Oklahoma State University Athletics
Young, Student-Athletes Discuss Indoor National Championship
February 15, 2024 | Cowgirl Tennis
STILLWATER – Oklahoma State women's tennis head coach Chris Young, along with student-athletes Kristina Novak, Safiya Carrington and Ayumi Miyamoto, met with the media on Thursday to discuss winning the ITA Indoor National Championship last weekend.
Here is some of what they had to say:
Chris Young
On winning the indoor title and being the first No. 1 team in program history:
"It feels good. I think it's all about the kids. It's all about seeing the joy on their faces and seeing how they answered that question [about being No. 1] was pretty cool. For them to be here, Ayumi for five years and kind of been through a lot of things, that's what you coach for, is for your athletes to succeed and so we're here to support them in any way. I think the coolest thing for me is winning the indoor title. When I got here, we didn't have indoor courts, so if you would've said to me when I got here in 2009 that we could've won an indoor championship, I would have probably laughed. I go back to that just having a belief that anything is possible, and people will support you along the journey, so that's a pretty cool moment too."
On what makes this team different than years past:
"I think, Ayumi may have said it, just toughness [and] competitiveness. This is probably the most competitive team top-to-bottom that I've had. We've had some teams with some really competitive individuals, but this team competes with each other in practice every single day, whether it's just sprints, or in the weight room or whatever it is they're just super competitive. So, I think we've learned throughout the course, since the fall, how to channel their competitive energy in a positive way, and they've just not going to give anybody an inch, so that's pretty cool. I think you can see Safiya, coming in she brings that personality that she doesn't fear anybody, and I think every team kind of needs that first person that gets off the bus and everybody kind of follows them and is like, 'OK, we've got this person with us. We can do it.'"
On the benefits of a tough schedule:
"Yeah, we got to Seattle, and I think it was after the first match we kind of talked to the girls and it was like, 'There's nobody here that plays at a level we haven't seen before,' and I think that really gives the girls confidence. I think it's really important. We had the opportunity with everybody wanting to come here for us hosting NCAA's, they want to come here and see it. I knew it was going to be a tough schedule, so we had to put a good team together but everybody's responding."
On if the indoor title builds momentum toward the NCAA Championships:
"Yeah, I think so, and hopefully it's building excitement for the fans. It's just cool for people to kind of recognize what we're doing. It was nice for us to be able to release the ticket sales yesterday, so I think there's a lot of momentum. That's what we want for our sport. I think that us hosting at Oklahoma State is hopefully a chance that we can do some things for our sport. I think that we do have the best fans [and] the best crowds. I think anybody that's come to our match was like, 'This doesn't get any better.' So, we want to put that on display, and I think as more people come, that's going to do it. I think these girls are building a lot of momentum for all of college tennis, because everybody is going to reap the rewards of us being really good because I think more people are going to see what's happening and invest in our sport. It's definitely a lot of momentum for the team, too.
Kristina Novak
On winning the ITA Indoor National Championship:
"It was honestly one of the most incredible things that could've happened to start the season, especially with it being all of our last season. But yeah, it felt truly like something I can't describe, just so much fun and excitement to share this with my teammates."
On playing a tough schedule:
"Having such a hard schedule from the beginning, it made us tougher from the start, and I don't want to say easing into the season, but just playing against tough teams and tough opponents, it made us stronger. This is what's going to make this team and this season great because we've seen other teams at the same level, and we know that we have to do a similar thing in May."
Safiya Carrington
On winning the ITA Indoor National Championship:
"After all the hard work we've put in, and all the success we've had so early on, just seeing it pay off in that way was incredible. I'm just really proud of everybody and it wouldn't have been possible without all of the people we had contributing. I think at the end of the day as athletes, that's all you can ask for is to walk out with a title, so to see your hard work pay off is amazing."
On playing in big moments:
"I think as athletes, a great part of being an athlete is those moments. Obviously, It's amazing to win easily and just walk off the court with a win, but I think our whole lives we're programmed to be super competitive, so for me in those moments, that's what it's all about and I don't really think about anything else other than just trying to get the win for my team. Those moments just make you see how much bigger it is [and] how much more it is than just you out there."
Ayumi Miyamoto
On winning the ITA Indoor National Championship:
"I've been here for 5 years and obviously this is the best year so far and I'm so proud of what we've achieved."
On what's different about this year's team:
"I think our strength is that each person fights until the end and competes to leave their court with a point. We are just tough."
