The Campbellsville University men’s tennis team stands out not only for its talent but also for its diversity. With players from South America, Europe and Africa, the team brings together different cultures, playing styles and life experiences, creating a unique dynamic both on and off the court.
Head Coach Alex Mailes believes this international mix benefits the team in many ways. He encourages the players to connect beyond tennis.
“You want to make sure that they interact with each other. If given the chance, they will hang around people from their country,” Mailes said. “It’s more fun to have a team full of players of different cultures. You get to learn a lot about other places and cultures.”
The diversity also shows in how the players approach the game. According to Mailes, their backgrounds can shape their playing styles.
“European players, especially from Scandinavia and Britain, try to get to the net to finish the point,” he said. “South American players tend to play more from the baseline and try to grind down their opponents.”
Manuel Pinheiro, a graduate student from Portugal, found Campbellsville University after searching for a school with a strong tennis program. He liked what he found.
“Campbellsville reached out with a good offer. They had a great team and played in a strong conference, so I said yes,” Pinheiro said.
His transition to life in the U.S. was relatively smooth.
“Luckily, I met only amazing people, and my English level was good enough, so it all happened super smoothly,” he said.
For some of his teammates, adjusting to life in a new country was more challenging. Juan Ochoa, a freshman from Argentina, said it took some time to adjust.
“Getting used to the time differences, food and cultural ways of life was tough at first,” Ochoa said.
Fortunately, he found comfort in being part of a diverse team.
“Having Spanish-speaking players on the team made me feel better,” he said.
Sophomore Nathan Boulard from France faced similar struggles when he first arrived at Campbellsville.
“The transition was tough because everything was new—language, people, lifestyle, food. It took time to adapt,” Boulard said. “I had to talk about myself to be sociable and make new friends.”
Michael Harding, a freshman from South Africa, also had challenges adjusting to life in Kentucky.
“The transition was tough, mainly because of the different food, new cultures and being away from home,” Harding said. “It took time to adjust, but I’ve been finding my way.”
For Alvaro Agullo a sophomore from Spain, the transition from big city to smalltown was the most challenging.
“At the beginning, it was a little complicated because you’re arriving in a new place where you don’t know anyone. But with time, you start to meet people and make friends and that makes the adaptation much easier,” Agullo said. “It was also difficult to go from living in a big city like Madrid to a small city like Campbellsville, but with time, you adapt.”
Despite the challenges, the players agree that the team’s diversity has been a positive experience. They believe it has made them stronger, both on and off the court.
“The diversity is great to learn different training styles and share knowledge about everything, not just tennis,” Pinheiro said.
Boulard agreed, saying that having teammates from different countries brings fresh perspectives.
“Having people from all over the world adds different mindsets and opinions that help us improve,” he said.
Senior Iñaki Toledo from Chile also sees the benefits when it comes to training.
“Having different styles is important because you can practice all aspects of your game,” Toledo said.
Ochoa added that players from South America bring their flair to the game.
“We demonstrate intense passion and endurance instead of frequent aggressive attacks,” he said.
The players’ shared experiences have helped them form close bonds, and some of their favorite memories come from traveling together for matches. Pinheiro reflected on how last year’s conference tournament was a special highlight.
“Every trip and match with the team is a memory, but the conference tournament last year was the most memorable,” he said.
Boulard remembered a fun trip they took after a tough match.
“We stayed two nights at a hotel after an intense match, and it was a great way to finish the season,” he said.
Even though he’s new to the team, Agullo has already formed lasting memories with his teammates.
“I’ve only been with the team for two months, but I’ve already had time to experience great moments with them,” Agullo said, “One of the best was our first trip—it was my first time traveling with the team, and it’s a moment I will always remember.”
Even though they’re far from home, the players stay connected with their families in different ways. Boulard said sharing funny content on social media keeps his relationships strong.
“I send funny videos on TikTok or Instagram, which keeps us talking,” he said.
Ochoa tries to stay in touch with regular calls and texts.
“We check in with each other about our lives and, of course, about tennis,” he said.
Harding also stays connected by calling and keeping up with sports back home.
“I call home often and try to talk to my family as much as possible,” Harding said. “I also stay connected by watching sports from back home.”
For Toledo, video calls are part of his pre-match routine.
“I FaceTime my parents before matches. That relaxes me because I feel them closer when I compete,” he said.
On the court, each player has set individual goals for the season. For freshman Noah Grossmann from Austria, his goal is simple.
“Win a conference game,” he said.
Sophomore Derrick Namanya from Zimbabwe has both individual and team goals for the season.
“I plan on being ready. When I know I have done my part getting prepared, I do not only put myself in a successful position but the team as well,” he said. “As a team, we are working on getting a national ranking to come to the end of the season.”
For Pinheiro and Toledo, who are nearing the end of their college tennis careers, the focus is on making the most of every match and moment.
“I just hope to play quality matches and enjoy every moment with my teammates,” Pinheiro said.
Toledo said his goal is to finish his final season on a high note.
“I want to play my best tennis, rank the team and enjoy every practice and match,” he said.
Coach Mailes is proud of the team’s diversity and the way they’ve come together. He also appreciates how they connect with the local community.
“They are a great group of athletes that love to engage with the local community,” Mailes said.
