Oklahoma State University Athletics
Becoming Cowgirls: An Unbreakable Bond
November 28, 2023 | Cowgirl Tennis
By: Grant Noyes, Athletics Communications
Courting friendship and victory, meet Oklahoma State's newest pair of tennis transfers, Safiya Carrington and Anastasiya Komar.Â
Carrington and Komar are just two of a handful of new faces who have made their way to Stillwater, Oklahoma, in 2023. Their road to Stillwater, however, is a little different than the rest. The pair of best friends both previously played at LSU before deciding to enter the portal together.
Carrington is a third-generation tennis player at the Division I level. Both her father (Lex Carrington) and Grandfather (Art Carrington) were very prominent tennis players, so much so that they are the only African American father-son duo to have played at the U.S. Open.
Carrington describes what it was like being brought up with them as influences.
"It helped build character, because at a young age, I had to make the decision if I wanted to play tennis and be good for myself and my name, or just be the daughter, or granddaughter, of them, and kind of be in their shadow," Carrington said.
Although faced with a serious commitment at a young age, Carrington admits she wouldn't have it any other way.
"I was really fortunate to have them to make me the tennis player I am today and learn from them and look up to them. It's super humbling and nice to have family members you can go to and [they] know the same thing you're going through," Carrington said.
After spending four years at LSU and making the All-SEC second team twice in her time there, Carrington decided to enter the transfer portal. For her, it was all about who and where could help accomplish her goals, and Oklahoma State head coach Chris Young met those demands.Â
"It was kind of an easy decision in a sense, just because everything I'm trying to accomplish lined up with what he was trying to accomplish. He and the program he's built have a really good reputation and, as a person, it was pretty easy for me to make that choice," Carrington said.
Carrington expressed just how good of a person Young is and how much she can trust him, because he understands where she wants to go as a tennis player. Besides coaching, Carrington also instilled just how great the facilities are at OSU.
"Just the tennis facility itself is by far one of the best, if not the best, in the country. Even the locker room is crazy. You don't see tennis locker rooms like that," Carrington said.
As far as transitioning to a new environment goes, Carrington has been doing very well. She says one thing that has stuck out about Stillwater is how nice everyone is and how everyone really cares about the athletes, specifically the female athletes.Â
What has helped her transition the most is Komar, who tagged along with Carrington through the portal.
"Just having Nas as my teammate and roommate made it easier too, because we're in it together. So, you know for the good and bad you have that person with you, which is nice," Carrington said.
Komar originally hails from the European country of Belarus, but decided to continue her tennis career here in the U.S. The redshirt sophomore chose to transfer to OSU not just because of coach Young and his program, but to follow her best friend as well.
"I knew that Safiya was going here as well and she's my best friend," Komar said. "So, we kind of talk, and I thought why not give it a try. I wanted to go somewhere with a friend because I didn't really want to go alone and having her here is really great. It helps."
Komar admits there are a lot of differences between the U.S. and Belarus. Whether it be the people, food or new environment, Komar is enjoying her new home in Stillwater.
"I really like it because it's quiet and people are so nice. It's just a small town -- a college town. So, everybody feels like family, you know," Komar said.
Komar wasn't always just a tennis player, splitting time between soccer and tennis in high school. However, Komar didn't see herself going as far in her soccer career as she did in tennis, and it seems she made the right decision. She's currently ranked as the No. 13 collegiate women's tennis player in singles in the country after an impressive fall season.
"It feels nice. I thought I was going to be lower after NCAAs [last year] because I lost and I thought I was gonna go down, but I went up somehow. We'll see if I can reach the number one spot next," Komar said.
Even though Carrington is entering her last season and Komar is entering her third, the inseparable pair has very similar goals this season. Both have aspirations of bringing a national championship to Stillwater, especially since a champion will be crowned in Stillwater.
"Specifically, I think starting from the end backward, I know we have a really good chance of being a front runner for a national championship this year. I feel we have a team that can do that," Carrington said.
"Well, of course, the national championship because we're going to host it here. So, it's really exciting for everybody, and we'll try to win it because it's at home," Komar agreed.
After wrapping up one of the most successful fall seasons in program history, the team's will begin its spring campaign in January at the same place it will finish in May; the Greenwood Tennis Center in Stillwater. Carrington, Komar and the rest of the Cowgirl team may still be getting to know each other in 2023, but they have high hopes for the heights they can reach come summer of 2024.
Players Mentioned
