By Keely Noel
SEATTLE —
From starting college at age 17 to three years later competing in the NCAA national championships, Cesar Bouchelaghem has high hopes for his future in tennis and for the Huskies this year.
Growing up in Annecy, France, Bouchelaghem graduated high school early at just 15 years-old, and made his way to UW in 2021, making the jump from a small mountainside town to Seattle. He claims it was quite the transition.
“Living in the U.S. for the first time in my life was, like, a big change, playing for a team, speaking English everyday. Those were things that I was not used to doing,” he said.
Bouchalegham reflects on his first year at UW as challenging, initially struggling with his classes. Starting college at 17 wasn’t the challenge for him, it was speaking English.
“It was just tough. A lot of classes I was not understanding what the professor was saying so I just had to spend the whole time trying to figure it out.”
Now a senior, Bouchelaghem believes he has a good handle on his classes and is more comfortable speaking English everyday. He is majoring in economics and is happy to have a degree from an institution like UW under his belt.
“Being the youngest on the team at the beginning and now being a senior, one of the oldest, and trying to help my teammates improve. It’s like two completely different approaches.”
Bouchelaghem spoke about his last three years at UW as one for great improvement and growth, becoming more comfortable with his role on the team and growing into his skills.
“I experienced a lot of things. Being the youngest on the team at the beginning and now being a senior, one of the oldest, and trying to help my teammates improve. It’s like two completely different approaches.”
Bouchelaghem has seen his game improve dramatically since then as well, attributing it to developing both physically and mentally. Increased maturity has helped him better deal with pressure as well as feeling more connected with his physical abilities.
In November, Bouchelaghem made his way to Waco, Texas to compete in the NCAA singles championship, representing his team as the only Husky at the tournament.
After a win in the first round against Western Michigan’s Anton Arzhankin (6-3, 6-1), Bouchelaghem became the first Husky to advance out of the first round since Kyle…
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