Niagara U.
Related Photos
Tools
COLLEGE TENNIS: Mexican-born Garcias commute from Canada for NU
LEWISTON — Tennis players aren’t tradable commodities, so the analogy doesn’t quite work, but one can’t help but think of the North American Free Trade Agreement when told the story of Erick and Walter Garcia.
Brothers and teammates, Erick and Walter were born and raised in Oaxaca, Mexico, work 30 hours per week at the Niagara Academy of Tennis in Vineland, Ontario and commute here early each morning to attend tennis practice and classes at Niagara.
“Culturally, it’s been a challenge,” said Erick, the Purple Eagles No. 2 singles player. “The cold weather, the culture in Canada and the U.S., being Mexican and having to cross the border every day.
“Sometimes, waking up at five in the morning to go to practice is rough. But when you look at the results, it’s worth it. Being able to play Division I tennis is something I wouldn’t change for anything.”
Erick, 26, and Walter, 23, began playing tennis as adolescents at a local country club where their mother, Eloisa Elizalde, waited tables.
“Hitting against the wall, that’s how we learned to play,” Erick said. “We never had any tennis lessons until we were 16.”
Affable and hardworking, the Garcia brothers were well-liked at the club, so much that they were able to solicit money from members to go to out-of-town tournaments. It was at one of these events that Erick they were discovered, and convinced to move north by Lezlie Murch, director of the Niagara Academy of Tennis, where Niagara coach Kevin Blair’s son was a student.
Though Blair believes Erick and Walter could’ have earned full rides to play at a Division II school, they each accepted partial scholarships to join the Purple Eagles. To cover the rest of their tuition, the Garcia brothers work as instructors at the academy.
“We come to practice, go to class then go back and teach, then I come back at night to take my MBA classes,” said Erick, who received his undergraduate degree last May.
Walter, a junior, isn’t as outgoing as his older brother and doesn’t speak English as well. But Walter is the superior player, owning the all-time wins mark at Niagara, according to Blair.
“He’s the best player in school history,” Blair said. “He’s really something else.”
Both players will factor heavily in the Purple Eagles’ quest to win their first Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference title this weekend at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows. Walter is 18-8 at No. 1 singles this season the season and 5-1 in league play. Erick is 15-8 and 4-1 in the league. Niagara, which is seeded third, has made the finals twice in its history.
Blair thinks the Eagles have a shot this weekend, particularly because the outdoor courts in Flushing Meadows are suited to Erick and Walters strengths.
“We’re smaller guys,” Walter said. “We don’t have as big a serve as (opponents) do. But we can run around the back all day.”
Marist and Manhattan are the top two seeds in the draw and both possess players with powerful serves. Niagara is coming off a home loss to Marist in which both Walter and Erick lost close three-set matches.
“Walter had two match points but couldn’t pull it out,” Blair said. “Sportsplex, where we play, it favors big servers, being indoors. Flushing Meadows is slower and more like our outdoor courts on campus.”
Blair said the Garcias are both better players outdoors, when the lighting is better and a powerful serves isn’t as much of a factor. But Walter said winning this weekend will depend on more than the court conditions.
“It’s a matter of mindset,” he said. “We’re confident we’re going to get another shot at those guys and that we’ll do well.”
Contact reporter Jonah Bronstein at 282-2311, ext. 2258.
BROTHERS GARCIA
• WHO: Walter Garcia
• HEIGHT: 5-8
• YEAR: Junior
• ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Second team All-MAAC in 2006, is 18-8 this season.
• WHO: Erick Garcia
• HEIGHT: 5-7
• YEAR: Senior
• ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Missed last year with an injury, is 15-8 this season.
- Niagara U.
-
-
MEN'S HOCKEY: UAH stuns Niagara in OT to take CHA title
In what might be a fitting finale to a league that never really found continuity or conformity, the last College Hockey America hockey game finished with a surprise and little sense of closure for the home team.
-
MEN'S BASKETBALL: Next year, Niagara will be in Nelson's hands
Always a gifted passer, Nelson has improved his all-around game since his freshman year, and although he wasn’t one of the five point guards on the 15-member all-Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference’s team last year, Lewis predicted he’ll be recognized as one of the league’s best players next year.
-
FOOTBALL: Niagara basketball player piques Packers' interest
All those times Tyrone Lewis went flying into the Gallagher Center grandstands, could he have been preparing to take the Lambeau leap?
-
MEN'S HOCKEY: Niagara upsets top-seed Bemidji in CHA semifinal
When the history of the short-lived College Hockey America becomes little more than a Wikipedia entry, the lead sentence will certainly need a blurb about the rivalry between Bemidji State and Niagara University.
-
MEN'S HOCKEY: Robert Morris coach has had enough of CHA
While some see next year’s move to Atlantic Hockey by Robert Morris and Niagara as a regression, Colonials’ coach Derek Schooley is anything but a detractor.
- MEN'S HOCKEY: Alabama-Huntsville will play Niagara for CHA title Neil Ruffini scored the lone goal of the game and goaltender Cameron Talbot made 29 saves as the University of Alabama-Huntsville men’s hockey team edged Robert Morris 1-0 in a College Hockey America tournament semifinal at Dwyer Arena on Friday afternoon.
-
CHA TOURNAMENT: Ties to NHL run deep for CHA teams
The names are familiar to hockey fans, more than gibberish on the back of a jersey. Yes, before you ask, No. 10 Mironov for Niagara is indeed the son of a National Hockey League player. His uncle played too. And over there, No. 27, that’s the son of Dave Hannan, the guy responsible for ending the longest overtime hockey game in the history of the Buffalo Sabres.
-
CHA TOURNAMENT: Is Niagara's Moran the man?
Chris Moran is tricky. Crafty. The kind of guy who can control portions of a college hockey game without blazing speed, bulking size or a booming shot.
-
CHA TOURNAMENT: Our odds to the big event
Tim Schmitt breaks down all four College Hockey America team's chances to win this week's tournament at Dwyer Arena.
-
MEN’S HOCKEY: Moran named to final all-CHA team
Chris Moran felt the pressure before the puck even dropped this season, getting his team’s only nod for the final all-College Hockey America preseason team. But it didn’t faze him too much, as the Niagara University senior was also named to the lame duck league’s final postseason team, learning Wednesday of the honor.
- More Niagara U. Headlines
-
