Q&A With Bridgette Strickland
Utah Statesman: When did you start playing tennis? Bridgette Strickland: I started at the end of elementary school and beginning of junior high, then played all the way through high school and then came up here to Utah State. US: Why did you choose to come to Utah State? BS: I had a brother and a sister on the track and cross country teams, so I came here to kind of be with them, and then I had the opportunity to play tennis. US: What’s your favorite moment ever in playing tennis? BS: My sophomore year at the BYU Invitational, I beat a girl from Boise State in three sets who I had lost to the previous year, 6-0, 6-0. US: Who is your biggest rival on the team in practice? BS: Definitely Hailey Swenson. A lot of times when we play each other, we have really long points and long rallies. Both of us are fighters to win every point, so we’ll just hit ball after ball to beat each other. We really push each other. US: What school do you consider your biggest rival? BS: Weber (State), because they’re so close and they always think they can beat us. But we usually end up beating them. US: What is one thing coach is always saying to the team over and over? BS: “Stay low.” And on our serves, “Keep your head up.” And on our ground-strokes, “Keep your chin down.” I’ve heard it a million times. US: Any prematch rituals? BS: We get there an hour and 10 minutes early, run, stretch, warm up for singles, doubles warm-up and a doubles drill to get ready for doubles. The night before I like to just lay in my bed and visualize my match for the next day. US: Who on the team is the best cook? BS: Marie (Livingston). Marie is the best cook on the team. I’m pretty good, too. Marie and I tie for first place. US: Who is your all-time favorite tennis player? BS: Andre Agassi. When I was little I lived in Las Vegas, and we lived in a place called Spanish Trails, and he played at the club and we would go pick up the balls that he’d hit outside the fence, and we’d go have him sign them. US: What’s your favorite thing to do when you’re on the road with the team? BS: Go out to eat and have talent shows with our teammates and coaches. US: What is your favorite food? BS: That’s two questions because there’s favorite food and then favorite dessert. Fettuccini alfredo with chicken and sun-dried tomatoes-emphasis on sun-dried tomatoes. Favorite dessert, great wall of chocolate from P.F. Chang’s. US: Least favorite class? BS: Sociology. I just really don’t like it. All my sociology classes I don’t like, and it’s my minor and I hate it. US: What’s your favorite sport to watch other than tennis? BS: Gymnastics. I love watching gymnastics. US: Favorite athlete at Utah State? BS: My brother. I love watching my brother Steve race. He’s on the track team and cross country. He’s definitely my favorite person to watch. US: Which are your top three movies? BS: “Top Gun”, number one. Number two, “Sweet Home Alabama”. I love “Sweet Home Alabama”. “Top Gun”‘s kind of action, “Sweet Home Alabama”‘s funny, and I love “The Notebook”. US: Favorite musician? BS: George Strait. He’s great. Classic. Amazing. US: What’s your favorite thing to do in Logan? BS: Rollerblading and going on drives up around North Logan and the canyon. -matt.sonn@aggiemail.usu.edu