Olivia Schneider
The
Ascent of Bailey Paradiso
She is carefree when it comes to competition,
not to mention new to the collegiate level. Yet, Stonehill freshman Bailey
Paradiso brings to the Women’s Tennis program its first ever singles ranking in
the Northeast-10 Conference and helped the team gain an overall record of 7-0
for the fall.
Paradiso started strong in her collegiate
career with a win against Franklin Pierce University in September and never
looked back, finishing the fall season with a combined singles and doubles
record of 20-7.
Paradiso who plays first singles and
doubles for Stonehill’s team is so carefree about her success in fact, that it often
strikes many people as unusual.
“With most of the team being very competitive
and serious, her laid back funny personality reminds everyone that sometimes
you just need to have fun and enjoy playing,” says team captain Paige Frost.
Frost, a senior and veteran on the team,
teamed with Paradiso this fall in first doubles with an overall record of 12-3
according to the official site of the Skyhawks. Frost says of Paradiso, “She
focuses on playing her best every time she plays, and that seems to be a very
successful focus for her.”
It seems that Paradiso herself agrees.
“When I’m on the court I will snap into a zone where I am so completely
focused, even having my friends watch me, they’re like ‘I have never seen you
like that before.’”
Stonehill College is part of the
Northeast-10 Conference that is constructed from 16 teams in the New England
region. Paradiso was named the NE-10 Player of the Week twice in the fall and
Rookie of the Week honors four times during her brief career at Stonehill by
the Conference.
Even after all these accomplishments,
Paradiso remains humble. I asked the freshman about her feelings on her
Stonehill career so far. She casually responded that she loves the school and
her experience on the team and that it’s been successful. I laugh and remind
her just how successful.
Paradiso, a native of Birmingham, Michigan,
picked up many sports at a young age, but says she was pushed around. Then one
day at her country club she saw a college player one day and instantly knew
that tennis was for her.
The freshman credits Women’s Tennis Head Coach,
Pam Arpe, for her enrollment to Stonehill. Being from Michigan, Paradiso was
not familiar with Stonehill. However, Stonehill offers Healthcare
Administration, Paradiso’s desired major.
From then out it was a done deal,
according to Paradiso. “Tennis was the biggest part because right from high
school I knew I wanted to play tennis in college,” Paradiso said. “Whenever I
play it takes up my life.”
Despite her great success this fall the
eighteen-year old admits that her personality is not intimidating compared to
most college players, but that her style on the court reflects her naiveté off
of it.
“People have definitely taken advantage of
me for being too nice,” she recalls with a laugh. “But I’ve also made life long
friends.”
For being so friendly in a sport that
often attracts many intense and competitive players, Paradiso has climbed to
the top of the Northeast-10 record books quickly. However, she is not new to
success, although she failed to mention it to me.
According to Stonehill’s women’s tennis
page in high school Paradiso won five individual state titles and three singles
and two doubles state championships for Marian High School in Bloomfield,
Michigan.
How does she remain so modest, many must wonder,
just as I did? Women’s Head Tennis Coach Pam Arpe gives credit to Paradiso’s
parents. Arpe addresses Frost, team captain, and sarcastically asks, “Do you
think Bailey is close with her mom?” Frost lightly laughs, as the answer to
that question is a definite “yes.”
Arpe may be onto something. Paradiso proudly says “My mom has always
said ‘Stay true to who you are; don’t be intense. It’s just a game; you’re
having fun.”
Paradiso and the rest of Women’s Tennis
start practicing for their spring season immediately upon their return from
winter break in January. The spring schedule looks to battle more challenging
teams, according to Arpe. No matter, Paradiso will surely be there to aid the
women’s team in every way she can, sporting a humble and fresh attitude on and
off the courts.
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