BRADENTON, Fla. — To Bianca Bush, finding a school where she can continue her tennis career was only part of the equation.
For starters, the Todt Hill resident was adamant about joining a team where she’d fit in nicely. In addition, it was important to find an institution that would support her academic needs.
Enter Emerson College.
“It’s a place that just felt right and I was all in on,’’ Bush said after visiting the Boston school. ”I love the location, I love the team, the coach and there was no doubt it was the right fit for me.’’
Bush recently made her commitment to the Lions’ program official and she’ll be relocating north from her current stay at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, sometime before next fall.
The 17-year-old said an IMG guidance counselor put her in contact with Emerson head coach Burke Paxton and it immediately got things rolling with the Division 3 school.
“My college counselor suggested Emerson and after speaking to (coach Paxton), we got along well right from the start and went from there,’’ explained Bush. ”Again, I just thought it was the right fit immediately.’’
Bush will bring an impressive resume with her to Beantown.
The right-hander, who boasts a strong forehand, qualified for the IMG International Tennis Tournament (16-under, Level 2) and made it to the second round. She competed in the International Tennis Federation’s (ITF) Juniors tourney and took part in the J30 Tourney in Brazil.
Paxton hasn’t seen Bush play live yet, but he’s planning to make a trip to Florida soon to see her in person. He did, however, get a good indication of her ability through her Universal Tennis Rating (UTR).
“He recruits by the level and believes I’m good enough to be on the team and top-three on the roster‚’’ said Bush, who has been competing since she was approximately 7-years-old. ”Coach is coming to Florida in a week or so and I’m very excited about showing him what I can do.’’
Bush, who attended Staten Island Academy her freshman year before transferring to IMG, is planning to major in Sports Communication at Emerson.
She also received interest from Occidental College.