Photo by: Tim Cowie - DavidsonPhotos.com
Spring Senior Scholar-Athlete Spotlight: Alexandra Abele
5/14/2020 8:35:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Gavin McFarlin- Associate SID
Thirty-three seniors were on Davidson Wildcat rosters as this spring began, and though their 2020 seasons were abbreviated, their contributions to their respective teams, the overall athletics program and college itself make them worthy of recognition. Each Tuesday and Thursday, we will feature members of the class of 2020 as part of the Senior Spring Scholar-Athlete Spotlight.
Name: Alexa Abele (she recently was honored with Davidson's Rebecca E. Stimson Award, presented to a senior woman scholar-athlete in recognition of outstanding dedication and contribution to intercollegiate athletics)
Sport you competed in: Women's Tennis
What is your major/minor?: Economics
What was your favorite class and why: Food Chemistry because I really had a bad experience with chemistry in high school so I was expecting it to not go well. But it was one of the most fun classes I've taken and learned a lot that I can apply to every day life!
Where are you completing your studies this semester: At home in Sarasota, Fla.
Though it was cut short, what will you remember most about your senior season: Honestly I think the last match was the most memorable. We knew that it was likely to be our last match, so we were able to put together a senior day for us. My parents and all my friends were able to come and we all won our matches including me, 11-9, in a third-set tiebreaker because I just had to make my parents stress out one last time.
If you had to choose, what was the defining moment of your athletic career: At conference last year I was playing a girl from VCU who was very good and I got crushed by her earlier that season. I lost the first set but it was close and was able to win the second set. And I was up in the third set before our match was suspended due to a team clinch. Even though I didn't finish that match, it gave me so much confidence in my game and how all the work I had been putting in was starting to pay off.
What was your favorite trip you took as a team and why: My freshman year we were driving to Florida and stopped at a Ruby Tuesday's about 7 hours in and it took them 2 and a half hours to get our order right. I don't know why it's my favorite but it was definitely the most memorable. Still haven't gone to a Ruby Tuesday's since.
You can invite any three people to dinner, who is joining you: LeBron James, Rafael Nadal and Taylor Swift
Most memorable college moment outside of competition: I had the privilege of being a co-service chair for Warner Hall this past year. From all our fundraising, including Red and Black Ball in the fall, we were able to hit our goal and raise $35,000 for HIV/AIDS charities. It was pretty awesome to dedicate time towards raising money to
help people in the Charlotte area and in Zambia.
What lessons from sports has helped you deal with the unusual situation of the spring semester: Tennis has taught be to be resilient and to focus on what you can control instead of what you can't control. But I think being at Davidson has taught me that my value doesn't come from being a good tennis player or my tennis results. The person is greater than the player. And the best is yet to come.
What are you most proud of from your time as a Wildcat: I think I'm most proud of the person I have become because of the challenges I have faced on and off the court. I'm proud that I have been able to overcome failures and have a better sense of self-trust.
Who do you want to thank for their support: There's a lot of people I need to thank, but first is my teammates and coaches for always being there and supporting me for these 4 years. Also, my dad for being my first coach and giving me the game that I love more than anything. And my mom, not for her athletic ability, but for her winning personality (as she has always said).
What's next for you: This summer I will be starting my first job as an Investment Banking analyst for Wells Fargo in Charlotte!
Name: Alexa Abele (she recently was honored with Davidson's Rebecca E. Stimson Award, presented to a senior woman scholar-athlete in recognition of outstanding dedication and contribution to intercollegiate athletics)
Sport you competed in: Women's Tennis
What is your major/minor?: Economics
What was your favorite class and why: Food Chemistry because I really had a bad experience with chemistry in high school so I was expecting it to not go well. But it was one of the most fun classes I've taken and learned a lot that I can apply to every day life!
Where are you completing your studies this semester: At home in Sarasota, Fla.
Though it was cut short, what will you remember most about your senior season: Honestly I think the last match was the most memorable. We knew that it was likely to be our last match, so we were able to put together a senior day for us. My parents and all my friends were able to come and we all won our matches including me, 11-9, in a third-set tiebreaker because I just had to make my parents stress out one last time.
If you had to choose, what was the defining moment of your athletic career: At conference last year I was playing a girl from VCU who was very good and I got crushed by her earlier that season. I lost the first set but it was close and was able to win the second set. And I was up in the third set before our match was suspended due to a team clinch. Even though I didn't finish that match, it gave me so much confidence in my game and how all the work I had been putting in was starting to pay off.
What was your favorite trip you took as a team and why: My freshman year we were driving to Florida and stopped at a Ruby Tuesday's about 7 hours in and it took them 2 and a half hours to get our order right. I don't know why it's my favorite but it was definitely the most memorable. Still haven't gone to a Ruby Tuesday's since.
You can invite any three people to dinner, who is joining you: LeBron James, Rafael Nadal and Taylor Swift
Most memorable college moment outside of competition: I had the privilege of being a co-service chair for Warner Hall this past year. From all our fundraising, including Red and Black Ball in the fall, we were able to hit our goal and raise $35,000 for HIV/AIDS charities. It was pretty awesome to dedicate time towards raising money to
help people in the Charlotte area and in Zambia.
What lessons from sports has helped you deal with the unusual situation of the spring semester: Tennis has taught be to be resilient and to focus on what you can control instead of what you can't control. But I think being at Davidson has taught me that my value doesn't come from being a good tennis player or my tennis results. The person is greater than the player. And the best is yet to come.
What are you most proud of from your time as a Wildcat: I think I'm most proud of the person I have become because of the challenges I have faced on and off the court. I'm proud that I have been able to overcome failures and have a better sense of self-trust.
Who do you want to thank for their support: There's a lot of people I need to thank, but first is my teammates and coaches for always being there and supporting me for these 4 years. Also, my dad for being my first coach and giving me the game that I love more than anything. And my mom, not for her athletic ability, but for her winning personality (as she has always said).
What's next for you: This summer I will be starting my first job as an Investment Banking analyst for Wells Fargo in Charlotte!
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