Four Years, 3 Records and a 4.0 GPA: Chiricosta Ends College Career

Not long following her return home from the Mid American Tennis Tournament last weekend, former Avon Lake standout Christine Chiricosta admitted she got teary eyed.

Not because she hadn't given her all, but instead, she finally had time to reflect that her collegiate career at Bowling Green State University, where she is a standout tennis player, was finally over.

Years of hard work and dedication, starting when parents Rick and Sheila put a pee-wee racket in her hands at a very early age, to years of traveling around the country to tournaments, had finally come to fruition.

"When I got home, I was starting to put away and pack up some of my uniforms to turn in and I sat in my room and cried until I went to sleep," Chiricosta said. “I tear up now even talking about it because it was an amazing four years. You put so much hard work into it, it was my life, and it’s depressing it’s over. I graduate this Saturday Summa Cum Laude, so that's a good thing but I miss it so much."

Her career at Bowling Green could easily be described as spectacular. On the court, Chiricosta holds all three of BGSU's career wins records, with 178 total victories (89 singles, 89 doubles).

"I'm glad I have those records as a memory and a way to leave my mark on BG, " Chiricosta said. "Its amazing thing for sure; It was a great four years, I'm glad I have those records and was able to have such an amazing career.”

And for those who don't think that tennis can be a grueling sport, the day Chricosta broke Bowling Green's record for wins, proves differently. Her match against Butler University's Natali James took two-hours and 40 minutes.

"She was a very strong player out of the Chicago area, I battled from behind pretty much the whole match," Chiricosta said. "I tried all season not to focus on the numbers or records, because it can distract you from the goal of getting a win for your team. But it helped me find something from deep within to win that match."

After losing her first set 4-6, Chiricosta came back and took  a 7-5 win in the second set and a 6-4 victory  in the third.

With that win, she earned her 154th career victory, breaking the old record of 153 set by Deidee Bissinger (1997-2000).

"She was serving at 4-5, and played a really aggressive point," Chiricosta said. "She hit a big forehand approach shot and I took a running cross court passing shot for a winner, which I shouldn't have really gotten to the ball, but it was the fastest I ever got to the ball, and it also was a winner."

Maybe more impressive than the fact she is 25 wins ahead of the second place person on BGSU's list, what she has done in the classroom, Chiricosta has a perfect 4.0 cumulative grade point average as an adolescent/young adult/secondary education major. 

She is also the first student-athlete in BGSU women's tennis history to be named an Academic All-American. She earned that honor as both a sophomore and a junior (the 2010-11 Capital One Academic All-America Team has not yet been announced but she should be on it again).

"I probably missed out on some of the other things college students do on the weekends, I had to manage my time better than most do and had to prioritize, but it was always worth it to me," Chiricosta said. "I get a lot more out of success and putting my heart into something instead of being an average person and I wouldn't change a thing."

Making her GPA even more impressive is what she had to do this season: Find a balance between school, practice and student teaching.

"This semester during our main season, I was student teaching every day," Chiricosta said. " So that meant I missed a majority of our team practices, had to organize my own drills and hitting sessions, meant I was waking up at 5:30 every morning and grading papers and being a full time teacher while being a full time tennis player. It was very challenging, I never have gone to bed so early."

While the record means a lot, Chricosta may see it broken in the next few years, she chuckles when talking about it. The reason is simple: her younger sister Nikki, playing at the third flight as a freshman, is moving up the single-season lists .

Nikki has 27 singles wins this year, tying for the second-highest total in school history and overall, she has 51 victories on the season, ranking third on that BGSU chart.

"It's been great. It was just like high school where I had one year to play on the team with her there too," Chiricosta said. " I think she is able to go as far as she is willing to go. If she keeps working as hard as she's been, her success will be limitless. I can't wait to come back for the next three years and watch what she does. I hope she doesn't get my record, but if anyone does, I hope it is her and that I can be there to see her do it."

 Chiricosta doesn't plan on putting her racket down just yet. After graduation she plans on moving back home to Avon Lake and utilizing her skills as an instructor. She also plans on playing in some tournaments.

 "I am going to be teaching tennis this summer, so I won't be leaving the sport for good, which is a good thing," Chiricosta said. "I'm going to continue to play in some amateur tournaments and big prize tournaments now that I can actually accept money because I am done with my eligibility."

 One she is especially looking forward to is the national mother and daughter circuit, where they have had great success over the years.

"We won the title four times, so my goal is to continue to play those, and hopefully continue to build our trophy case at home with my mom," Chiricosta said. "Because there is no better feeling then winning with a family member, especially the one who has been my coach, which is my mom."

She has also been encouraged to coach at a high level by her coach at Bowling Green, something she would definitely love to do.

"I would love to coach at the collegiate level, and it actually is a conversation I have had with my coach and she has encouraged it along the way,” she said. “And growing up with coaches in my family, (both her parents were coaches) it’s definitely something I would love to do. The coaches were who made the difference in my game and my life and made me be successful and I would love to have the impact on someone else in my life someday."