Vaillant follows tennis career to WC

Agathe Vaillant, like many youngsters, looked up to her older siblings. 

In fact, it was through them she found the love of her life - sports love, that is - tennis. 

"I started playing tennis because I was simply in awe of my two older brothers who played, and I wanted to try it myself," the Weatherford College sophomore recalled. "I liked playing tennis right away and my coach saw skills very quickly, so I continued and then started playing competitively." 

Now, her brothers are likely in awe of her as she used that early inspiration to become one of France's best young players on her way to being a part of the revival of the tennis program at Weatherford College. 

Vaillant grew up in Brest, France, a coastal city in the northwest corner of the country. She was a regional champion several times individually and as part of her club team. She participated in several national tournaments and French championships. 

"I have played tournaments since I was little, and I can't seem to ever get tired of it," she said. 

Vaillant spent a year at a French University but said she didn't really enjoy her time there due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other reasons. U.S. universities and the thought of playing on a college tennis team interested her, so she decided to give it a shot.  

"WC was one of the first college options I was offered, and the fact that it was a new tennis program really appealed to me. I really enjoy being here at Weatherford College," she said. 

The feeling is reciprocated, said WC Tennis Coach Mitch Vechione. 

"Agi is a coach's dream. She's talented, hardworking, a good listener, a little jokester, and so much more. I'm really going to miss having her around next fall," Vechione said. "The sky is the limit for Agi in my opinion. She has all the tools she needs to succeed in life. I can't wait to see all the great things she does moving forward." 

In her first season at WC, Vaillant helped the Lady Coyotes reach the NJCAA National Tournament and finish eighth as a team. She's come back strong again this season, including some impressive rallies. 

"There have been a couple matches this season where I was down and almost out, but I fought my way back and got the wins for my team," she said. "It was a great feeling being able to do that for myself and the rest of the team." 

Vaillant practiced dance when she was younger and was a competitive runner in middle school, but largely because it was complementary to tennis. Ultimately, she put all of her focus in tennis because of her love for the sport. 

"I had to make a lot of sacrifices for tennis because it took up a lot of my time, between training and competitions. I do not regret this choice at all because today I am lucky to be here and to be able to have incredible experiences," she said. 

"What I like about tennis is that it's a sport that requires a lot of different skills, both physically and mentally. You have to stay focused from the first point to the last and know how to manage your emotions alone throughout the match, which is not always easy. The interesting thing about this sport is that the situation can change at any moment, and you have to know how to adapt." 

She added that her favorite part of college tennis is "We are a team, and we are always there to support each other." 

She is also the first in her family to play tennis in college. 

Vaillant is a general studies major. She is deciding between going into biology, business or kinesiology. And while she does want to play at a higher level in college after WC, she said she does not want to go into tennis professionally. 

"I have always enjoyed playing competitively, but I never wanted to make a career out of it," she said. 

Wherever the future takes her, however, she said her time at WC has been one of the best experiences of her life. She praised Vechione and his predecessor, Alexandra Leatu, who revived the program in the 2021-22 school year. Leatu left to become the head coach at Queens University in Charlotte, North Carolina.  

"I have been lucky enough to have two incredible coaches who have supported me and trusted me throughout my time here. I also enjoy being with my wonderful teammates," she said. "Being away from your family is tough, so having great friends is very important to me. This experience at Weatherford College has made me learn a lot about myself and has allowed me to excel."