team.
It's the first time we've decided to play for one another as a team and not individually."
Grgat's personal goal is to receive AAC Player of the Year.
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