Oklahoma State University Athletics
Goran Zgola – from Poland to Stillwater
November 16, 2023 | Cowboy Tennis
Poznan, Poland, is just about as far as you can get from Stillwater, Oklahoma, but Goran Zgola didn't care about the distance, he cared about the tennis.
Growing Up With Polish Tennis
Tennis has been in his DNA since a young age. His father, Grzegorz, played tennis, which got Zgola into tennis at the age of 5.
"My dad was a tennis player when he was younger," Zgola said. "So pretty much since I was a little child, I had a racket in my hand. At the age of six, my dad took me to my first tennis practice. Since then, I just started training and one thing led to another and I'm here."
When Zgola turned 11, he struck gold, winning the Polish National Championships. Ever since, he set his sights on a professional career in the sport he loves.
Tennis is not the most prominent sport in Poland, so Zgola would train with his dad and brother to improve his game.
"Tennis isn't the smallest, but it also isn't one of the biggest sports in Poland," Zgola said. "So we always had conditions to practice there, but we were lacking our tennis players that I could train with, so it was pretty much always just me and my brother."
Because of this, Zgola idolized the Swiss star, Rodger Federer.
"I've always looked up to Federer," Zgola said. "He's always been my favorite player, and now that he's retired, I'm struggling to find somebody that brings the vibes that Federer had."
5,461 Miles to Stillwater
Education was a big reason for the move across the globe and why he decided to become a Cowboy.
"I wanted to go to a U.S. university, so I could still be an active tennis player and get my academic degree," Zgola said.
In his first few months in Stillwater, he experienced first-hand, the Oklahoma State University education system. The academic support in Stillwater shocked Zgola, for it was much different from his hometown.
"The academics, the professors and everybody are way more supportive," Zgola said. "The sports and education actually work together, which makes it way easier for us athletes because, back in Poland, it would be pretty much impossible to have an academic and sports career."
Education was important, but the coaching staff was another priority in his search for a school.
From School to Tennis
"That was the main reason I chose OSU," Zgola said. "Because of this coaching staff. I don't think that there's a better coaching team in the entirety of college tennis. I think that they're a great combination of DT's [Dustin Taylor] experience as a coach and as a player, and then Marty [Redlicki], who knows the sport so well and has experience at the professional level."
Zgola is one of four freshmen, along with coach Koller, who are bringing youth to Cowboy Tennis. Don't let the youth fool you, for most all the new Cowboys have experience in professional tournaments, just like Zgola.
He knows that the new blood is a positive for the future of Oklahoma State.
"I think it's beneficial for the program that we've got such a young core right now," Zgola said. "We've just got four new good freshmen coming in, and I think it's good for our future because in the years to come, we'll be getting better and better."
With all the youth in the program, leadership is key. For Zgola, that leadership has come from fifth-year, Tyler Zink. He looks up to Zink as a leader because of his experience and success on the court.
"We'd have to pick him [Zink] because he's been doing really well," Zgola said. "He's moved way up to the top of the college rankings, and I think he's the one that we can look up to."
Coming from Poland, where resources were limited, Greenwood Tennis Center has been a huge upgrade for Zgola.
"It's unbelievable," Zgola said. "The tennis facilities in Poland can be good, and they can be well developed with some new technology, but there are very few of them. Second of all, they're not well organized. Most of all, they're not for the players like Greenwood is here. Greenwood has everything we could ask for."
His connection with assistant coach Redlicki is the most important connection he has made in Stillwater.
"So with Marty, I had no idea at all, when I spoke to the coaches first last year that he was Polish," Zgola said. "When he introduced himself, he suddenly started speaking Polish. So that was a pretty big shock, but I think that's a big thing for me that I've got somebody."
Redlicki is also from Poland and that has helped Zgola adjust to the new culture in Stillwater.
"Having him has helped me adapt better and it helped me find myself better," Zgola said. "Because it's a completely different place, the culture is so different, so having somebody that I could just speak with and be comfortable with was a big thing at the beginning."
Cowboy Tennis has a global presence, having 10 countries representing the orange and black. Zgola believes that the international roster builds a level of diversity that goes into the growing culture in the locker room. Learning the stories and backgrounds of each player has only helped Zgola's development.
Season Expectations
Coming off an injury, Zgola just returned to action this weekend in the Pac-12-Big12 Challenge. He is using the fall season simply as a time to get back on the court and get back in that competitive mindset that fuels him.
As for the team, he believes the team is primed for success.
"I'd say we definitely want to qualify for the NCAA Championships as we are hosting them," Zgola said. "I would say that's the most important goal for our team, and we just want to succeed as tennis players and simply do good."
Zgola is excited to start the spring season as an Oklahoma State Cowboy. His first collegiate match is on Jan. 13 at the Greenwood Tennis Center.
