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University of Massachusets Athletics
From Walk-On to Co-Captain, Larson's Example Is One to Follow
October 19, 2016 | Tennis
UMass tennis' unsung hero is the heart of the Minutewomen.
Every team has its star player. Or in some cases maybe two. You know who they are by their name and face appearing everywhere online and in print. They get all the interviews, the pretty pictures, and sometimes the credit of winning the game or match. But every team also has someone who is piecing together the moving parts. If you look close enough they're probably still in the middle of the action on the court, field or track just doing their thing because they love it regardless of the limelight.
But in this particular case, the unsung hero of the University of Massachusetts women's tennis team is not on the court during a big match. Instead she's screaming from the sidelines giving anything and everything she can to the rest of her team. And team isn't even the choice of word she would use to describe those people on the court - she prefers to call it a family full of people with all different backgrounds and personalities.
This student-athlete is currently on the pre-med track, a representative on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, a multi award-winning scholar-athlete, a co-captain, and most interestingly of all a walk-on.
A walk-on to the UMass tennis team is not someone who is of lesser value to those who are on scholarship but instead someone who actually sacrifices that much more to be there. A walk-on shows up to practice and goes through all the same grueling hard work of a scholarship kid but does not necessarily see the same glory in different aspects of being on the team. The most notable factor of all is there is no commitment deal for them being there other than they want to be.
So when Julia Larson, a senior from Boxborough, Mass walked on to the tennis team under Judy Dixon's wing in the fall of 2013 her expectations of what would happen and the reality of being on the team were very different.
Larson recounts her palms being so sweaty on the first day of practice that holding the racquet would be the first of many challenges she would face being on the team.
"I remember being so nervous on my first practice. Coming in as a walk on, I felt like I had to try twice as hard just to keep up with the scholarship players on the court," Larson said. "But I ended up being nervous for nothing. Everyone was so supportive and the players and coaches alike all respect the work ethic of the walk-ons on the team."
Larson came in with three other freshmen at the time giving her a support system like no other. Today, one of them is her very best friend from England and co-captain of the tennis team.
"Julia came out to England to see me after our very first year. One of the best experiences I've had. But as far as Julia being on the team, well, it's a blessing we got her. If people only knew the behind the scenes stuff she does to keep us organized and together," said senior Anna Woosley.
Since that first day, Larson's role has developed into much more than just a timid freshman playing her part of a bigger picture. Today, she is a leader on the team and a voice of reason among the players and the coaches of UMass Tennis.
Head Coach Judy Dixon appointed Larson as co-captain fall of 2014 along side Senior Arielle Griffin. With different options and players for Dixon to choose from for a leadership role on the team Larson was the absolute choice.
"Everything Julia does on this team is always with out a doubt to the best of her ability. Julia I mean really, she's amazing," said Coach. "She has things done well before I even think to ask for them. That's the kind of kid she is."
Larson admitted to wanting to be captain one day because of the tremendous respect her senior captains had when she was a freshman. One of the only problems though was wondering how long she would be able to continue being a part of the UMass Women's tennis team.
At the time Larson was a nursing major but since then has switched to pre-med in hopes one day she will be a pediatrician or something close to it. Her academic load is incredibly stressful considering the demands of being a normal student-athlete is hard enough. Required research lab hours, along with regular studies and gaining experience in the field is enough to take up her entire day.
Somehow, she adds on getting straight A's for grades, being a representative for the tennis team on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, and a co-captain. When being asked how she stays a float she spoke about staying ahead and on top of all her work. Pre-planning is her go to mechanism for dealing with all the work.
One of the more unique things she's doing for her field of study when not practicing on the court is shadowing UMass Athletics' very own Dr. Rouzier.
"Dr. Rouzier has been an incredible mentor and teacher during my time with him. Being able to shadow a physician at such a large university, I see a lot of different injuries and illnesses each day," said Larson. "I'm getting exposure to a lot of different areas of medicine, from topical deformities to musculoskeletal injuries."
Now, with just a little more than half a year till graduation Larson reflects on her time at UMass. She wish she knew coming in as a freshman to relax a little more and even though time may not have permitted such, she wished she ventured out a little more into other areas of the University joining more clubs and meeting other people outside of her comfort zone. As far as her career she wished she had shadowed earlier because of the tremendous experience she is having now.
In her final reflections Larson said, "I am so happy to be where I am right now. I wouldn't have changed my college experience at all. UMass tennis has helped me along the way and I appreciate everything that the tennis program, Judy Dixon, and UMass Athletics has done. The thought of not being able to see the girls on the team on a daily basis, for lack of a better term, sucks. I know I'll miss those people more than anything. I am proud of everything that I have done and how I have grown over the years. I am a two-year captain as a walk on and I think that has to do with my work ethic both on and off the court. I hope I earned the same respect that my captains had from me. I am excited for my future after college and for where I'll be in a few years, just as I can't wait to see where my fellow seniors end up."
