The Rise of National Qualifier Alex Blanchard
Blanchard’s stellar record as a Choctaw led him to a national-level competition this weekend.
Competing in a national championship is an honor that every collegiate athlete strives for, but it is not one that many athletes receive. Alex Blanchard will be one of the few to get this opportunity on October 10-13 at the ITA Cup in Lakeland, Florida.
Hailing from Marseille, France, Blanchard is in his second year with the Choctaw tennis team. He has the chance to make history and bring Mississippi College its first-ever national championship in tennis. This would not be Blanchard’s first award in a Choctaw uniform, though. He found plenty of success last year, winning ITA Rookie of the Year and being named an ITA All-American.
“I’m never better than when I’m with the team and when I’m fighting for them,” Blanchard said. “I think that’s why last year I played better, was because it was a new environment and my first year with the team and I loved that.”
Team culture was a staple reason that Blanchard came to Mississippi College. As a 23-year-old who began his career with the Choctaws with only three years of eligibility remaining, it was all about the sport. “I’m not coming to party or have fun as much,” he said. “Of course, I want to have fun, but I’m mainly coming for the sports environment and a place where I know I can build my life here. Not only that, but I also came here for the coach; he’s seriously motivated, and I felt that from our first conversation.”
The decision to bring Alex to the team was a decision that wasn’t made by the coaching staff solely based on his skill. It was also based on the type of person he is. “He’s a little bit older, so he’s got a little bit more of a maturity about him,” said assistant coach Brady McDaniel. “He just loves tennis and has a really great work ethic, and he’s just going to do everything he can do to help the team win and be a team player.”
Alex made an impact for the Choctaws both on and off the court last year by bringing a newfound mentality to the team. “He’s definitely had a huge impact, just with his mindset, and his work ethic has really helped shape our team culture and helped establish us as a top team in the nation,” said Coach McDaniel.
This weekend, Alex will compete in the ITA Cup, a national tournament that dates back to 1986. The qualifying standard involved participating in a regional tournament, where he had to win or receive an at-large bid as a runner-up. Despite falling short in the final of the regional tournament, Blanchard’s previous ranking from his exceptional play last year was enough to earn him the honor of an invite.
Blanchard believes that when playing higher level tournaments, the mentality has to shift. “When I go play higher level matches, there’s no room for doubt or negativity,” Blanchard said. “I need to fight to win every ball like it’s the last one, and to fight not just for me but for the team.”
“The sky’s the limit for Alex,” McDaniel said. With Blanchard coming off of a season with so much success, finishing at #5 in the nation with individual victories over the #1 player in the nation, it’s no wonder his coach thinks so.
Alex will be the first-ever representative from Mississippi College to compete in the ITA Cup.
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