For more on Goran Zgola and all things Oklahoma State Tennis, visit okstate.com or follow @CowboyTennis on social media.
Growing Up With Polish Tennis
Tennis has been in his DNA since a young age. His father, Grzegorz, played tennis, which got Zgola into tennis at the age of 5.
"My dad was a tennis player when he was younger," Zgola said. "So pretty much since I was a little child, I had a racket in my hand. At the age of six, my dad took me to my first tennis practice. Since then, I just started training and one thing led to another and I'm here."
When Zgola turned 11, he struck gold, winning the Polish National Championships. Ever since, he set his sights on a professional career in the sport he loves.
Tennis is not the most prominent sport in Poland, so Zgola would train with his dad and brother to improve his game.
"Tennis isn't the smallest, but it also isn't one of the biggest sports in Poland," Zgola said. "So we always had conditions to practice there, but we were lacking our tennis players that I could train with, so it was pretty much always just me and my brother."
Because of this, Zgola idolized the Swiss star, Rodger Federer.
"I've always looked up to Federer," Zgola said. "He's always been my favorite player, and now that he's retired, I'm struggling to find somebody that brings the vibes that Federer had."
5,461 Miles to Stillwater
Education was a big reason for the move across the globe and why he decided to become a Cowboy.
"I wanted to go to a U.S. university, so I could still be an active tennis player and get my academic degree," Zgola said.
In his first few months in Stillwater, he experienced first-hand, the Oklahoma State University education system. The academic support in Stillwater shocked Zgola, for it was much different from his hometown.
"The academics, the professors and everybody are way more supportive," Zgola said. "The sports and education actually work together, which makes it way easier for us athletes because, back in Poland, it would be pretty much impossible to have an academic and sports career."
Education was important, but the coaching staff was another priority in his search for a school.
From School to Tennis
"That was the main reason I chose OSU," Zgola said. "Because of this coaching staff. I don't think that there's a better coaching team in the entirety of college tennis. I think that they're a great combination of DT's [Dustin Taylor] experience as a coach and as a player, and then Marty [Redlicki], who knows the sport so well and has experience at the professional level."
Zgola is one of four freshmen, along with coach Koller, who are bringing youth to Cowboy Tennis. Don't let the youth fool you, for most all the new Cowboys have experience in professional tournaments, just like Zgola.
He knows that the new blood is a positive for the future of Oklahoma State.
"I think it's beneficial for the program that we've got such a young core right now," Zgola said. "We've just got four new good freshmen coming in, and I think it's good for our future because in the years to come, we'll be getting better and better."
With all the youth in the program, leadership is key. For Zgola, that leadership has come from fifth-year, Tyler Zink. He looks up to Zink as a leader because of his experience and success on the court.
"We'd have to pick him [Zink] because he's been doing really well," Zgola said. "He's moved way up to the top of the college rankings, and I think he's the one that we can look up to."
Coming from Poland, where resources were limited, Greenwood Tennis Center has been a huge upgrade for Zgola.
"It's unbelievable," Zgola said. "The tennis facilities in Poland can be good, and they can be well developed with some new technology, but there are very few of them. Second of all, they're not well organized. Most of all, they're not for the players like Greenwood is here. Greenwood has everything we could ask for."
His connection with assistant coach Redlicki is the most important connection he has made in Stillwater.
"So with Marty, I had no idea at all, when I spoke to the coaches first last year that he was Polish," Zgola said. "When he introduced himself, he suddenly started speaking Polish. So that was a pretty big shock, but I think that's a big thing for me that I've got somebody."
Redlicki is also from Poland and that has helped Zgola adjust to the new culture in Stillwater.
"Having him has helped me adapt better and it helped me find myself better," Zgola said. "Because it's a completely different place, the culture is so different, so having somebody that I could just speak with and be comfortable with was a big thing at the beginning."
Cowboy Tennis has a global presence, having 10 countries representing the orange and black. Zgola believes that the international roster builds a level of diversity that goes into the growing culture in the locker room. Learning the stories and backgrounds of each player has only helped Zgola's development.
Season Expectations
Coming off an injury, Zgola just returned to action this weekend in the Pac-12-Big12 Challenge. He is using the fall season simply as a time to get back on the court and get back in that competitive mindset that fuels him.
As for the team, he believes the team is primed for success.
"I'd say we definitely want to qualify for the NCAA Championships as we are hosting them," Zgola said. "I would say that's the most important goal for our team, and we just want to succeed as tennis players and simply do good."
Zgola is excited to start the spring season as an Oklahoma State Cowboy. His first collegiate match is on Jan. 13 at the Greenwood Tennis Center.
For more on Goran Zgola and all things Oklahoma State Tennis, visit okstate.com or follow @CowboyTennis on social media.
Players Mentioned
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