But in this particular case, the unsung hero of the University of Massachusetts women's tennis team is not on the court during a big match. Instead she's screaming from the sidelines giving anything and everything she can to the rest of her team. And team isn't even the choice of word she would use to describe those people on the court - she prefers to call it a family full of people with all different backgrounds and personalities.
This student-athlete is currently on the pre-med track, a representative on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, a multi award-winning scholar-athlete, a co-captain, and most interestingly of all a walk-on.
A walk-on to the UMass tennis team is not someone who is of lesser value to those who are on scholarship but instead someone who actually sacrifices that much more to be there. A walk-on shows up to practice and goes through all the same grueling hard work of a scholarship kid but does not necessarily see the same glory in different aspects of being on the team. The most notable factor of all is there is no commitment deal for them being there other than they want to be.
So when Julia Larson, a senior from Boxborough, Mass walked on to the tennis team under Judy Dixon's wing in the fall of 2013 her expectations of what would happen and the reality of being on the team were very different.
Larson recounts her palms being so sweaty on the first day of practice that holding the racquet would be the first of many challenges she would face being on the team.
"I remember being so nervous on my first practice. Coming in as a walk on, I felt like I had to try twice as hard just to keep up with the scholarship players on the court," Larson said. "But I ended up being nervous for nothing. Everyone was so supportive and the players and coaches alike all respect the work ethic of the walk-ons on the team."
Larson came in with three other freshmen at the time giving her a support system like no other. Today, one of them is her very best friend from England and co-captain of the tennis team.
"Julia came out to England to see me after our very first year. One of the best experiences I've had. But as far as Julia being on the team, well, it's a blessing we got her. If people only knew the behind the scenes stuff she does to keep us organized and together," said senior Anna Woosley.
Since that first day, Larson's role has developed into much more than just a timid freshman playing her part of a bigger picture. Today, she is a leader on the team and a voice of reason among the players and the coaches of UMass Tennis.
Head Coach Judy Dixon appointed Larson as co-captain fall of 2014 along side Senior Arielle Griffin. With different options and players for Dixon to choose from for a leadership role on the team Larson was the absolute choice.
"Everything Julia does on this team is always with out a doubt to the best of her ability. Julia I mean really, she's amazing," said Coach. "She has things done well before I even think to ask for them. That's the kind of kid she is."
Larson admitted to wanting to be captain one day because of the tremendous respect her senior captains had when she was a freshman. One of the only problems though was wondering how long she would be able to continue being a part of the UMass Women's tennis team.
At the time Larson was a nursing major but since then has switched to pre-med in hopes one day she will be a pediatrician or something close to it. Her academic load is incredibly stressful considering the demands of being a normal student-athlete is hard enough. Required research lab hours, along with regular studies and gaining experience in the field is enough to take up her entire day.
Somehow, she adds on getting straight A's for grades, being a representative for the tennis team on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, and a co-captain. When being asked how she stays a float she spoke about staying ahead and on top of all her work. Pre-planning is her go to mechanism for dealing with all the work.
One of the more unique things she's doing for her field of study when not practicing on the court is shadowing UMass Athletics' very own Dr. Rouzier.
"Dr. Rouzier has been an incredible mentor and teacher during my time with him. Being able to shadow a physician at such a large university, I see a lot of different injuries and illnesses each day," said Larson. "I'm getting exposure to a lot of different areas of medicine, from topical deformities to musculoskeletal injuries."
Now, with just a little more than half a year till graduation Larson reflects on her time at UMass. She wish she knew coming in as a freshman to relax a little more and even though time may not have permitted such, she wished she ventured out a little more into other areas of the University joining more clubs and meeting other people outside of her comfort zone. As far as her career she wished she had shadowed earlier because of the tremendous experience she is having now.
In her final reflections Larson said, "I am so happy to be where I am right now. I wouldn't have changed my college experience at all. UMass tennis has helped me along the way and I appreciate everything that the tennis program, Judy Dixon, and UMass Athletics has done. The thought of not being able to see the girls on the team on a daily basis, for lack of a better term, sucks. I know I'll miss those people more than anything. I am proud of everything that I have done and how I have grown over the years. I am a two-year captain as a walk on and I think that has to do with my work ethic both on and off the court. I hope I earned the same respect that my captains had from me. I am excited for my future after college and for where I'll be in a few years, just as I can't wait to see where my fellow seniors end up."
Players Mentioned
Tennis Highlights vs. Binghamton (01/26/20)
Sunday, January 26
Tennis Highlights vs. Fordham (04/19/19)
Friday, April 19
UMass vs. Rhode Island Tennis Highlights (04/18/19)
Thursday, April 18
Tennis Highlights vs. GW (03/30/19)
Saturday, March 30