Coach Billy Martin can only remember one other pair of brothers on the UCLA men’s tennis team in his 34-year tenure as a coach. And as rare as brothers on the same team is, Austin and Connor Rapp’s support for one another makes their presence even more significant. “They’re a very close family, they’re close […]
Category Archives: Features
Born and raised a Bruin, tennis player continues family legacy in UCLA
Crowds can provoke anxiety in a freshman student-athlete, but not in one who grew up around them. “Being in front of a crowd, it’s easy to get nervous and get tight … but my upbringing, being at all these huge games, huge crowds, I (feel) super comfortable out there,” sophomore Ben Goldberg said. Born into […]
Women’s tennis transfer looks to UCLA for bigger stage
As a high school senior from urban Toronto, Ayan Broomfield instantly fell in love with suburban Clemson during her college visit. Playing mostly at the top of the Tigers’ lineup in singles and doubles, she amassed a 31-25 singles record, 28-16 doubles record and led Clemson to the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament. […]
Freshman cross country star, former cheerleader surpasses expectations
On most evenings in the fall of 2015, high school cheerleader Erika Adler finished her homework and got ready to run. It was for fun – that was how she always ran, with her father biking beside her. As a junior in high school, Adler had never competed in an organized cross country race. She […]
Linebacker Kenny Young strives to wear Jackie Robinson’s number with pride
Kenny Young had heard enough questions about the perilous state of UCLA’s defense. “So negative, man. So negative,” he joked with reporters last week. “Be positive.” Despite the throngs of fans voicing their disapproval of the Bruins’ disappointing past two seasons and an injury-ravaged defensive roster, the senior middle linebacker has remained a pillar of […]
Maxime Cressy reflects on collegiate tennis journey, mental growth
His name is Maxime Cressy, but his brother calls him “Maximus.” “It was a direct reference to (Maxime Cressy’s) pursuit of greatness,” said his brother, Jonathan Cressy. Jonathan Cressy said his brother Maxime Cressy, now a junior on the UCLA men’s tennis team, dedicated himself to rising through the ranks of tennis at a young […]
UCLA sisters’ soccer advancements rooted in family support, training
Anika and Karina Rodriguez’s journeys began at home. Their father Rafael Rodriguez, a youth soccer coach, started training them in the backyard at ages 4 and 5. While Rafael initially trained them the same way, redshirt sophomore Anika Rodriguez, the elder, grew into an attacker and freshman Karina, the younger, blossomed into a central defender. […]