On Friday, tennis player Graham Beevers announced his commitment to Linfield University. Located in Oregon, Linfield is a Divison III school that competes in the Northwest Conference. Beevers is a four-year varsity player and competes in both doubles and singles, which he plans to continue at the collegiate level. As a sophomore, he advanced to the Texas 5A regionals where he competed in doubles.
Although he has played tennis for 13 years, it was only in “the last four or five [he’s] started to take it serious[ly].” Beevers explained that as he became more competitive, he would practice between two and four hours daily. He took a break last year and noted how the time off “opened [his] eyes to how much he enjoyed the sport.” Sometimes taking a break shows just how important something is to you and makes you put more work in, which is what happened with Graham. He worked and practiced to meet the college standard and said how “it feels great now that [he’s] decided where [he] wants to commit.”
Significant influences for Beevers include his coaches, Jeff and Neil. He explained how they have helped him progress over the last few years and have been “great mentors” throughout his tennis career. Graham also noted how his father has helped him navigate the road to commitment since he is a former UTSA tennis player.
Playing at the collegiate level brings new and exciting opportunities, which Beevers can’t wait for. Being on a team provides a group of built-in friends, which can be helpful going into college. He explained how he couldn’t wait to be a part of the “team atmosphere” and get advice from more experienced students. Graham is also “ready to compete again,” which is something he has missed recently. “I enjoy trying to be the best I can be,” he said.
After coaching him for four years, Coach Martin has seen Beevers change from a less-experienced underclassman into a seasoned senior athlete. She described Beevers as a determined player each time he takes the court. “I can always depend on him to fight for every point,” she said. Martin also explained how Graham leads by example, which has made him an integral part of the tennis team over the last few years.
Beevers is a hard-working and devoted athlete, and the Trojan tennis program will miss him. However, he has a promising career ahead of him at Linfield University, where he will continue to improve his skills.
