FOCUS Plant City 18-01

Page 66

RISING STAR DURANT HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS TEAM CAPTAIN maggie

pate By Taryn Storter Maggie Pate, tennis team captain at Durant High School, is a threetime district champion, a state semifinalist, and a nationally ranked top 100 tennis player. She is a senior and has finished each season undefeated throughout her high school tennis career. Pate not only leads her varsity tennis team at Durant, but she also plays competitive tennis outside of school as well. Tennis is Maggie Pate’s main hobby and takes up most of her time. She practices six days a week and has tournaments every other weekend. She explained, “I don't know where I would be without the sport.” Pate has been playing tennis since she was six years old. Pate sets her goals high and strives to be the absolute best player she can be. She aims to have a successful college career and continuously improve her game. When asked what advice she had for younger athletes, she said, “to stick with what you do and hard work does pay off. Also, you do not have to love the sport necessarily, but love something about the competition that makes all the failures and successes that you experience worth it.” Pate has received a full ride athletic scholarship to play division one tennis for Furman University. Her goal is to become a successful college tennis competitor and to become an essential part of her college team. Pate said, “Being part of the team at Furman will also allow me to grow as a person and build a foundation for my future in all aspects.” Keep watching out for Maggie Pate! She is an amazing student athlete with high aspirations finishing her high school career at Durant High School!

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