Sophomore Helio Hashimoto, from Sao Paulo. Brazil, practices with the team on Feb. 17, 2010. Hashimoto played No. 6 singles for the Bisons against Hendrix and come home with o 6-0 win. jeff Montgomery On Aprilll, 2010, senior Ivan Michelli swings for o solid return. Ivan played No 4 singles and No 2 doubles for the Bisons in the conference tournament jeff Montgomery No. 2 singles player Henrique Ruiz goes for the boll on Aprilll, 2010. Ruiz. o junior, finished his season with o 12-S singles record and 16-4 in doubles with his brother Marco. jeff Montgomery closing one .. Forthe men 'S tennis team, the conclusion of the 2010 season was a bittersweet moment. The season had been a huge success, but they were losing a key player, Marco Ruiz of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Ruiz was the No.1 seed for the team and won the Gulf South Conference men's tennis 1st team All Decade last year. He was also the winner of the Harding University Berryhill Award, an award given annually to a senior athlete, which he deemed one of the greatest accomplishments of his college career. Fortunately for the Bisons, Ruiz decided to stay on as a graduate assistant after his graduation, allowing the team another year with Ruiz's tennis savvy. Ruiz was born in Brazil and dreamed of playing tennis in the United States. His dream came true when he was invited to play on Harding's tennis team. Equipped with a scholarship, big dreams and the will to work hard, Ruiz worked his way to the top, becoming an essential part of his team. Ruiz said he could not have succeeded without people like his coach, David Elliot, who were always there to support him. "Since I came here, [Coach Elliot] has been a pleasant guy and helped me a lot," Ruiz said. "He is like a role model. Even when we had hard days or lost a match, he was always there for us." Even with the support of people like Elliot, balancing 2 7 8 athletics another school and matches was difficult at times for Ruiz. However, overcoming these struggles only added to his growing list of accomplishments and motivated him to succeed all the more. His greatest accomplishment by tar, Ruiz said, was becoming a Christian during his sophomore year at Harding. "I was raised Catholic in Brazil, but then I started learning more and more about God when I came here," Ruiz said. Ruiz also had some big goals tor the future that he was not afraid to vo1ce. He planned to be a graduate assistant for the tennis team for as long as he was around. Ruiz aspired to play professional tenAls with his younger brother, junior Henrique Ruiz, also a tennis player, after completing his education. He also wanted to ~rk in a multi-national company in the management field some day. Sophomore Heli~ f!l'ashimoto, also from Brazil, admired Ruiz's discipline. ~ "Marco and I are from the same town in Brazil, and he has really brought the work ethic of Sao Paulo to Harding," Hashimoto said. "He drills these players hard and they play even harder.'' As for going back to Brazil, Ruiz said that he was undecided. One thing was for sure, however. Ruiz would make the most of his time at Harding, his opportunities to grow spiritually and his time with friends. And he would play some tennis. Elumba Ebeniol Sarah Eason
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